I went on a really enjoyable half day photography course run by Sally Golden. It took place at the Old Bond Store in Southampton. I chose to attend because I wanted to make better use of the camera features on my Samsung phone. More than that I wanted to learn more about composition and editing too.
Here are the things that I learnt.
- Use the rule of thirds. When taking pictures on your phone, resist the natural temptation to centre the subject in the middle of the shot. Instead, by putting the subject in the left or right of the frame with an imaginary 3 x 3 grid, you will create a much more compelling image. Even better, it is possible to display the grid on the screen.
- The camera never lies. Editing and filtering means an original image can be changed to be so far removed from the original that it can become cringe-worthy! If you are using images for business social media, then light-touch editing is a good habit to get into.
- Be aware of the light. More than anything else, light can make or break a photograph. Try to use natural light wherever possible to make images both realistic and warmer.
- Images and words need to work together. Social media is about optimising the image and the narrative. So pay equal attention to both. If your picture is telling a story, then let the words add further to the narrative creating an richer experience.
- Experimenting leads to improvement. In the digital world you can take as many shots as you need, so play around with different techniques, compositions etc. You will soon find you are taking photographs that are much more eye-catching than before.
Click for details about courses run by Sally Golden
