- 59 Quick and Easy Photography Tips
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Ready to give your photography skills a boost? We asked the Canon community to share their practical advice on taking better photos. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced shooter looking for new ideas, these quick and easy photography tips will help you get more out of each and every shoot.
1. Shoot every single day, even if you don’t leave your house. – Littlewood.photography
2. Photograph what you love, not what you think others will love. – Heathholdenphoto
3. Don’t do what everyone else is doing. Follow your eye and shoot the world in your own unique way. – Joe257_photos
4. Join a camera club and/or try to make friends with other photographers. – Ewanarnoldaphoto
5. Never try and force the moment. If it’s there, you will capture it. – FlowCreator
Image by Community Member, Josh Coulter
6. Never give up and always be patient. Persistence is everything when it comes to great photography. – Myannawedes
7. Collaborate with other creatives to improve your images. There’s nothing wrong with admitting you can learn from others. – Samcousinsphotography
8. Take as many photos as you can, as often as you can, and try to learn from every shot. – Oikonomou.nikos
9. Keep a keen eye on your focus. Sometimes you only get one chance to get the shot. – Bounce_light
10. Shoot bracketed images when the light conditions are changing frequently. – Hightidehuts
11. Enjoy the moment with your eyes first and the joy will translate into your photo. – Vitaminimalist
12. Research and plan new destinations before committing. – Travelphotos.asia
13. Don’t discard creative ideas that you haven’t tried yet. – Finnflix
14. Always look behind you! You never know what amazing things you might be missing just because you’re facing the wrong way. – Chrishooleyphotos
Image by Community Member, Chris Hooley
15. Take a bag on photo shoots that you can fill with stones if you need to weigh down your tripod. – Michaelpaphotos
16. Don’t be afraid to be creative and try new things! There’s always the delete button if your ideas don’t turn out right. – Thepotaito
17. Be unapologetic about your style. Photography is an art and there are no rules. – Hatton511
18. Work hard and learn the art of patience. – Stockwell_darren
19. Learn what the histogram shows you and don’t rely solely on what you see on the back of the screen. – Yj.photos
20. Use the rubber piece of your strap as a cover for the viewfinder when taking long exposures. – Thejordanhall
21. Don’t compare your photos to other people’s. Only compare them to images you’ve already made yourself. – Stephenfinkel
22. Be persistent and don’t be afraid to ask others for help and guidance. – Jordancantelo
Image by Community Member, Jordan Cantelo
23. Invest in lenses that you like shooting with and work out what focal lengths work best for your shooting style. – Spencerglew
24. Always carry a spare SD Card in your camera bag or something you won’t forget to bring (such as your jacket). – Sophia_pouncey
25. Remember to clean your lenses before you start shooting. – Harry_gaston1
26. Write your contact details on a piece of paper and take a photo of it each time you insert a fresh memory card. If you misplace your camera, you might just get it back if the person who finds it knows how to contact you. – Stephenfinkel
27. Always double check that you have your tripod head as well as your actual tripod. – Opal858
28. If you don’t have an ND filter or polariser filter, use your sunnies instead. – Reilytong
29. Never underestimate the camera you already have—photography is not about having the latest gear. – Zdefs
Image by Community Member @zdefs
30. Always, always carry spare batteries! You don’t want to miss a special moment just because you’ve run out of power. – Michael__southam
31. Whatever style of photography you’re into, wide angle lenses are a must. – Sagar_reddy02
32. Find leading lines that can help draw your viewers’ eyes into your photos. – Teresa_severson_photography
33. Learn how to use the rule of thirds. – Snapped_by_fin
34. Try multiple angles when shooting your subject and don’t be afraid to push the technical limits of your work. – Joshuaprietonphotography
35. Always consider the background of your image. It’s just as important as your subject. – Tnttravels
36. Try not to rush when composing your shots. – Built_cf_tough
37. To show scale in your images, use the widest lens you have and place your subject in the distance. – Kieran Tunbridge
Image by Community Member, Kieran Tunbridge
38. Keep your images as simple as possible and include as few elements as possible. – Chrisjansenimages
39. Always check and recheck your composition before taking a long exposure shot. – Framesbydan
40. Don’t always look at the ‘big picture’—zoom in and think macro too. – Andre.gh_photography
41. Shoot with an out of focus element blocking part of the frame. It makes your images look so sick! – Seanwirvine
42. Always shoot a hint underexposed. You can always lighten the whites but you can’t bring info back in overexposed shots. – Mandyfoudoulaki
43. Get to know your camera. Spend time working through all the features and settings and learn how to get the most out of it. – Cameronritchie
44. Don’t be afraid to use Auto ISO. It’s one less setting to worry about. – Tnttravels
45. Understand the exposure triangle (ISO/Shutter Speed/Aperture). – Timyeahtim
46. Look for warm light, whether it be natural or manmade. – Awanafan
47. The sun is the best quality light source there is. – Christianmichael.photography
Image by Community Member, Nik Moulas
48. Learn to use your light metre if you want perfectly-exposed images. – Nikm_photographics
49. Always take a little tripod with you for shooting low–light landscapes or water shots. – Jacopoz99
50. Make sure your horizon is always straight. – Fifteenth_photo
51. Always be ready for the unexpected when it comes to landscape photography. You never know what Mother Nature might surprise you with. – Sam_markham_
Image by Community Member, Sam Markham
52. For sunrise landscape shots, my best tip is to always be prepared and have your frame ready before first light (normally 30 minutes before sunrise). Even a burning sky can turn grey in a matter of seconds. – Ray Bishop
53. When you’re travelling, don’t forget to capture the people you see at landmarks. Their expressions will say a lot about the place. – Dibbyboom
54. Get to your shoot location as early as possible. – Adrian_wedderburn
55. When shooting portraits, remember that the most important thing to have in focus is the eye. – Krissaad
56. Candid moments happen unexpectedly so keep your camera handy whenever possible. And don’t get too close to the action as you might disturb the scene and lose its authenticity. Instead, use a longer lens and stand back. I use my EF 50mm f/1.8 STM and my EF 85mm f/1.2 II USM for candid shots. – Jacqueline Crompton
Image by Community Member, Jacqueline Crompton
57. When taking photos of kids, get down low and capture them at their level. – Blueberrycobaby
58. Good filters and editing skills can make a huge difference when shooting the stars! – Miaa.Johnson
59. To get sharp focus when shooting the night’s sky, set your lens to manual focus, turn on live view, magnify to x10 and get shooting. Astro.coy
Image by Community Member, Stephen Coy
Canon Photographer Jenn Cooper shares her 8 favourite locations to shoot photos and videos in New South Wales
Originally from Hong Kong, Elaine Li is an experienced travel photographer and Instagram sensation based in sunny Sydney. She is immensely passionate about travel and exposing herself to new cultures around the world – always with her camera in hand. Here Elaine shares her favourite photography locations in Helsinki and Lapland. From snow-white fields to ethereal pine forests, Finland sure has a lot to offer.