Understand and get to know your camera. Although this sounds simple, many people have never even read the instructions on how to operate their camera. Get to know and understand the various menus and functions of every button on it so that when you need to use a certain function, you know where to find it and that the camera can accomplish it.

Be quick when taking your pictures! The longer you take, the higher the chance of the subject moving, running off, or the something else changing to ruin the photo. You don\’t want to have a bunch of missed opportunities. You want to make sure you have a camera that doesn\’t take forever to take the picture. The quicker you can take photos, the better.

Be creative and unique with your subjects. You don\’t want to take the same old photo every other photographer has done. Look for unique shots that people haven\’t seen before. Choose interesting subjects that aren\’t going to bore anyone who sees them. If you want to make a name for yourself, this is essential.

Try using a tripod to take your photos. This will reduce or completely remove your movement\’s influence. It\’s incredibly frustrating to have lined up a perfect shot only to discover that your hands were shaking a bit and completely blurred the photo. This is especially important if you know you don\’t have extremely steady hands.

If you\’re doing a landscape shot, try and capture some movement in the shot. Whether it\’s the wind blowing the trees or a wave crashing against the shore, capturing this movement can add an extra layer of depth to the photograph. If you\’re going to try and capture movement, make sure you\’ve got the shutter speed set correctly.

Know your camera. If you have recently purchased new equipment, or if you have had yours for a while, but never taken the time to know it\’s ins and outs, then do so. Read the manual, or play with the functions extensively until you understand it. Knowing what your camera can do will give you better pictures as you can adjust to changing light and circumstances.

Don\’t be afraid of taking pictures. If you use the wrong settings, it\’s okay. Go ahead and take the picture anyway. If you want to photograph a person or pet, go up and ask if it\’s okay; create a release form to sign if it makes you more comfortable. Just go do it!

Be sure your photo has a solid focal point. Without a good focal point your photographs will end up looking empty, leaving the eye with nowhere to rest. Your viewers will be more appreciative of a photo that has a clear focus, even if you are shooting a landscape or other wide setting.

A great photography tip is to try and find your own voice through photography. You want to set yourself apart from all the other photographers in the world. You can do this by figuring out how you like to capture things, and by figuring out which emotions you want to feature. Find and express an individual style.