Easy Photography Tips (With Examples)

Photography is definitely fun! I love taking photographs of just about anything. Flowers, animals, cakes... ;) It can also be challenging sometimes, but that makes it fun right? :) I'm no professional photographer but I like to "dabble in the arts." I've been food blogging for a few months now and can definitely see the improvement on my photos. It was really interesting to discover all the different ways you can manipulate your camera and your settings around you to get the desired photo.

I've complied ten tips for photography (which can be found here) that I use all the time while taking photos, especially with food. However, this time I decided to go a bit more hands-on. Why not do some tips using real photos people took? I thought it would be great to share that everyone can take a great picture and you might even decide to explore the art of photography yourself!

So, I started a forum topic and asked for some people to donate some photos. I was amazed to see so many people allow me to use their work. Thanks to dombeef, lemonie, canida, Ninzerbean, trike road poet, Kiteman, Lithium Rain, Biggsy, and patriots8888 for responding to my topic so fast and giving me great pictures. I'm sorry I couldn't use all of them :(

The format of these tips/critiques/mindless mutterings :) will be some thoughts on the original picture, then some ideas for photo editing or other ways to take the photo, and lastly a main idea for the tip for that photo.

This was really fun so I'll be happy to accept some photos for the next "session" whenever I get a chance of doing one :)

So let's get started with the first photo.

Step 1 ChrysN's Cookies and Coffee

Thanks to ChrysN for donating :) Here's the link for the instructable.

Thoughts on photo:

• I was a bit surprised why this photo wasn't the title picture of the instructable (which was the close up of just the cookies). I really like the compositions more in this photo and here's why
  • I like that you can see more of the mug in this photo. It gives it more of a "lived in" feel, which is important when photographing food.
  • This shot allows you to see more of the cookies and doesn't have a sense of overcrowding.
  • It layers the textures and colors better than the other photo as well.
• The set up of the cookies is appealing to eye as well. If you pay attention, the placement of the tree makes the onlooker focus on that. The tree also helps guide the onlooker's eyes to the star. That is good because it pulls the reader in by focusing on the more "unique shapes."

Photo Editing and Other Ways:

• I would add some color to this photo. There's a lot of browns and neutrals that can seem dull. ChrysN did a nice job of having different shades of brown though. I would add a colored cloth napkin somewhere to give it some color.
• As for photo editing, this photo is great as is. I might increase the color temperature (think yellow light bulb vs white light bulb) a bit for the more home-y feel. The lighting is great in this picture and the shadows are almost nonexistent (which is good as well).

Main Idea:

Add some color to give your photo some life and pay attention to layering different colors and textures. And great lighting makes great photos.

Comments

[rimar2000]

Step 2: Biggsy's Easter Cake, I augmented gamma factor a good deal, and only then I could see some background details.

[jen7714]

I don't quite understand what you're getting at. Can you explain a bit?

[rimar2000]

Sorry, my English is so poor.

Gamma factor is an image parameter that can be up or down to enhance an image. In the case of step 2, the background is very dark, there are few details. I augmented gamma factor using an image editor, and the image improved a lot.

Please read my instructable about basic photo enhance.

[lemonie]

Interesting stuff, nice to see. I don't spend much time on photographs, but will take a few and pick the best looking one (I've 11 of the oat-thing including those two - would you like a bad one to add in there?)

L

[jen7714]

Thank you! And that's a good strategy :) (Sure, why not? :)

[ChrysN]

Great advice!

[jen7714]

Thanks!