10 Tips to Make Better Photos

Reviewing some photos from last year, some tips:

1. Dynamic hand gestures

Saigon, 2018 #cindyproject

Hand gestures to make triangles and other interesting compositions.

Note the negative space to the left, the same direction Cindy is looking:

2. Tilt your camera + have leading lines

Shoot photos while walking, and experiment tilting your camera a bit. Also, try to our your subject at the intersection of the leading lines:

3. Juxtaposition between two subjects

Malcom X on the TV looking to the bottom right, and Cindy looking up at him:

When your subjects are looking different directions, it makes the composition more dynamic and interesting.

4. Side profile of face

Photograph your subject from the side to get a more interesting profile of their face.

5. Natural light

Have your subject stand against a window, to get more epic natural light on them.

Extra points if you get interesting hand gestures from your subject:

6. Crush the blacks

When you process your pictures, “crush the blacks” by processing your photos with maximum black, and maximum contrast. To experiment download ERIC KIM PRESETS.

7. Diagonal composition

Processed with VSCO with x1 preset

Put the head of your subject in the extreme top left or top right of the frame, to make a more dynamic composition.

8. One solid color wall

To make better contrast and figure to ground in your photos, fill the background of your photo with just a single color or gradient.

9. Obscure

Shoot through obscure materials and surfaces, to make a more surreal photo. For example the photograph of Cindy above through frosted glass.

10. Work the scene

Don’t just shoot one photo of an interesting scene. Shoot lots, and determine later which you prefer the most.

Or, just keep shooting, to dance with your subject!

Conclusion

There are no rules in photography, only tips.

Take tips or leave them, and make your own.

The more important advice:

Never stop shooting.

SHOOT ON!

ERIC