Wondering how to take better pictures and level up your photography game? Well, this is not just about investing in expensive gear, it involves avoiding mistakes. Learn how to do so.
We all have been there when our shiny and expensive camera gear doesn’t deliver how we were hoping it would. There can be many reasons behind bad pictures, but if you want to instantly learn how to take better pictures in everyday life, below are the most common mistakes that you have to keep in check:
1. Not using the rule of thirds:
Trust us on this, you need to learn this rule to take better pictures. For using this, consider that what you see in the viewfinder is divided into 9 equal parts, which are done with two equally spaced vertical and horizontal lines (will look like a tic-tac-toe board).
The rule suggests that the center intersection points of these lines (which are called points of visual interest) should be used to focus on your object you are interested in. The horizontal lines can be used to align key elements of pictures, like horizons in landscapes, which are important in this frame. This rule helps photographers identify and align what is important and what’s not, greatly helping them to take better pictures.
Both your smartphones and professional cameras often come with this grid view, which can be enabled from the settings. You can use this grid in many ways, for example, when taking a portrait, instead of placing the entire face in the intersection points, you can try aligning their eyes on one of the upper points of intersection and align the rest of the body with vertical lines.
2. Deal with Motion Blur and Missed Focus
This one is quite a common rookie error and is common during low-light or action scenes. This happens because either your camera shutter is very slow or your autofocus system is not fast enough to track the object. To fix this, you have to turn on continuous autofocus if you are shooting moving subjects.
Also, it is always recommended to switch to much higher shutter speeds to let the camera snap a picture much more quickly than a regular shot. Move up 1/250s or higher if you are dealing with objects in motion, especially in darker environments.
3. Relying Too Much on Cropping or Zoom
Convenience won’t get you spectacular results; that’s why over-relying on Zoom can impact our results. Digital zooming is even worse for optical quality, so avoid that. Camera sensors that crop your final results are also something we don’t like, as they take away what you are capturing.
For everyday portraits and general picture use, we recommend using an 85mm prime lens, which will preserve a natural compression and beautiful bokeh and can be quite functional if you get used to physically moving close to or away from objects.
4. Using the Wrong Lens
This is one of the most common mistakes people make when they think that a single lens can capture everything they point at. Yes, it will, but this is not how to take better pictures in a professional domain.
First, you need to know what a wide-angle and a telephoto lens are and when to use them. These two types represent two distinct photography styles—wide-angle lenses are ideal for landscapes and architectural shots, capturing broad scenes with context, while telephoto lenses are better for portraits and isolating subjects with depth and background compression. You can just use a wide lens for taking portraits, but this will result in distorting faces, which no one wants. The same goes for telephoto and landscapes. You need to invest in lenses that are relevant to your photography style and then master the skillset of taking better photos with them.
As mentioned above, the 85mm creates a nice balance of two worlds of photography, especially if you learn how to physically move with it for capturing photos. The SIRUI Aurora Series 85mm F1.4 Full-frame Autofocus Lens, with its 85mm focal length, is one such lens that is designed to separate objects from the background and smoothly make them pop.
Moreover, you get flattering compression and a natural perspective in such portraits, even in low light, thanks to its ultra-wide f/1.4 aperture. Its high refractive index glass elements, covered in an extra-low dispersion glass, put it in the top-tier pool of camera lenses, making it a highly recommended lens for taking better-looking pictures.
In the end, knowing how to choose the right lens for each context—whether it’s the cinematic width of the Saturn 35mm for sweeping landscapes or the soft depth of the 85mm for intimate portraits—is at the heart of how to take better pictures. Mastering this balance of gear and technique is what transforms a casual shot into a professional photograph.
