Sophia Co Photography

-My 5 Favorite hacks –

#1- Aperture (It should never be lower than the amount of people you are photographing)- When you are taking pictures, (especially of people) it can be stressful and nerve racking. But setting your aperture and then not touching it can eliminate some of the stress. Because than you only have two settings to deal with if you are shooting in manual. This has been a really helpful trick for me, and I would recommend trying it! If you want to learn more about aperture read… Summer Sunsets.

#2-Store your camera in an easily accessible space– Why does this matter? Well if you want to become a better photographer you need to practice, and to practice you need your camera. It’s like the saying “out of sight, out of mind”. You need to be able to see the camera and access it easily so your brain remembers to practice… and practice makes progress! For me I keep it on my desk, because I walk by it multiple times a day, so it reminds my brain to practice!

#3- Always make sure your subjects shadow is in front of them– This will help you avoid spotty lighting; especially if you are shooting in outside in harsh light. This means if you ask your subject to look down they shouId see their shadow. This been really helpful for me, and I would recommend trying to implement it. Want more details on spotty lighting and how to deal with it. Read… How To fix Spotty Lighting In One Step and 4 EasyGolden Hour Tips.

#4 -Teach someone or tell someone– For me personally writing these blogs has given me a better understanding of photography and how to execute the craft correctly and creatively. I have taught someone the basics of shooting in manual, and after the fact I felt that I better understood how to shoot in manual myself, and also gained some teaching experience along the way. Want to learn the basics of shooting in manual? Read… How To Use Your Camera.

#5- Start By Photographing Nature– I started out taking pictures of sunsets, and it was an easy way to get a handle on the manual settings; it also helps that sunsets don’t move as fast, they give you time to figure out the settings, find what you like and don’t like, allow for trial and air, and they don’t move a million miles a minute. Also, when you are photographing people it can be more stressful; you only have a certain amount of time before little kids lose interest, someone moves, the wind picks up, or the lighting changes. Starting with nature gives you more margin for learning. Want to learn how to make back to school pictures less stressful, and more fun for the kids? Read… 5 Easy Ideas For Little Kid Photo Shoots.

Wherever you are. wherever you go. You can find beauty in God's creation.

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