7 Photography Skills you need to take better photos

Are you looking to take your photography skills to the next level? Whether you're a beginner or an experienced photographer, there are certain skills that you need to master in order to take better photos. In this blog post, I'll share with you seven essential photography skills that will help you take stunning photos every time. So let's get started!

Learn your camera - ISO, EV compensation, Focus modes, Metering

One of the most important photography skills you need to master is learning how to use your camera. Whether it's a DSLR or a point-and-shoot, it's essential that you understand all of its functions and settings for taking better photos. This includes learning about ISO, EV (exposure Value) compensation, focus modes and metering modes. All these features can help you take better photos in different lighting conditions and will give you more control over your image.

Understand Exposure

It's all about the light - know how to take your camera off of auto!

Another important photography skill is understanding exposure. Exposure is all about the light and how it affects your image. You need to understand shutter speed, aperture, and ISO so that you can take your camera off of auto mode and adjust these settings to get the right amount of light for a great photo.

The exposure triangle is a helpful tool to keep in mind when adjusting your camera settings. The three points of the triangle are shutter speed, aperture, and ISO - all working together to give you the right amount of exposure for your image.

Master your focus

Another important photography skill is mastering your focus. You need to understand focus modes such as autofocus, and manual focus. By understanding these different aspects of focusing, you'll be able to take sharper photos with a greater depth of field. With manual focus, you can also control the area of your image that is in the sharpest focus – which could be used to great effect when making images.

Focus peaking has also become a very popular feature on cameras, and this can help you to make sure that your focus is where you want it.

Learn to post-process

Post-processing is an essential photography skill and can help you take your photos to the next level. By learning how to use programs such as Photoshop and Lightroom, you'll be able to adjust colours, contrast and other elements of your photos to make them look better. This step is often overlooked by many amateur photographers but can really give your photos that professional touch.

Post-processing is often the last step in a photographer's workflow and can often make the difference between an average photo, and one that stands out.

Master composition

Composition is the placement of elements in your photo that can make or break an image. By understanding the principles of composition, such as the rule of thirds and leading lines, you'll be able to create stunning images with a greater impact.

Composition is one of the most important photography skills and can help you create images that capture the viewer's attention.

I have released a comprehensive online course teaching the key elements of landscape photography composition. Check out my online course here

Night photography

Night photography is a great way to get creative and take stunning images. It requires some different settings than regular daylight shooting, such as longer shutter speeds and higher ISOs. By understanding how to use these settings, you'll be able to take amazing photos of the night sky or cityscapes.

Using filters/accessories

Using filters and other accessories can help enhance your photos. Polarizing filters are great for reducing glare and saturating colours, while Neutral density filters allow you to reduce the amount of light entering the lens so that you can get longer shutter speeds in brighter conditions.

These are just some of the essential photography skills that you need to master if you want to take better photos. Practising and experimenting with different settings and techniques is the best way to become a master of your craft. With dedication and perseverance, you'll be able to take stunning images that will make you proud.