Learn how to take a best photo every time with simple photography tricks. Master lighting, angles, and composition to achieve picture-perfect results and capture the best shots when you press the shutter.
Defining the “Best Photo”
Your best photo isn't a matter of luck or coincidence; it's the inevitable result of knowledge, experience, and intention combined with the right gear for the job. Before we explain how to take a best photo every time, you should know that the best photo is essentially a frame that combines art and science to capture moments in a way that holds a story within it and evokes emotions. All this happens when your photos check boxes for all these requirements:
1. The image has the highest possible clarity in terms of sharpness.
2. The subject and the rest of the elements are properly exposed to light.
3. The color profile is retained, and small details are visible enough.
4. There is a strong composition being used to drive attention to the subject.
5. The image of that specific frame captures a story.
If you are just starting and want to learn how to take a best photo of a subject consistently, you are required to keep these skills and knowledge elements in your mind before you press the shutter button next time.
1. No Excuse for Master Lighting
When you are using a camera, you are essentially playing with light, and how well you do that will dictate the final results of your image. No matter how good your camera is and how good the conditions are to take a picture of the subject, not knowing how to use light to your advantage will ruin the final shot.
To avoid doing that, first, always prefer shooting in the golden hours when outdoors. Avoid harsh noon light; it will ruin your shots with strong shadows and high contrast, especially when capturing human portraits. You have to learn really well how to monitor exposure and camera settings in different lighting conditions, especially when working during different times of a single day.
And if you are working in a controlled lighting setup, then master the three-point lighting setup to form the basics. Then move to other advanced techniques, which will use softbox lights, ring lights, or LED panels to simulate soft, even lighting. There is so much to learn when it comes to using light and getting crisp and professional-looking images.
2. Learn Camera Controls
Although modern cameras are outstanding with automode, you still need to learn how to use these cameras in manual mode to truly unlock their potential and help you get better creative control. You have to absolutely master the exposure triangle, which relates to depth of field, aperture, their f-numbers, focal length of the lens, and setting ISO, shutter speed, and a few other things you will discover along.
Depending on the camera type and generation model, you will take some time to master its controls. We recommend spending as much time as possible experimenting with these controls. There are whole individual camera communities available online, which can also be a help.
3. Develop skills for “Angles”
You know how to use light to your advantage and your camera is properly set up, but you are standing at the wrong angle to take the picture ruins the day. The angle from which you will shoot the subject can dramatically alter the focus and feel of the final shot. One of the most practical ways to capture portraits is by angling the frame from eye level for connection, which instantly creates the most natural and intimate vibe in photos.
Then there are high-angle shots to put the subject in a vulnerable context and also low-angle shots to give subjects a feeling of dominance. Then there is a camera angle of close-up, which reveals fine details and is, in fact, a complete branch of photography called macro photography. You have to learn which camera angles relate to your work and develop skills to use them properly.
4. Master Composition
You are using the light properly, the angle is also perfect, but how to know what and how much to capture? This is where composition becomes so important, which is a skill to decide how to arrange your subject in the frame, its background, and other elements to create balance for the final shot.
These topics are quite lengthy and require more time than we can cover in this article. Search on YouTube for “the rule of thirds”, how to use leading lines in a frame, techniques of framing, using negative space for framing, and balancing your frame in photography. The premise of all of them here is that you have to learn the basics of framing and occasionally experiment with breaking compositional rules to become a true, creative photographer.
5. Invest in a Capable Camera Lens
Okay, now you know how to take the best photo with your camera, but there is one thing you are missing here: the camera gear and its accessories. Your camera body will highly influence your final shots. Invest in mirrorless cameras, which are much more capable and offer more clarity and image sharpness as compared to older DSLRs and digital cameras.
Next is the camera lens, which is literally the eye of your camera; the better it sees, the more accurate information your camera sensor receives and processes it down to a much more detailed and clearer image with rich details. Invest in a capable camera lens to get the best version of the photo you are trying to get.
One such lens is the SIRUI AURORA 85mm F1.4 lens, an advanced precision optical instrument built to make your every photo the best photo you will ever take. It features a f/1.8 aperture, which is the gold standard for high-end portrait lenses and is tuned at 85mm focal length. This spec sheet, combined with superior optics, helps the lens capture clinically sharp images without sacrificing detail. The lens is literally an okeh-generating machine and works super fast and is whisper-quiet thanks to its state-of-the-art STM autofocus system. If you are serious about improving the photos you take, this lens is highly recommended.
Wrapping Up:
To truly learn how to take the best photo in a professional way possible, there is no escape from mastering the above techniques and skill base. Combine this knowledge and skills with the SIRUI AURORA 85mm F1.4 lens, and you will get an instant upgrade to your photographic results.
