Professional photography is a broad field with many subtleties, but one thing is simple: an expensive camera does not guarantee professional-looking pictures. With good light and a little editing, even a snapshot can look as though a professional took it. Here are the six things that mark out professional photos, and how to get them without costly equipment.
Correct colour
Colour does a great deal for the look of a photograph, and wrong colour is one of the first things that makes a picture look amateur. An orange cast from indoor lighting, or a blue one in shade, is the usual culprit. Set the white balance to suit the light, or correct it afterwards.
Professionals also think about how colours work together. Warm colours feel friendly, cool ones calm or sombre, and a small area of strong colour in a muted scene draws the eye. Choosing the colours in the frame, through clothes, background and time of day, is part of taking the picture.
Correct focus
A professional photo is sharp where it should be. In a portrait that means the eyes. Autofocus makes this easy, provided you tell the camera where to focus: tap the screen on a phone, or move the focus point on a camera.
Manual focus gives more control when autofocus struggles, as in low light, through glass or in close-ups. For landscapes, focusing about a third of the way into the scene with a narrow aperture keeps everything sharp from front to back.
Correct exposure
Too much light or too little will ruin a picture. Exposure is controlled by three settings, aperture, shutter speed and ISO, with flash to help when needed.
In a well-exposed photo the shadows and highlights are balanced and there is detail in both. Check the picture on the screen as you go. If the sky is blank white, or the shadows solid black, adjust and take it again. Getting it right in the camera saves a lot of editing.
A soft background
A soft, out-of-focus background that makes the subject stand out is a hallmark of professional work. The portrait mode on modern phones imitates it.
You can get the real thing with any camera. Use the widest aperture you have, get close to your subject, and keep the background as far behind them as you can.
Good lighting
Light matters most of all. Natural light is often best, especially when it is soft: near a window, in open shade or on an overcast day. Avoid harsh overhead sun. A sheet of white card or a white wall will bounce light back into the shadows.
One light source usually looks better than several, because the shadows are natural and give the picture depth. Notice how the light falls on your subject. It should bring out their features without overpowering them.
While you are looking, check the background. Move yourself or the camera until anything distracting has gone, and choose a background that sets the subject off without competing with it.
Leading lines
Composition is the last of the six, and leading lines are one of its most useful tools. A road, a path, a fence or a river leads the viewer's eye into the picture and towards the subject, and gives a sense of depth.
Shooting from low down makes lines on the ground run more strongly into the distance. Lines can be straight, curved, diagonal or converging, and you can combine them. Use them subtly, and make sure they lead somewhere.
Conclusion
Professional-looking photography is a balance of light, exposure and composition. Some faults can be corrected afterwards, but it is always better, and quicker, to get them right at the start.
The final professional touch is presentation. Our picture frames are made to measure, and we are glad to advise on the best frame for your work.
Call EasyFrame on 01234 856 501 or email sales@easyframe.co.uk. We are happy to talk it through even if you do not want to buy.