We have all played the role of photographer at some time.  Most everyone takes photographs as a memento of special events, birthday parties, or family reunions.  In the process, whether you realized it or not, you had to compose a photograph.  That is, you had to bring the subject of the picture into the frame with other elements in the environment to capture  the photograph.  The ability to compose a photograph comes naturally for some; others of us really have to work at it. 

Two important first steps for beginners are to learn how to compose photographs and learn to improve technical skills.  Photography is a grand mixture of art and skill.  If you lack in either artistry or skill it will be reflected in your photos.

If you want to learn how to take a great pictures one of the first things you have to learn is where to stand.  You have to figure out what angle looks right and just where you want your subject to be framed by the photo.  The slightest change can make the difference in a dynamic photograph or a shot of people with their heads chopped off.

A monotonous mistake made by most beginners is that they think they have to center the subject in every photograph.  Logic dictates to take the photo from the center, but sometimes if you move the subject off center you will add a new dynamic to the photograph.  A great way to learn to compose pictures is to apply the rule of thirds.  Using this concept divide the frame into three parts horizontally and vertically.  Place your subject on one of the intersections and you will be able to compose a dynamic photo.  The only setback to using the rule of thirds is that it does not work for all photographs, but in general, it is a good rule of thumb. 

Improving technical camera knowledge and skills will help to improve your pictures. The more you know about your camera, the more flexible and creative you can be when taking photos.  One of the most important basic skills is learning to focus.  One thing that cannot be fixed, even on digital photos, is unfocused shots.

Another very common mistake for beginners is failure to understand proper exposure.  Use your lighting conditions to your greatest benefit.  Learning this is part art and part skill.  The best way to learn this is to practice.  For example, you will learn that a flash is worthless more than 20 feet away from the subject.  If you are taking distance photos longer exposure, with the use of a tripod to keep the camera steady, is your best alternative.

The most important key to taking great photographs is practice.  Take photo every chance you get.  The more you practice, the greater your artistic and technical skills will develop.

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