Projects are a great way to improve your photography. Shooting one thing, taking a photo a day, or taking part in Ali Edward’s Week in the Life are all opportunities to improve your photo taking.
Practice a few things to get the most out of your photo projects.
Shoot More Than One Frame
Consider different angles as you shoot. Above. Below. At eye level. Take more than one photo. Do it deliberately though. Don’t just simply snap multiple photos because you can, select your views and shoot. Try different crops. One photo may appeal to you more than the others.
Photograph New Things
Look around you right now. Find ten things you’ve never photographed. Shoot them. Always shoot people looking in the lens? Grab some candid photos. Pick a color in your home. Photograph it everywhere you see it. Photograph your house numbers, your car keys, your fingerprint, your signature. Don’t overlook those things that seem mundane, but are integral parts of your everyday.
Place Things on The Diagonal
Diagonals imply motion or action in your photo. A diagonal line can lead the viewer’s eye through the photo, telling more of a story and increasing interest. Place something in the corner of the frame and let it move through the frame. Tilt your camera a smidge or two.
Leave White Space
Give things room to breathe. It can be as simple as stepping to one side to avoid extras in the frame. Stooping just a bit, going for something other than what you usually do.
Fill Your Frame
Step in closer. And then get even closer. Most everyday photos can be quickly improved by stepping in closer and being more deliberate with the subject.
Go With Your Gut
When you think, “I should shoot that,” go with it. Chances are there is an angle, a contrasting color, something of appeal that grabs your attention. Tell that story. I’d rather have too many photos than a lot of missed opportunities.
Shoot at Different Times
The photo you take at noon is not going to be the same as the photo you shoot at 6PM. Light changes and with it the personality of a photo will change. Try different times, different locations in your home to see what you find.
Try A New Technique
Projects focus our energy and intention. They can be a great time to try things you haven’t before. Experiment some.
- Set your camera to a different aperture.
- Slow your shutter speed even if you don’t have a tripod or the perfect results.
- Use your flash
- Shoot in low light
- Grab some light bokeh
Always shoot with your dSLR? Grab your phone. Buy a new app. Grab your point and shoot. Shake it up.
Have fun! You are making memories as well taking photos of them!
What are your favorite ways to get more out of your week in the life? And, I’m just wondering, which of those veggie shots do you prefer?!
Be sure to check out Katrina’s CaptureYour365 for more great photography tips!
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Awesome photography tips – and great photos as well! Hey, will you send me an invite to pinterest.com? I would really appreciate it! Keep up the good work!
I love the bottom left one as well and also picked it before you asked. Love these suggestions!!
Great piece! Bottom left
Definitely the bottom left veggie picture for its composition.
My favorite veggie photo is the one on the bottom left. More interesting to me.
LOVE LOVE LOVE – the picture of the road that is kind of off kilter. Such a cool perspective.
Bottom left and I picked it before I read all the comments. Realizing that the bottom left was most popular, I went back and really studied the photos. It was interesting to notice all the differences between the photos that at first glance I thought were all the same just zoomed in differently. Very cool . I’ve got to take one of your classes!
I like the left 2, probably the bottom left the most. Thanks for the article.
Great tips, thank you! I like the bottom left veggie photo
Hello! I came over here from a link on Ali Edward’s Facebook page. I am sooooo glad I found this site.
My favorite veggie picture is the bottom left also.
May I please also have an invite for Pintrest?? Pretty please with strawberries?
I like the bottom left – the tomatillo catches my eye with the outer husk splitting just so – sigh – I wish mine were that ready but we had a cold spring so everything is slow. I also like that I can see a “garden visitor” likes your strawberries just like the many garden visitors like mine.
Thanks for the great tips.
I like the bottom left photo.
Great post! Thanks for the tips. I hadn’t heard the diagonal one before – will try it tomorrow (or rotate one of today’s a smidge in photoshop
) Really enjoying the project this year – my first time. X
I like the bottom two best… probably the bottom left shot, but I love seeing more of the beautiful blue/green skin of the squash in the bottom right shot. Great reminders as we take on WITL. I’ve been surprised at the comments on my photos so far. Several folks have commented, “Great that you included yourself in the shot”. It was a natural choice for me: it’s a week in MY life!
I like both the right ones. The upper right attracts me by the really straight line of the Zuchinni contrasting with the circle of the pail. The lower right being closer in makes me more hungry to eat them.
Bottom left Katrina
I prefer the bottom right picture. Love the closeness of it. I’m doing week in a life with iphone pictures only – plus using CathyZ instagram template so only room for 8 pictures a day. A no stress version which I may actually complete. I’ve done 2 days so far and layouts are completed before I went to bed on the actual day. So feeling good.
Another great article, Katrina! Thank you! My favorite veggie photo is the lower left–very energetic and dynamic composition. My favorite way to get more shots into my “Day in the Life” is to use my iPhone b/c it is always with me and I love playing with various photo apps to get cool new looks.
Love the bottom left veggie pic. I’ve always enjoyed balance in my scrapping and photo taking but I’m loving changing it up now. I think scrapping with clusters shoved me a little bit to go outside the box. Good article, Katrina!
I have learnt how my camera timer works in the last 24h due to WITL, and I am quite liking some of the results I have achieved. Also thinking of maybe just using a long lens and using a selection abstract images.