A Fool-Proof Way to Make Better Photos Without Buying Any New or Fancy Equipment: A Photography Lesson in Two Parts (This is Part One)

That’s my Dad up there. My Dad is awesome. He is smart, witty, and can make or fix just about anything in his workshop. He once helped me build a castle and taught me the perfect free throw. He’s essentially the coolest. 

Since he’s so awesome, the last thing I want to do is take a bad picture of him and post it here on the Internet forever. (Yes, kids! The internet is FOREVER. Don’t post stupid stuff.) So when I’m snapping a photo of my dad or any other person that I love… the main thing I want to pay attention to is Light. 

In the above picture, you can see my Dad gazing longingly at the open sky and lake stretched out before him. He looks pensive and awesome. But see how glaring that Light is on his face in the first picture? It enhances the sharp features on his and face and gives a nasty shadow on his jaw… not awesome. 

Since the sun was coming in the from the left, all I did was hold up something in my left hand that was big enough to block the sun from his face. (A poster board or a friend holding a sheet are good places to start.*) Viola! A much better photo there in the second frame. I didn’t change any of the other settings between these two photos. (I did put it in black and white to make it easier to see the shadows, but both photos are editing the exact same way. 

So Here’s the Lesson: Next time you’re taking a photo of someone, pay attention the light. Check for harsh shadows and move them into the shade if you can, or reposition yourself to eliminate the sharp lines. If you’re standing under a tree, check for the leaf pattern caused by light filtering through— you can get some crazy, blotchy shadows if you’re not paying attention. Have fun and keep an eye out for Part Two! 

*Also, avoid taking pictures in direct sunlight. Clouds act as a natural light diffuser, which spread out the little light particles and makes shadows much, much softer. You can get the same effect as above by simply waiting for a cloudy day!)