DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

Search

Submit A Story

composition tips

Use this Photoshop trick to make sure you have a subject in your shot

by 2 Comments

Adobe Photoshop introduced the Subject Select feature in a 2018 update, but it’s more useful to us as photographers than we may have first thought. The ability to select a subject on command is a great feature that can help us with our creative vision, too.

The subject of a photograph is the most important feature. The subject guides our composition, exposure, lighting, and all other creative decisions. Our subject is the main focus of our scene, both figuratively and literally. It should be the sharpest point across the scene as well as being the obvious main feature our viewers are compelled to look at. We can use a simple trick in Adobe Photoshop to check whether our image has a subject. Here’s what to do:

[Read More…]

Stuck in a rut with your portrait compositions? Here’s how to break out of it

by Add Comment

Sometimes if I’ve been doing a lot of shoots of the same type of thing in quick succession, I can find myself in the unfortunate position of falling back on the exact same ideas, compositions and even poses. This becomes particularly apparent if I’m working with the same subject.

Obviously, we want our photographs to all zing with individuality and something I always try to do is to create something unique for not just my clients, but for myself as well. But how do you break out of that photography composition rut when you find yourself slipping into it? In this video, portrait photographer Julia Trotti has a few great ideas to fall back on, to help you get your ideas fresh and flowing again during your next shoot.

[Read More…]

Forget the “rules” of composition and learn to use your intuition

by Add Comment

The “rules” of composition are always a hot and divisive topic. Some stick to them adamantly while others act like they don’t exist (or they don’t know any exist). The former can be difficult to break away from and the latter can be very freeing, allowing you to explore all kinds of composition ideas in your work.

In this video, Sean Tucker talks about going beyond the rules and how his photography has been guided mostly by intuition. He breaks down some of his own images and why they work. He covers a lot of topics that aren’t really mentioned at all in the usually accepted rules and how they can make the viewer feel when looking at an image.

[Read More…]

Take better portrait photos with these ten tips

by Add Comment

 

I believe that there’s no such thing as an instant improvement when it comes to skills. You should practice and learn and gradually become better and better at what you do. Still, if you’re new at something, it’s good to have a checklist that will help you focus on what’s important for achieving good results. In this video, Rachel and Daniel of Mango Street have created some kind of that checklist. They share ten tips that will help you take more captivating photos, and they’re questions to ask yourself next time you start shooting.

[Read More…]

The importance of background in photography composition

Today I will discuss the importance of background in photography composition illustrated with some examples of mine.

Part of a larger series covering elements of composition in photography for which you’ll find links at the end of this article.

I taught myself photography in quite a specific order, I navigated / progressed through various urban photography genres:

Graffiti Photography > Urban Landscape Photography > Street Photography

It’s the reason I realised early how important an image’s background really is, allow me to explain:

[Read More…]

Back to basics: Mastering the Rule of Thirds in photography

The rule of thirds in photography.

I know… I’m going back to basics but since I just published an article on the importance of Leading Lines in Photography, I thought it to be a good idea to go back to the beginning and explain crucial bits of photography which I hadn’t covered until now.

A note on rules: I have always held the belief that rules, however useful at times, are meant to be broken.

Don’t go slap your boss, it wasn’t meant that way.

I’ll put it in bold for you:

[Read More…]

Six techniques to master as a landscape photographer storyteller

Landscape images with a strong narrative add a dimension to a scene. Very often, the viewer can relate to the story and the emotions it conveys. Elements in the photo that contribute to the narrative also spark the viewers’ imagination. There is much truth in the saying: “A photo is worth a thousand words.”

There are plenty of ways to add a storytelling element to a landscape scene. Let’s have a look at some of the tools we have.

[Read More…]

Critical tips for posing MALES who are NOT models

by Add Comment

When I first started dabbling in portrait photography, I quickly realized that the photographer’s connection to the subject can be the difference between a mediocre portrait and a great one. Communication is one of the most important skills you can learn as a portrait photographer. That’s why in this video, I’m going to show you some simple posing tips and techniques that you can use while taking portraits of males who are not models.

[Read More…]

Seven composition tips to boost your landscape photography now

by Add Comment

The composition is one of the key elements to create a captivating image that will make an impression on a viewer. In this video, Nigel Danson shares seven tips to help you improve composition in your landscape photos. You can follow them at your very next shoot, and they’ll help you to level up both planning your shots and taking them.

[Read More…]

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts