For World Photo Day, here’s a roundup of Mixbook’s all-time top 10 photo tips
August 19 is World Photo Day, an annual celebration of the art, history, and science of photography. The date marks the 1837 announcement of the daguerreotype process—the foundation of modern photography. Camera technology has come a long way since then! Yet, some key photo fundamentals never change.
Whether you’re holding a smartphone, DSLR, or retro disposable camera in your hands, you’ll benefit from knowing some long-established best practices for photography. Here, we’ve collected our top 10 photo tips of all time. They cover composition, lighting, editing, and camera modes, and are all straightforward enough for total beginners to start using today.
Elevate your everyday photography with these 10 practical tips:
1. Shoot in natural light—golden hour is magic
Lighting is one of the most important factors in photography. For pros and novices alike, there’s one top tip that promises perfect lighting with zero effort—shoot outdoors during “golden hour.”
When is the golden hour? You get two chances each day. Golden hour is roughly the last hour before sunset, and the first hour after sunrise. (Look up sunset and sunrise times to be ready for these limited windows of time.)
The natural light during these hours is considered magical for photography, with a soft, warm, golden hue shining at a low angle. Golden hour light is flattering to all skin tones, and it casts longer shadows that you can use in creative compositions.
The flipside to advice to shoot during golden hour is to avoid its opposite—the harsh, unflattering midday sun shining directly down from above.
2. Clear the clutter—let your subject shine
Photos are generally more pleasing to the eye when they’re uncluttered. Define the main subject of your photo. It could be a person or group of people, a flower, waterfall, animal, or landmark. This should be the first, and primary thing that draws the eye when someone glances at your photo. Whenever possible, eliminate visual distractions from that subject.
In practice, this might mean choosing a plain wall as a backdrop for a portrait, rather than one with pictures hung on it. Move any irrelevant items, such as papers and phones plopped on a table, a backpack on the floor, or half-eaten snacks, out of the frame.
When it’s not practical or possible to de-clutter a space, for example when you’re in a public place or objects are unmovable, get creative. Shoot from a different angle, level, or distance to keep distracting objects out of the frame. Wait for a less busy time of day.
Adjust the settings on your camera for a shallow depth of field (use a wide aperture/lower f-number), or choose portrait mode. This technique keeps foreground subjects in crisp focus while blurring busy backgrounds, an effect known as bokeh.
3. Get on their level for more emotion
Your first instinct when taking photos is probably to shoot from your own eye level, capturing what you see from your real-life point of view. In contrast, the best photographers move around a lot—up, down, crouching, getting up on furniture etc. Take a tip from the pros and adjust your eye level to meet the subject’s. With portraits of people or animals, shooting as if you’re making eye contact creates an authentic sense of intimacy.
Apply the concept of shooting at eye level to non-living subjects as well. Experiment with shots taken from the ground level all the way to up above the subject and see how you like the different results.
4. Use the rule of thirds for balance
One of the easiest ways to improve your photos is to ignore the impulse to center your subject. Instead, employ the “rule of thirds” for a more dynamic, visually interesting, and well-balanced composition.
Imagine a set of two vertical lines and two horizontal lines dividing your photo area into equal thirds in both directions (like tic-tac-toe). Many cameras have the option to show a visible grid on the screen or viewfinder. Place the key subject(s) at any of the four intersections of those lines, avoiding the exact center.
5. Use lines to guide the eye
When you’re framing a photo, look for possible “leading lines” that guide the eye across your composition. Lines that point toward the key subject are helpful, as are lines that entice the viewer to scan the scene from foreground to background, or vice versa.
More literal examples of leading lines in photography include a meandering river, pathway, road markings, wind-blown tree branches, skylines, and horizons. There are also invisible lines, such as a crowd of people all staring in the same direction, a flock of birds flying away, or body language that leans toward a particular object.
Arrange your composition so that leading lines direct the eye to the subject of your photo, not to something outside the frame.
6. Candid > perfect
Have you ever tried to get a “perfect” group shot with everyone smiling and looking right at the camera? Even if you achieved that goal, there’s a good chance it’s the outtakes that make you smile. The shot where the kid’s pulling a face, Mom’s annoyed with her hands on her hips, and Grandad’s already started wandering away.
The unintended, unposed, candid shots do a much better job at capturing personality and real life than the staged versions. This is true for a lot of photography. Take candid shots whenever you can, and you’ll capture natural smiles, relaxed postures, and authentic moments in a way that all those “say cheese” shots never can.
7. Use burst mode to capture motion
Bust mode, also known as sports mode or continuous shooting mode, is an amazing way to capture subjects in motion. This might be people playing sports, a pouncing cat, a lively crowd, falling water, or moving vehicles. In burst mode, hold down the shutter button and your camera will take a series of photos in quick succession. The camera is able to “freeze” the subject for each split second, making for dynamic photos that are otherwise tricky to achieve.
8. Tap to lock focus & light
On a smartphone camera, and other cameras with a touchscreen, the mode called AE/AF lock (or similar) is very handy. When you move the camera around, its auto exposure and auto focus settings are continuously shifting. You can override this by tapping and holding on the screen over the point that you want to keep in the sharpest focus. On most models, look for a yellow square and lock symbol. Even if you move the camera, the point you selected will stay in focus. Snap the shot when you’re ready.
This tip is handy when your focal point is off-center, you’re in a low-light setting, or there are distracting elements in the foreground.
9. Add props for personality
Photo props are the opposite of clutter—they’re items deliberately chosen to enhance the composition and complement the main subject. Examples include:
- A blanket or rug to add color and texture to a portrait
- A helium balloon for a birthday shoot
- Bubbles for a sense of whimsy
- A wrapped gift, carved pumpkin, bunch of flowers, or umbrella for a seasonal or holiday themed shoot
- A book, cup of coffee, or paper map for the portrait subject to hold
- A large, empty picture frame
- Stuffed animal(s) for baby photos
- Fairy lights or candles
- Vintage tablewares for food styling
The options for photo shoot props are endless, but they should always make sense within the story of your photos.
10. Edit with care—less is more
Modern editing tools are incredibly powerful and easier than ever to master, even for novices. Yet, it's smart to be cautious with photo editing. Less is more. Overly processed photos can look a little too “perfect,” and lacking in uniqueness, authenticity, or personality.
Start with small, subtle tweaks, and only when necessary. Crop a photo to get rid of an ugly construction fence. Straighten a crooked horizon. Slightly brighten a photo you took on a dull day, but stop short of making it artificially sunny. Choose a black and white filter for a timeless, sophisticated feel. And always save the original, unedited version so you can compare the before and after versions.
What to do with your amazing photos
When you’ve absorbed these timeless photography tips, you should be happy to discover you love your photo collection more than ever. Don’t let those amazing photos sit ignored in your reel! Join over 6 million happy Mixbookers and showcase them in a beautiful, fully customized photo book.
Don’t forget to share your favorite photos on social using #WorldPhotographyDay and #Mixbook.
Related: Picture-Perfect Memories: 30 Basic Photography Tips for Beginners
