Since the evolution of mobile phones becoming smart camera phones, we all fancy ourselves as budding photographers. It’s so easy now, at any occasion, to pull out your mobile phone and snap away – but what if your photos aren’t turning out the way you want them to? Whether you’re a budding photographer, and all you have is a camera and a pocket full of ambition and you don’t know how to get started, or you just enjoy taking snaps on your phone and want to get better at it, these top tips will help you to take your photography up a notch.

Take Your Camera out with You
It might sound silly but taking your camera out with you all of the time is the first step to taking better photographs. If you prefer to use your phone, just ensure that it’s fully charged and has plenty of memory available for you to snap away. When you’re not aware, or you don’t take your equipment, it’s amazing how many amazing photo opportunities you can miss on a day to day basis, and most of the best photographs are taken when you least expect it.

Know Your Purpose
Know WHY it is you’re wanting to take photos and therefore make sure they’re in the right category. If you’re just taking fun snaps of your little ones, then this is less relevant. But for example, if you’re taking photographs for a business website, you’ll want to make sure that the pictures and themes you use are effective and appropriate. There is a fantastic article on how to use photography WordPress themes that would be extremely useful to you if this is your purpose. Whatever you’re taking photographs for, whether it’s business or pleasure, the internet is simply bursting with tips on the different sorts of photographs you can take.

Take Photographs – and LOTS of them
Don’t be embarrassed to whip your camera out at every opportunity. Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your photography portfolio certainly won’t be either. The more photographs you take, the better you’ll be at taking them and the more knowledgeable you’ll therefore become about lighting, angles etc. By taking photographs all of the time, you’ll have the chance to take photos in all sorts of different conditions, for example, different lighting conditions, and you’ll figure out what works and what doesn’t. If your pictures aren’t coming out as good, you might want to consult a photography magazine or look online for some photo inspiration. By looking at what other photographers use as their subjects and the angles in which they use, it can really help you to decide on how you’re going to do your own.

Consider Attending a Photography Workshop
Whether you're a wedding photographer looking to improve your reception lighting or a portrait photographer trying to improve your posing techniques, workshops are a great investment. There’s no better way to improve your skills than by learning from professionals, and if you’ve got a bit of spare cash, attending a regular photography workshop could really help you to take your skills up a level. This is a great option for those who are wanting to improve quickly and go pro themselves at some point, and will help you to come to terms with what are the best opportunities for photography businesses out there. Chances are you won’t be under any pressure in the initial stages of your photography adventure, however if you are looking to start up a wedding photography company in the future for example, there are lots of tips out there online on how best to advertise your photography.

Don’t Be Afraid to get Messy
It’s a lovely thought standing taking beautiful photos without any physical strain whatsoever – but remember that the best artists suffer for their art. Don’t do anything dangerous in your effort to get the best photo but getting on the floor on and on your hands and knees can sometimes result in the best photos. Trying taking pictures from a different perspective can give them an entirely new life and getting low can make for a great result – especially if your subjects are people or animals!

Invest in a Tripod
We’re all human, and unfortunately that means it’s difficult for us to be as still as statues all of the time – particularly when under pressure. This is unlucky, especially for budding photographers, because there’s nothing worse than a shaky and blurry photograph! By simply investing in a tripod you can easily eliminate the risk of this. Tripods are particularly good for taking still-image photography and landscapes, so this is just something to bear in mind in your use.

Happy snapping!