Although there are many different types of photography like scenic, portrait, fashion, macro and event photography, there are four basic rules that apply to any type of photography. These are the most important rules you should know before you even pick up your camera.

The first rule is the composition rule. Composition refers to how your subject is arranged inside the frame relative to the background and other objects within the frame. The composition of your image has a huge impact on the overall effect of your image.

To improve your composition skills you must pay attention to where you place your subject in relation to everything else in the frame. You want your subject to look as natural and centered as possible. In addition, you want to choose a background that complements your subject rather than detracting from it.

Instead of standing in front of a brick wall or an industrial background try looking for a more natural background such as a tree or a field. When you take a picture of someone always consider what is happening around them and try to incorporate that into your picture.

Secondly, the lighting rule refers to choosing the right time of day to shoot as well as using proper lighting equipment when necessary. You can find out when sunrise, sunset and twilight will occur for any location at twilight-calcul

Here are four basic “rules” for making better photographs. They are rules in the sense that there is no room for argument. They are not rules in the sense that you need to follow them all of the time or even most of the time. You will never see a great photograph that breaks one of these rules, but you will see many mediocre photographs that break one or two of them.

Telling someone about the “rules” for something has always seemed to me like a slightly condescending way to teach something, but I can think of no other way to make these points clear enough to be useful.

So here are four basic (non-rules). Please don’t read them as dogma. If you do, they will make you bad at photography instead of good at it.

1) Use a tripod (or at least a flat surface) unless you know there is going to be lots of motion in your frame, in which case use a fast shutter speed instead (Rule 1a).

2) Don’t use flash except in dark situations where getting enough light without flash would be impossible (Rule 2a).

3) Shoot JPEG instead of RAW when shooting snapshots or when you want color control over your final image (Rule 3a).

4)

Rule 1. The best camera is the one that you have with you.

Rule 2. When in doubt, get closer.

Rule 3. Remove or simplify anything that does not contribute to the image.

Rule 4. Avoid distorting what you see; instead look for ways of seeing things anew.*

*These rules were adapted from Michael Reichmann’s blog F-Stop Academy, which has excellent photography advice and a wealth of articles about photographing landscapes, cityscapes and travel photos — all of which I enjoy reading and using as inspiration for my own photography!

The main thing to keep in mind when photographing people is that you are capturing a moment that is over in an instant. You have to be ready to snap the shutter at the right time. If you miss your shot, it’s gone forever. The same is true for most photographs.

The first rule for taking better photos is to capture what you are really seeing. Don’t let your camera lie to you. Have you ever seen a photo of a couple hugging and thought, “I know they didn’t look like that”? Most of us have. If you’re trying to capture an image of a frozen moment, then don’t let your memory of the moment lie to you about what the picture should look like.*

“If you have something to say, say it. Don’t use a thousand words when one will do.” -Plato

As a professional photographer, I’m often asked how to improve one’s photography. The answer is simple, but not what most people want to hear:

1) Develop an eye for composition.

2) Learn the basics of camera operation (I recommend reading your camera’s instruction manual).

3) Practice, practice, practice!

I could go on, but these three simple rules will get you well on your way. If you need more help, please feel free to ask.

The following rules are not meant to be an exhaustive list, nor are they intended to be a substitute for good common sense. They just represent some thoughts I have had over the past few years in my quest to take better pictures, and I hope you will find them useful.**

1. The subject is more important than the composition.

2. Lighting is everything.

3. Don’t worry about camera settings; just focus on your subject and capture the moment.

4. Be creative.’