Whether you're just beginning your journey as an amateur photographer, or you’ve been at it for years; here are some great tips to improve your skills.

Invest in Good Photography Books

If you are trying to improve your photography skills, there are a number of books that can be useful starting points. There are also some tips on selecting equipment that can help you take better photos. Photography is a lot of fun and there are many ways to take fantastic photos without a lot of cash invested. It's better to be comfortable than poor.

Learn The Ins & Outs Of Your Camera

The first step in taking better pictures is to know what type of camera you have. The first thing you should do, if you're still learning to use a DSLR, is to see what other people have done with their cameras. Use their pictures as a guide. Look at the most important features they have included in their photos. Those are the things that will make a big difference in how good your pictures turn out.

Your Camera's Capabilities

The first step in improvement is awareness. When in doubt, look at the capabilities of your camera equipment. Look at the manual for your particular model of camera to gain an understanding of what is possible. Are you confident that you can execute the techniques described in the manual? Is the viewfinder reliable? Can you focus accurately without the aid of a monitor? If not, then you need to think about ways that you can improve those aspects of your photography skills. In addition to these basics, practice regularly taking pictures of things you are interested in taking pictures of. 

Getting great photos is more than clicking a button. It’s about understanding your photography goals and adjusting your equipment to fit your subject.

Learn More About Composition

If you want to take pictures that really tell the story, then you must learn how to compose your pictures properly. A neat knack is necessary for developing a unique style, but any amateur photographer will tell you that the most important thing to focus on is getting the picture exactly right. The composition should look good even without any lighting. It should remind people of something they already know. Learning how to draw, particularly in a humorous way, helps many amateurs create better pictures.  When composing your pictures for the web, pay particular attention to how line-of-sight works in your composition.

Take Notice of Lighting

When you start out, you probably think that the best thing to do is to get as many pictures as you can of landmarks and interesting places in your area. You might try taking pictures of people on the street. Or you might doodle designs in the sand. As you get better with your technique and become better organized, you might start taking notice of slight differences in lighting between pictures taken of the same place. These differences will tell you something about the contrast between different scenes in your pictures. 

Differentiating Colors

Differentiating colors in an image is really easy once you grasp the basics. First, identify the primary (or dominant) color in the image. Also, look at the secondary colors through the filter of your camera (if there is one). Focus On The Bright Lights In The Sky  (or Use A Daylight Camera). Identify The Sun In Capturing A Sunset. Use Background Blocking To Blend Out The Sky.

Consider Using Gray

Gray is not often considered a good color for photography, but there are advantages to using subdued colors in your photos. For one, it helps create a sense of calmness and balance in your pictures. Second, using gray can diminish bright or contrasting elements in your picture. By using subdued colors in your pictures, you can also communicate intimacy more effectively.

We hope these tips help you on your amateur photography journey, keep shooting!