Blogging 101: 10 Incredibly Easy Ways to Improve Your Blog's Photographs

Have you ever come across a photo on a blog that just captivated you and wondered how you can create pictures just as beautiful? Here are 10 steps to make your blog's photographs more beautiful for your readers' viewing pleasure.

1. Opt for natural light.

Natural light makes a huge difference in photographs. Take a look at the two examples below.

These two photographs are of the same pan. The first picture was taken in artificial light (sticker was still on the pan, obviously). The second photograph was taken of the pan in natural light. Notice how much softer the second picture is and how the details in the pan really stand out.

Now, sometimes natural light isn't available. For example, it may be dark outside. So, what can you do? Well, there is various lighting equipment made for photographers that mimic natural light. Consider investing in this type of lighting if you find yourself taking photographs when natural light is unavailable.

2. Try different filters.

Filters can make or break a photograph. If you have a photo that is fantastic untouched, then it's probably best to leave it that way. On the other hand, if you have a picture that's just lacking depth and feeling, experiment with filters to see what you can come up with.

The first picture above was taken on a tissue paper background and was just lacking depth. In the second photograph, I added a frost filter, a vibrancy filter, and adjusted the settings just a bit. It brings out the colors and provides a focal point for the image.

3. Create your own light box.

There are some fantastic tutorials out there for light boxes. Some, you can make using very inexpensive materials. If you don't have those materials on hand, you can also create a "natural light box" using a cardboard box, paper, scissors, and tape. Find the tutorial here. The light box tutorial I've linked to is not really a light box at all, but more of a back drop box that you can sit in natural sunlight to create images with white backgrounds (like the image below).

4. Use a tripod.

There's nothing more annoying than a blurry photograph, or a photograph at an odd angle. Using a tripod helps eliminate these issues. Keep your camera steady to capture beautiful, stunning photographs.

5. Experiment with your camera settings.

If your camera came with a manual, read it! Learn the ins and outs of your camera so that you have a better understanding of how it works and which settings work best with what. If there are adjustable settings, experiment with those as well, until you find one that works for you and your style of photography.

6. Size does matter.

Depending on what you're taking photographs for, size does matter. If you're taking pictures for a photography blog, you want them to be high-quality, but you don't want them to be so big that your website takes forever to load. As a general rule of thumb, 600 x 600 pixels is a decent starting point, particularly for sharing on social media.

7. Shoot contrasting colors.

On Pinterest, some of the most popular pins have lots of contrasting colors which apparently makes them more captivating to the human eye. When you're taking pictures, try to implement a few contrasting colors in there to make your photos more alluring.

8. Get up close and personal.

Close-ups capture the true essence of an object, person, or place. Experiment with close-up photographs and different filters, such as focal soften, or focal black and white to really add feeling to your images.

9. Crop before sharing.

Have a beautiful shot but something in the background is just off-setting? Crop it out! Cropping your photographs can make the difference in a beautiful image, or one where too much is going on.

10. Have fun!

Don't take everything too seriously. Take as many shots as you need before you get the perfect one, and then, start paying attention to what makes your photographs look beautiful. Over time, you'll get the hang of things and you'll know which settings and angles work best.