Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

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Disclosure: My family and I were invited to Universal Orlando Resort as part of a blogger/media press tour. All expenses paid. No compensation received.

Do you feel that you have a great camera, but your pictures don’t come out as well as you want? If you feel that your pictures are not showing well what you remember in real life or if you would simply like to improve your skills in taking pictures, then these tips are for you! I have compiled eight tips to help you preserve those memories.

8 Simple Tips for Taking Better Pictures

1. Any Camera Will Do

Now that DSLR cameras (Digital Single Lens Reflex) are more affordable for non-professionals, I have noticed there is a lot of want for that type of camera. People might think, “If I have that camera, I will have better pictures.” And the answer is NO. A great part of the result of a photo lies in the photographer and not only on the camera. Sure the camera helps, but there are plenty of great point-and-shoot cameras with lots of functions that can help you take a great picture too.

2. Always, Always, Always Bring the Camera Wherever you Go!

You never know when you will have a great photo opportunity. Sometimes I have told myself: “I don’t need to bring my camera. I don’t think I will have time to take any pictures or it will be a horrible place.” Well, I was wrong! And I have regretted it very much because there I was with a great photo opportunity and no camera.

3. Avoid Using the Flash

Flash makes pictures look less natural. It adds deep shadows and highly contrasted areas so, as an example, faces look very harsh. Always, always turn off the flash, even if you are using the camera on automatic. Keep in mind that if you are in a place where there is less light and do not use the flash, once you press the shutter button, the camera may take longer to take the picture and the picture will look blurry if you move the camera just a bit.  What you can try to do is support yourself in a way that you move the minimum while taking the picture, or if you have a table or a counter where you can place the camera, that will help as well. Of course, if you own a tripod, use it!

4. Read your Camera’s User Manual

Believe it or not, your camera’s user manual is where you can learn the most of how to use your camera, as well as basic principles of photography. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but most of us don’t like to read manuals and go straight to use the product, since most products are built very user-friendly these days. But take this tip seriously. Always experiment with the camera modes, the exposure, and the zoom until you feel comfortable with your own equipment and, most importantly, until you feel you know your camera.

5. Use the Camera Controls, Especially the ISO Setting

Learn about ALL the controls your camera has. If you are using a point-and-shoot camera, try to use the functions for sports, macro, and so on. All cameras have an ISO setting; this controls the camera’s sensitivity for light. If you are out on a very sunny day, use a lower ISO (100 for example). If you are taking a picture of a still object, a low ISO will also work. If you are taking pictures of moving objects or people – like kids, a lower ISO (400 or 800) will be much better. This will allow the shutter to go quicker and the objects won’t appear blurry.

6. Pay Attention to the Background

Many times we look at our subject while taking a picture and forget about the background. Later we realize that there was a horrible trash can or lots of people in the background, making the picture busy and unpleasant. So, be aware that the background plays a huge role in your photo and remember to look at everything in the frame you are photographing. This also applies when you are taking pictures of people. If you are including their complete bodies, don’t cut off the feet or a hand on the side; include ALL of it, sometimes a cut-off foot just doesn’t look right.

7. Take a Picture from a Different Angle

After you took the picture that you were taking, stop and redo it! Just for fun, get close to the subject, get further away, place the camera on the ground or stand on something high and look down! These are just a few examples. The point is to experiment taking the picture from a different point of view. The good thing about digital cameras is that you can take lots of pictures and discard the bad ones easily, so take risks when you take pictures – it will be worth it!

8. Edit your Pictures

You don’t need a professional photo editing software for this; you can use the software that sometimes come with cameras. iPhoto, Photoshop Elements, or Picasa are good too. But, it really helps when you put in that little extra time to edit your photos. Some simple edits you can always do are:

• Adjust contrast: Try to make the picture brighter with deeper shadows. Using the auto adjust feature is always helpful too.
• Crop: Sometimes a little cropping goes a long way.
• Play with colors: Maybe turn the photo into a black and white photo or use sepia tones? Depending on the picture, this might look great!

Don’t worry if you can’t follow all of these tips. If you start at least with a couple, I guarantee you will notice a difference in your pictures really quickly. Have fun, and remember that the latest camera might have amazing features and controls, but a huge part of a nice picture is a skilled photographer!

All photos courtesy of Dariela Cruz.

This will be the last post about our Puerto Rico vacation. With it, I share a few more photos from our trip.

Enjoy.

***All pictures taken by Justin Edwards.***