5 Background Tricks to Instantly Make Your Photos Stand Out

You must have experienced this: You get the lighting just right, your subject is in focus, and you think you’ve captured something great. But when you look at the photo again, it seems like something is missing. It doesn’t have that special spark you wanted. This happened to me many times, and it took me a lot of time to figure out why. Maybe I never focused on photography background tricks.

The key to making your photos stand out isn’t just having expensive equipment or perfect camera settings. In his recent video, professional nature and wildlife photographer Simon d’Entremont explains that the background is often the overlooked factor that can turn a good photo into an amazing one. Photography background tricks can help. He even shared examples from his experiences, including his first attempt at concert photography, where background insights made a significant impact.

Focusing solely on your main subject is easy, but Simon’s advice shows that neglecting the background can lead to missed chances. Here are five simple photography background tricks from Simon to instantly make your photos stand out.

1. Angle Your Way Out of a Bad Background

Simon points out a common mistake: messy backgrounds. He shares a story about how a tangle of branches behind a cute photo of his fox kit ruined it. He emphasizes that no matter how perfect your settings or how expensive your lens, a busy background will always pull attention away from what you’re trying to capture.

So, what can you do about it? Simon recommends changing your angle and perspective. This isn’t about adjusting your camera settings. It’s about changing your position. I agree with this, too. I don’t just stay in one spot when I’m taking photos. Walk around. Get down low, stand up high, shift to the left, or move to the right. Take the time to explore the area. When you adjust your position, you can reduce distractions and make your subject stand out.

2. Give Your Photos a “Sense of Place”

A great photo does more than show you something. It tells a story. Simon says a strong background can attract viewers, giving them a true “sense of place.”

Simon shares examples from his concert photography where details like a “45” anniversary sign or other musicians in the background provide essential context. He also mentions his beautiful polar bear pictures from Svalbard, Norway, where the impressive mountains behind the bears are key to the story. He highlights that photojournalists are masters of this. They capture images that are “about something, not of something.”

3. Actively Create Your Desired Background

Simon suggests you check the background as soon as you see your subject. This is an important step. He recommends adjusting the background elements to fit well with your subject.

During that concert shoot, Simon was cautious about this. Instead of capturing pictures randomly, he looked for ways to position background singers or other musicians to enhance the scene and create a balanced look. I would say it’s a bit like choreography for your camera. You are guiding both your subject and the background to work together nicely.

4. Master Depth of Field and Distance for Impact

Here’s where you need to get more detailed and experiment with your background. Simon suggests that you adjust how far you are from it and change the depth of the field. This means moving left, right, up, or down and considering how far your subject is from the background.

He explains that increasing the distance between your subject and the background will make the background look smaller and more blurred, helping your subject stand out beautifully. He also encourages trying different techniques to explore creative possibilities, such as keeping the foreground blurry while making the background clear.

Aperture is important too. Simon recommends experimenting with different settings. Use a wide aperture like f/2.8 to create a soft, blurred background (bokeh) that focuses attention on your subject. If you want more details in the background to enhance your story, you could use f/5.6 instead. It seems to me that understanding this interplay can help guide what the viewer focuses on.

5. Elevate Subject-Background Separation

In the end, Simon shares an extra tip for a common problem: when your subject gets lost against the background and is hard to see. This usually happens when the colors or brightness of your subject and background are too similar. It can be annoying when what you want to focus on disappears in the clutter.

Simon suggests the best way to fix this is to look for differences. When taking pictures, try moving around until you find a spot where your subject looks different from the background in brightness, detail, color, or tone. You need that contrast. If you can’t get it just right while taking the photo, don’t worry. Simon says you can use editing software later to adjust the brightness and create the needed separation. His main point is simple. He says to stop taking “snapshots” and start “making photos,” by paying attention to your backgrounds.

You can improve your photos by noticing things you might usually overlook. It’s all about being intentional and creative with the whole frame, not just focusing on your subject. I’m sure there will be a significant difference in your pictures.

Great photography involves more than just a clear subject. It’s essential to create a complete image where all parts work together to enhance the story and visual appeal. So, when you grab your camera next time, remember these photography background tricks. You’ll be surprised at how much they can improve your shots!

[My photos sucked until I learned this trick. Yours may too.]

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