1 – DON’T USE FLASH all the time.
Using flash flattens the image by taking away the shadows which help accentuate certain details and textures within the image.
Flash can completely wash out your image and steal the depth of field.
why not turn off your auto-flash and use natural light wherever possible.
2 – DON’T USE A REALLY BUSY BACKGROUND
Try not to use a really distracting background, especially if you are taking a portrait, and especially if your foreground/subject is a fan of Cath Kidston. Aim to use backgrounds that compliment the story you want to tell.
3 – DON’T THINK ABOUT COMPOSITION TOMORROW
Before DSLR and editing suites, photographers used to frame their images on location, relying a creative eye and camera lens.
Using photoshop as a composition tool might seem easier, but it’s actually adding hours to the process and stealing the organic nature of you work.
Framing your image exactly how you want it through the lens makes you think more about your subject, the story, what you want your audience to take from this shot and creates a nice little challenge.
4 – DON’T BLIND YOUR SUBJECT
If you are taking a portrait, don’t have the poor fellow pose into direct sunlight. Firstly, your model will be hella squinty and gormless (not a good look) but your white balance will be completely off.
5 – DON’T CONTINUOUSLY PLAY BACK
Stop looking at the screen immediately after every shot you take – keep in the moment! You could end up missing something amazing and it completely affects the flow of your work.
Be patient, there will be plenty of time to admire your work later.
6 – DON’T FORGET
Charge your batteries!!! this may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many photographers run out of juice just when they need it the most – it happens to the best of us!
While we’re on the subject of the obvious, don’t forget your spare memory cards – you don’t want to spend ages trawling through hundreds of photos to find some to delete!
7 – DON’T OVER COMPLICATE
Don’t pack too many things into a single frame, simple is always best. Trying to include everything into one image will just result in a messy photo and a confused audience. Stick to just one or two elements to tell your story, it will be a much clearer one.
8 – DON’T JUST POINT AND SHOOT
Learn every function your camera has to offer. You’ve spent all this money on your amazing picture maker, yet depriving yourself of everything it can offer by not knowing your equipment inside and out and simply using the auto setting.
Expanding your knowledge and creativity can change your photography forever by giving you more tools and options.
9 – DON’T HESITATE
Hesitating is the difference between catching and missing the moment you’ve been waiting for.
Be decisive, know what you want to capture from the very start and don’t let it slip through your fingers!
Finally, now this is a doozy…
10 – DO NOT WEAR LOW-RISE TROUSERS!
No one wants to be ‘that guy’.
