7 COMPOSITION RULES TO TAKE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS

Are you struggling because every picture you take doesn’t look as good as you want? Don’t worry, I am here to help you with a few easy tips that will help you to take beautiful photos.

I decided to write this article because once upon a time I was in the same position as you (read my story here).

In fact, I remember that I was in front of my computer downloading my holidays pictures and thinking: “Oh man, these pictures are terrible. I want to learn more, I want to take better pictures”.

Today I will not talk about exposure, ISO, shutter speed and other technical aspects of the camera, but instead we will talk about composition.

It’s time to start to improve your skills and learn the most important photography rules:

1. The rule of thirds: 

This photography rule is very simple. You must place your subject in a third of the overall area. It means on the right or on the left but not in the middle… Use the grid in your camera to be precise. Put the intersection of the upper vertical line and the middle horizontal line on the face of your subject if you are taking the photo of total body and background or on the eyes if you are taking a close up.

2. Follow the leading lines: 

The photography rule of lines is very important. Lines tend to guide viewer’s eyes. For this reason, you have to follow the lines to take straight pictures but for other benefits too. Some lines bring viewers to focus their attention to the subject like railways, roads, or natural lines in a landscape make your photos immediately more interesting and original.

3. Depth:

Depth is the distance between your subject and the background and gives two- or three-dimensional perspective to your pictures. More distance you have, more depth of field there will be. How to give depth to your picture? Take your subject distant from the background and follow the rules of thirds at the same time to have a perfect perspective that gives a sense of depth. Use also a very luminous lens like 50 mm 1.4 or 85 mm 1.8 or a zoom like 70-200 mm 2.8. These lenses add blur and depth to the final result of your photos. 

4. Symmetry:

Sometimes you are in front of a building or natural lines that are exactly in symmetry. It means that the right part is perfectly identical to the left part and each element repeats itself. A perfect structure where you can put your subject in the middle. 

This method drives attention to your subject emphasizing also the beauty of the background.

5. Cinema-style shot:

If you want to take beautiful photos, from now on be mindful when you watch a movie. You will notice the presence of particular shots that the director repeats constantly during the movie. 

For example you will see close up with the rule of thirds where a little piece of head is cut (to put the focus on the facial expression and give breadth to the rest of the scene) or the person who appears from the back is in three quarters (useful if you want take reportage pictures) or also other particular ways to take pictures of details and people. 

6. Don’t decapitate your subject:

When you want to take a beautiful close up don’t commit the error to go too close and cut exactly under the chin line. The effect will be terrible. So, remind to frame under the collar bones. This will give breadth to your portrait.

7. Don’t shoot from the top to bottom:

When you want to take a group picture or just a portrait remember not to shoot from the top. If you do that, your subjects will appear with large heads and short legs, definitely not the most flattering proportions.

Every photographer does that. Especially if you are tall, you have to always bend your legs to be in line with your subject. 

I really hope this article will help you to take beautiful photos. Start to take pictures with these easy rules and send to me some of them. I will happy to give to you my feedback.