7 tips for better photographs | by acacia

1.  Always have your camera somewhere near you -- not necessarily beside you all the time, but simply somewhere easily accessible.  It is essential not to miss any opportunity for a good picture: a butterfly fluttering in the breeze near your window, your sister or brother's silly, sweet smile, a rainbow, or raindrops racing down the window.  If you're going out for the day, bring your camera along with you.  This way, you won't miss a good photograph.  

2.  Experiment with angles and find your niche. Browse through a few photos and ask yourself 'Why does this photo appeal to me?'  The photo below was taken from an above angle: does that appeal to you more or less?  Incorporate things in your photograph that appeal to you.

3.  Lighting.  I can't stress how important this is! a) Try not to use your flash unless it's completely necessary. b)  Play around with your ISO to get the lighting you want. c) If you see the sun, run outside, grab a sibling, friend or object you want to photograph and delight in the light. While doing so, however, ensure your subject's back is facing the sun so that sunlight spills through the subject's body.  When your subject is facing the sun directly, your photo will often look over-exposed. 

4.  Shoot in manual.  To create a photograph that's raw, authentic, and you, shooting in manual is the essential of essentials.  Too scared to shoot in manual?  (Yes, it can be hard sometimes!):  Look at a few tutorials, pick a photography magazine, or have a look at this.  For a quick and easy guide, look & print this out.  

5.  Don't be afraid to mess around; be creative, experiment, try freelensling, take photos through glasses (like the above photo), and take photos of things upside down.  

6.  Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Your photography is your art -- it's beautiful because it's yours.  A certain famous quote says, 'There is no success like failure.'  It's true.  Your failures teach, guide and instruct you to become successful.

7.  Take too many photographs.  (Trust me, you learn a lot this way.)  

I'm Acacia | Canadian | living in England | age 15 and a half.  My life in a nutshell:  I am a celebrator of life, flexible, lover of mint tea; adorer of Jesus, spaghetti + fresh bread, playing the piano, watercoluring, sketching, the feeling of swimming underwater, and anything from Gap or H&M.  Come say hello, why don't you?