5 Simple Ways to Improve the Quality of Your Photos

Best Five (5) Easy Ways to Improve Your Photos

Digital photography has made the medium more accessible. People are taking more pictures than ever before and sharing a record number of them online with friends and family.

If your photos aren't as good as the ones you see online, it's tempting to blame the camera (or your smartphone). Still, by following a few simple principles, you can improve the quality of your images without spending a fortune on a new camera. Keep these 5 simple suggestions in mind the next time you're out photographing the world around you.

1. Master the basic composition

Best 5 easy ways to improve your photos

The composition of a photograph is at its heart — the placement of various components in the frame. Divide your frame into nine squares of almost similar size. Try to place the subject of your photograph along these lines and intersections and imagine the main image divided into nine sections. The result is a more dramatic and visually appealing photo than when the subject is placed dead center.

2. Use the correct color temperature

Best 5 easy ways to improve your photos

White balance is critical. Use the correct location for the light you are working with to ensure the white is white as you want your images to reflect the natural scene.

Each light source has a different color temperature. The sun's rays are warmer than the moon's. The moonlight on the other hand is warmer than the bright blue sky! These changes in color temperature must be taken into account.

Most amateur or inexperienced photographers will choose automatic white balance (AWB). This could help them shoot without thinking about the script. However, it won't offer them the best and most realistic color cast.

3. Trim it

Best 5 easy ways to improve your photos

Sometimes you need to cut out all the terrible footage. Remove distractions from the background or edges of the image to get a completely new look.

There are several cropping software alternatives available.

Photoshop – It is considered an excellent alternative and is perhaps the most well-known. Their pricing tiers start at $9.99 per month.

Pixlr – This free service provides a suite of Photoshop-like tools.

PicMonkey – Another free site that provides the tools you need to properly crop your photos. Preview - If you're on a Mac, you can do basic photo editing by opening Preview.

HubSpot - It even has a built-in image editor, so when I upload a photo for my blog or website, I can crop it right away. Something similar may exist in your CMS.

4. Filter

Best 5 easy ways to improve your photos

Yes, the filters are overused and corny, but bear with me. A modest, elegant filter can make a dull shot shine. I enjoy Facebook's photo editing features for adjusting contrast and enhancing colors. And of course, Instagram has obvious harsh effects to avoid, so choose subtle filters that don't increase contrast to absurd levels.

5. Make good use of your Flash

Best 5 easy ways to improve your photos

A flash burning too close to the subject ruined many photos. Step back and zoom in to get the right framing if you need to seize the moment. If the scene is still too bright – or too dark – check your flash settings.