Let's face it every photographer makes mistakes. Even a pro doesn't shoot 100% perfect images 100% of the time. The most important aspect of any mistake is that we learn from it, so the same mistake doesn't keep occurring. Part of the learning experience and honing our skills is to study the good and bad images. What makes this photo stand out? What makes this image less than ideal? Answering these questions will help you plan for the next shoot. Taking time to understand and plan your shots are important steps in the photography journey.


You don't take a photography, you make it. --Ansel Adams


The Four P's


A mentor of mine used to say to remember the the four "P's," What are the four P's? "Prior planning prevents poor performance." While this philosophy can be applied too many of life's ventures, it is an important aspect of photography. Have you ever taken a quick shot that is perfect? Occasionally this happens, but most often not taking time to plan the shot results in a shot that is less than optimal. Taking time to study the light, composing the shot, determining the best camera settings will most often will result in higher quality images. Let's take a brief look at each of these aspects individually.


Light

George Eastman may have said it best, "Light makes photography. Embrace the light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all your are worth, and you will know the key to photography." The light will set the mood and tone of a photograph. Whether shooting in natural or artificial light, understanding how it impacts a photograph is essential. Most photographers understand the impact of shooting during the blue hour (the hour before sunrise and the hour after sunset), or the golden hour (the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset). To take advantage of the beautiful light during these times comes down to planning. What time will the sunrise or set? What will the direction of the light be? What camera mode and settings will be used? What is the mood or story that is going to be told and how will the light help convey the message? These are all important questions to ask prior to heading to the shoot. Scouting the location prior to the shoot is a great idea, but it isn't always possible. An application like Lumos or a similar app may be beneficial in determining the sun's direction, time of rise or setting in a particular location.


Composition

Taking time before releasing the shutter to consider the composition of the image usually results in a better image. A quick review the basics of composition from time to time is usually beneficial. While there are many compositions to consider, these are a few of the most frequently used:

  • Rule of Thirds
  • The Golden Ratio (aka The Fibonacci Spiral)
  • Angle of shot (high, low, etc)
  • Portrait (vertical)/Landscape (horizontal)
  • Framing (fill the frame or use elements to frame)
  • Symmetry/Patterns
  • Leading lines
  • Geometry (triangles, circles, rectangles)
  • Color
  • S-Curve
  • Straight horizon line

Other considerations are background, empty space, cropping, to name a few. It is easy to concentrate on the main subject and forget to look at what is behind the subject. How often have you seen an image of someone with a tree branch or pole coming from their head? Moving the subject or the angle of the camera often will avoid those image catastrophes. A wide aperture may also be effective in blurring the background so that it no longer is a distraction from the main subject. A longer focal length may also help to reduce the amount of background in the frame. Cropping close, in camera, may also result in eliminating distracting backgrounds. Of course sometimes you need space in the image. If shooting a moving subject give them space to move into. Leaving space behind them or not at all can result in an awkward image. A mentor described the Dutch Tilt as an effective way to break the rules of composition to eliminate a distraction in the composition. While the tilt add interest to the composition, it can lead to an off look especially if there is a clear horizon line. All rules may be broken, but doing it effectively takes a solid understanding of the rule and practice in breaking it.


Image Visualization

Taking time to visualize the shot and understanding why you are taking the shot is always important. Asking yourself why you want to photography the subject and what is the story or message you are trying to convey through the image will help to develop ideas to create a compelling image. This is also an important step in developing your photography style.


Gear

Most photographers agree that most photography failures don't occur because a better camera is needed. Most failures occur because of not taking the time to understand the camera, the light, and the composition. However not planning what gear you need for a shoot, can result in some failures. Will a tripod be needed and/or a remote shutter release? Are the batteries charged? Are there backup memory cards and batteries. Will artificial lighting be used or reflectors? Will rain gear be necessary (for photographer and gear)? What lens or lenses will be needed? I find the best way to handle this is to keep a checklist to go through before leaving for a shoot.


Review

It may seem odd that an end review is considered part of prior planning. By reviewing the images you have taken you are preparing for your next shoot. When I first made the leap from film to digital, I deleted all the bad images. It wasn't long that the realization of that I was repeating mistakes. Now there is a careful study of all images before they are deleted. Learning from your mistakes is equally, and perhaps more, important than learning from your successful shots.


Source: K. Land were-Johan, Digital Photography School

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This is a paragraph. Click edit and enter your own text. You can make changes like making the text bold, underline or italic. This is a great place for you to tell your clients more about your story and to describe the type of photographer you are. You can come back at any time to make more changes.

Enter a Heading


This is a paragraph. Click edit and enter your own text. You can make changes like making the text bold, underline or italic. This is a great place for you to tell your clients more about your story and to describe the type of photographer you are. You can come back at any time to make more changes.