20 Posts That Will Improve Your Photography

More economical options for quality cameras is only one reason photography is growing as a hobby and interest. If you’ve got a blog, Facebook page, or even an instagram account, you’re likely always on the lookout for ways to improve your photography skills. Or perhaps you’d just like to know how to take better pictures of your family and friends. Fortunately, there’s an increasing number of very accessible photography how-to’s, tips and tutorials on the internet. If you’re searching for a place to start, here’s our list of 20 must-read posts that are guaranteed to improve your photography. There’s something here for every fotog – beginner and professional alike!

1. How to Pick the Perfect Camera For You (Bugaboo Blog for Hi! It’s Jilly!) –

This post is the perfect place to start if you’re just picking up photography. It lays out the basic differences between camera types, gives some pros and cons of different cameras, helps narrow down your options based on your personal needs and gives you some questions to think about before you go spend a chunk of change on a camera! Plus there are links to recommended cameras as well. (also in this same series, check out 5 Photo Tips for Anyone at Anytime and 10 Tips for Shooting Your Kids.)

2. 22 Things You Can Do Today To Change Your Photography Forever (Improve Photography) –

Just as the title states, there are a lot of actions you can take to change your photography for the better and they don’t take a ton of effort! This list has some great ideas for taking your photography up a few notches and each action is broken down into doable steps with an idea of how long it will take you to complete it. You can make an organized action plan and schedule your time accordingly!

3. Common Photography Mistakes and How to Fix Them (iheartfaces) – Ever wonder why some of your photos turn out subpar? Can’t figure out what’s off in your composition or lighting? And why can’t you seem to fix all of this post-production? If you want to learn what the most common blunders in photography are, and how you can avoid them or fix them as you go then this is the perfect post for you.

4. 4 Tips for DSLR Beginners (Stars for Streetlights for Shrimp Salad Circus) –

This is a great mini, condensed guide to composition, aperture and shutter speed. There’s a ton to learn about each of these, but this short and concise list breaks them down into manageable, usable info for beginners.

5. 8 Things You Didn’t Know Your Camera Could Do (Improve Photography) –

If you’ve got a DSLR camera, you’ll want to read this post to figure out some cool tricks. A DSLR can be a daunting piece of equipment, and the manual isn’t much better! With all of the functionality at your fingertips, you’re bound to miss something. Check out this shortlist of fun and useful things you may not know you can do with your camera.

6. Know Your Lenses (Sweet C’s Designs) –

Here’s a well-written guide to DSLR lenses. If you’re wondering what each lens does, what the differences between them are, which lens you should purchase next, or which lens you’ll use the most for your personal photography you need to read this post!

7. 101 Family Picture Tips and Ideas (Dating Divas) –

If you need a one stop shop for all things family photo – either yours or someone else’s – look no further! This tremendous list has tons of ideas for families. Tons. From how to pick a photographer, to how to choose a location, to what clothes to wear! They also offer ideas for poses and props, along with some great tips for getting your kids and hubby on board and cooperative! Bonus? There’s a great printable where you can keep track of everything you don’t want to forget – budget, locations, poses, clothes, etc. – in case you’re super organized.

8. 10 Photos to Take on Baby’s First Day (lilsugar.com) –

If you have a little one on the way, or know someone who does, this info is great! The first day with a new baby can be a blur, and there’s so much the new parents will want to remember. This list gives examples of don’t-miss shots for directly after birth. Read it and you won’t forget a thing!

9. 9 Ways to Get Meaningful Expressions in Child Portraits (Elizabeth Halford Photography) –

While this is written specifically with kids in mind, many of the points expressed apply to all ages. Having your photo taken can be uncomfortable, embarrassing or downright painful for some. This is a concise list of ideas the photographer can keep in mind for helping subjects feel more at ease in front of the camera.

10. Photography Tips for Panning (Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke) –

Panning is a technique that allows you to clearly capture a moving subject while the background is blurred. It’s a tricky thing to accomplish, and trying your hand at it can make for some really dynamic photos of people, pets or sports events (like your kids first soccer game). Kristen Duke gives great step-by-step directions for panning and some helpful tips to make the process go a little more smoothly.

