Whether you’re looking to upgrade your business content strategy with photography or

improve the quality of your images, there are certain common mistakes you should

avoid. This can save you money on costly equipment and make you a better

photographer in the long run.

Professional gear isn’t everything

This is a common mistake across various content mediums and an easy way to spend

unnecessarily. When looking to create photography content, you should opt for an

introductory camera that will help you figure out the basics and mechanics of

photography. There’s a significant learning curve, and buying the most expensive,

professional gear on the market will only make things harder for yourself, not to mention

costly.

You must understand that the camera itself isn’t the most crucial element when creating

quality photography content. You should be first focusing on the basic steps and

elements that make for good pictures, such as:

Lighting: How does different light positioning affect your pictures? How can you use light to your advantage to portray different feelings and moods? Always be aware of where your light source is coming from and how it will affect your product and overall final image.

Exposure: Refers to the amount of light that reaches the image sensor or film of the camera, essentially determining how bright or dark the image will be. Understanding how this works is crucial to creating the type of content you want. You have the power to control your exposure by manipulating both lighting and camera settings.

Manual Mode: Understanding how your camera settings function is crucial to any successful photography. All three of these aspects come together as one element to create your final image. Understanding Lighting and Exposure can dictate your camera settings, especially in a creative fashion. For example, your camera settings will be different depending on your location and available light. If you are in a dark room your camera settings will be strategic to allow more light in. The contrast is if you shoot next to a window in natural light, your settings will be drastically different.

To master these three elements, you do not need to purchase the next best camera on

the market. You can take the time to learn how all these elements work together before

deciding on either buying a better camera or potentially outsourcing to a professional if

you find the trade is not for you. We all have to crawl before we can walk, and approaching photography content is no different.

Focus on composition before taking photographs

Photo composition refers to all the tiny details and elements within the frame that add to

the final product. Mastering composition is key to creating content that matches your

requirements.

Think of a perfect portrait - you wouldn’t want the viewer’s attention to be broken by a

forgotten shoe in the background or a picture on the wall. You need to think about how

you’re framing your images so that the viewer is focused on what matters most. There

are plenty of techniques you can follow - here are some elements you should consider

for optimal compositions:

• The rule of thirds

• Space around the subject

• Balance & Proportions

• Leading lines

There are plenty more techniques that go into getting a perfect composition, but sticking

to the basics of focusing on your subject and the surrounding area and avoiding

distracting backgrounds is a great place to start. All these elements help the viewer

know where to look and what the focus is. If the view is distracted, the image won't

resonate in the way you need and want it to.

Take time to learn and study what’s trending in the industry

Finally, it’s essential to understand what’s trending in the industry to create current

photography content. Trends in the photography industry come and go, so staying up to

date enables you to better connect with your customers and ensures that your business

is not seen as outdated. Knowing what’s current also helps you in the creation process,

as it can influence and guide the type of photography content you publish.