The document provides 10 tips for improving photography skills. The tips include learning about light, avoiding using the default flash, changing camera settings like ISO, aperture and exposure to control lighting, investing in good lenses, capturing photos from different perspectives, taking lots of photos to improve, and using Photoshop to enhance photos. The overall message is that photography skills improve with practice, learning technical aspects, and capturing candid moments rather than staged shots.

1. 10 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
Valencia College
Learning Day 2015

2. I have no formal photography training or degree
I now practice photography professionally.
I’ll try to share a few tips on how I learned how to improve my own photography.
photograph courtesy of Jim Hobart: http://www.macbethphoto.com/

3. How it all started...

5. Capturing moments I never wanted to
forget has always been one of
my biggest motivations.

6. Everyone began to nudge me
to do more photography.
Everyone would ask where I had my pictures taken.
Before long I began to pursue photography professionally.

8. photographing babies.
It didn’t take long before I realized I loved

26. You really don’t need a degree —
to take great photos.
TIP #1

27. Before I became a photographer
I knew nothing about photography.
I just knew I loved taking photos.

28. Things that helped me learn photography
http://kenrockwell.com/
the best place to learn what camera or lens to buy

29. Things that helped me learn photography
I read lots of books to learn how
my camera works.

30. Things that helped me learn photography
I referenced tutorials and videos
online based on what I was trying to learn.

31. Need more proof?
You too can learn photography.

32. Meet Hope.
When this photo was
taken she was only
7 years old.

33. I took.
Here’s a photo

34. my 7 year old took.
Here’s a photo

35. And you really don’t need a fancy camera
to take great photos.

36. Point & Shoot Camera
Hope takes pretty awesome photos with a

37. Point & Shoot Camera
In fact, she’s quickly becoming my competition with that

42. Ultimately, you are the one who determines
how great your photos become.

43. Learn how light works.
TIP #2

44. Light controls
everything.

45. Taking photos towards your light source
Will lead to silhouettes.

48. My photography uses mostly
natural light.

50. Trust me, It’s not always
as easy as it looks.

51. The most frustrating part...
Light changes all day.

52. The best times to take photos are in the
hours just after sunrise and before sunset.

53. Sunrise will leave you with
softer cooler light.

54. Sunset will leave you with
warmer light.

55. The hour before sunset is
the golden hour.

56. Sunset makes your subjects
look like they’ve been
kissed by the sun.

57. Direct sunlight is the most harsh during the middle of the day.
Sunlight during the day leads to harsh shadows.

58. But don’t stop taking pictures
because it’s the middle of the day.

61. Regardless of what time of day it is,
begin to pay attention to the light
and your photos will improve.

62. When you find amazing light
take advantage of it.

63. Light can help you create
unforgettable photos.

64. Direct light creates shadows making some
photos more memorable.

65. This was taken a few minutes later
when the direct light was gone.

68. Soft light is amazing
On cloudy days.

69. Light near windows and doors provide great light.
Ambient light is usually softer.

70. Avoid making your subjects
look into the light.

71. If your subject squints a lot try the 1, 2, 3 trick.
Have them look at you once you count to 3.

72. Sometimes you may have to
Reflect, deflect & diffuse light.

74. No reflector

75. No reflector With reflector

76. Avoid using Flash.
TIP #3
(or learn to use other off camera sources of light.)

77. If you care about your pictures
flash on your camera.
Do NOT use the default

78. Unless you want everyone to look like a
Possessed Unabomber.

79. Find a light source
Off Camera

81. Some places do not allow flash.
Learning to turn flash off can help you capture moments.

82. Learn to change your ISO
TIP #4
to take better pictures in poor lighting situations.

83. Higher ISO’s can help you take photos in low light.

84. Higher ISO’s can also lead to noisier photos on some cameras.

85. Learn how to change your exposure.
TIP #5

86. Exposure can help control
how light or dark your
images appear
http://learnprophotography.com/bracketing

87. Learn how to change your focal point.
TIP #6

88. Depth of field can help bring
your photos to life.

91. Learn how to change your aperture.
TIP #7

92. To control depth of field you must understand
how to control your Aperture & f-stop
The smaller f-stop size allows more light to enter the camera.

93. The smaller the f-stop number
opens your aperture up to allow in more light.
Source: Digital Camera Tutorial: Aperture & Depth of field - Trusted Reviews
http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2006/08/17/Digital-Camera-Tutorial-Aperture-Depth-of-Field/p1

94. The smaller the f-stop number the larger your aperture and
the smaller your depth of field.
The smaller your f-stop number focuses on a smaller amount in your photo.
The larger your f-stop number leaves more of your photo in focus.

95. Aperture is controlled by your camera settings
Most Digital SLR’s allow aperture control.
Source images: Ken Rockwell, http://www.kenrockwell.com

96. When you can control your depth of field and focal point
You can focus on what you want.

103. Invest in good lenses.
TIP #8

104. Yes, photography can become an expensive hobby.
Source images: Ken Rockwell, http://www.kenrockwell.com
You can also rent lenses from :
The Lens Pal, http://www.thelenspal.com/
Lens Pro to Go, https://www.lensprotogo.com/
The Lens Depot, http://thelensdepot.com/

105. Shoot from more than one perspective.
TIP #8

106. My triathlete friends jokingly have referred to me as a “sniper”.
All that military training was worth it – many of my best photos are taken from this perspective.

107. “Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”
—John Swift

108. Thanks to my colleague
Josh Murdock for some of these
behind the scenes photos.

109. I’ve been known to climb on walls and
trees to capture some of the best moments.

111. I’ve taken great risks to capture the moments I have taken over the years.
Taking risks makes moments that much more memorable.
The waves crashed on the shore and me a moment later. I was drenched up to my hips by the ocean.

113. Want to know how you get better at photography?

115. Take lots of pictures.
TIP #9

116. You take
lots of photos.

117. And you keep taking
lots of photos.

118. It’s better to take too many photos than to miss capturing moments.
And before you know it your photos will improve.

119. In 2009 I challenged myself to take one photo of each person in our family every day of the year.
My 365 project helped me improve as a photographer.
http://www.picturemosaics.com/
Mosaic created by

120. It may take hundreds or thousands of photos before you realize
the most memorable moments can’t be staged.

121. You don’t plan
for moments like this.

122. The best moments aren’t staged.
They just happen.

131. Shoot fast & often because moments
can’t be recreated.

132. Yes, sometimes the best moments...
They just happen.

134. And what do you do when your subjects
just won’t cooperate?

136. Yes, you
keep taking pictures!

137. But sometimes giving them time & space
leads to better pictures.

138. Candid moments usually make
the best pictures.

143. No matter what age they are...
It helps to let them be themselves.

145. And whatever you do, please...
stop saying cheese.

146. Learn photoshop.
TIP #10

147. When you can’t take ONE perfect photo.
You rely on photoshop to help you.

148. Rarely are photos perfect straight
Out of your camera.

149. Photoshop can help make
a good photo great.

153. Yes, some situations even
make me want to give up.

155. With a little patience and help from photoshop
amazing memories are captured.

159. “You don’t take a
photograph, you
make it.”
—Ansel Adams

160. www.amandakern.com
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email: akern@valenciacollege.edu
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