11. Sports Photography: 11 Tips for the Sideline Parent (Click It Up a Notch) –

If you’ve kids, nieces or nephews, or even pets this is really a must read! This post is specifically geared toward those on the sidelines at sports events, but can really be applied in a variety of settings. Sledding, skiing, racing, running, biking – really any place your subjects are on the go, go, go! So if you want to learn how to capture moments like the big goal, the winning sprint, or your retriever running toward you with a ball, this post is a great place to start.

12. How to Take Great Backlit Photos (Capturing Joy with Kristen Duke) –

As a general rule, photographers want the sunlight (or other light source) shining onto their subjects from BEHIND the photographer – but did you know you can create some stunning portraits and other photos with backlighting? It can be a tricky task, but backlit photos can be dramatic and create a flare or glow, depending on how you use the lighting and location. Read through this list of tips and tricks to figure out how to do it.

13. Lighting Tips and Tricks for Bloggers and Photographers (Making Nice in the Midwest) –

Do you get super frustrated when taking pictures in the wintertime when the sun is rarely present and lighting is a huge challenge? This post goes over tons of tips for making your photos look amazing in low light/indoor situations. The best part is the in depth description of various supplies and what they do. You’ll learn a lot reading this post!

14. 5 Secrets to Great Product Photos (Shrimp Salad Circus) –

If you’ve got a blog or shop you take photos for, this post will help you up the ante! There’s no better way to turn people away from your products than taking crummy pictures. As horrible as that sounds, photos can make or break your blog. Make your projects (and products) stand out with these 5 simple tips.

15. Small Subject Backdrop Ideas (The Gunnysack) –

If you shoot a lot of small subjects at home, you can fall into a rut with your backdrops. It’s easy to place an item on a white sheet or poster board, but doesn’t always allow for the most exciting photos. Here are a few ideas for simple backdrops that are small and portable – perfect for at home photography of food or blogging items.

16. Mini Studio Set-Up (Lauren Elise Crafted) –

A very easy way to take better photos of projects you’ve created, is to actually make a “photography studio” for your items. Don’t worry, that sounds more complicated than it is! In this post, you can learn how to make a mini studio with simple materials that is fully portable and non-permenant – aka perfect for your dining room. Using the best backgrounds and lighting can make all the difference to your indoor photography.

17. 7 Food Photography Tips for Instagram (Click It Up A Notch) –

If you blog about food, this post will help your photos stand out! Food can be super finicky in photos – everything can affect the outcome, from lighting to composition to staging. The food itself can affect the outcome as well – the temperature, texture, color, etc. With the 7 tips in this post, you can make sure your food looks good enough to eat… and better!

18. A Quick List of Travel Photography Tips (Simple As That) –

From a quick trip to vacations abroad, traveling provides ample inspiration for photographic possibilities. If you travel at all – for work, pleasure, family outings or what have you – this list of simple tips will help bring travel photography into focus.

19. 26 Landscape Photography Tips Every Pro Still Uses (Digital Camera World) –

Shooting landscapes is completely different from portrait photography – just as food photography or sports photography is. While the basics of photography (composition, shutter speed, aperture, etc) remain the same, there are other rules and tips you need to keep in mind to advance your landscape photography to the next level. This post is a very thorough look at improving your outdoor shots.

20. How to Photograph the Night Sky (Corina’s Corner) –

Night photography is really an art form all on its own. Shooting the night sky can be incredibly difficult, but also stunning. If you’re looking to round out your portfolio or just want to try something new with your camera, consider photography at dusk, sunset or nighttime. This post has some really simple tips that can help you take amazing night shots.

Also, don’t miss these 6 simple tips to improve your photography that anyone can benefit from!

Kimberly Mueller is the “me” over at bugaboo, mini, mr & me, a blog that highlights her creative endeavors. She especially likes to share kid crafts, sewing attempts, recipes, upcycled projects, photography and free printable gift tags/cards. When she’s not enjoying being married to her best friend, chasing after the natives (AKA her three kids) and attempting to keep the house in one piece, you can find her with a glue gun in one hand and spray paint in the other. Aside from DIY pursuits, she also enjoys writing, reading, music, singing (mostly in the shower) and the color yellow. Kimberly recently published a craft book entitled Modern Mod Podge. You can also find her on Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin’ and Instagram. Email her at: bugabooblog(at)yahoo.com

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