How to take better photos for your small business

s a kid, the earliest idea drilled into me by my grandmother got me in the most trouble. At the same time, it taught me the most. The idea is associated with these three simple steps on how to take professional photos on your phone. Your business needs photos for its online presence; try these three simple steps to take professional appearing photos.

1. Shadows exist
2. Background
3. The concept of thirds

Step 1: Shadows exist

Quite simply, shadows are real. Consider them. Adjust for them. Take some test photos and adjust again.

A quick hack for this is to use natural light. Stand on the side where the sunlight is coming from. Make sure your shadow isn't in the photo.

Step 2: Background

Pay attention to what's in the background and foreground—the colours and contrast. Always focus on the light first, then consider the background and foreground of the picture.

Step 3: The concept of thirds

In a single picture, you should break it into three elements. Each element should be proportional to a third of the picture size. Make one of these elements the focal point (the thing you are actually taking a photo of).

Of course, there are variations of this step; however, incorporating it will result in professional appearing photos.

Bonus step: Click to focus photo

Press your mobile phone screen where you want the focus to occur.

Try pressing on and around the focal point and take multiple photographs. Sometimes the best lighting happens when you tap next to your focal point.

Oh, that idea drilled into me as a kid?

A picture speaks a thousand words.

It's at the core of meme culture and very handy when conveying many ideas in a single image. It's a way to express your small businesses strengths, and it's accessible to everyone reading this.

How did this quote get me into trouble as a kid? I didn't appreciate it and often got distracted as my grandmother would show me through her photo albums and artwork. As most wisdom acquired when young, it stuck with me. Today I use this simple idea to bring brick and mortar shops digital. Of course, the medium has evolved to include video, text and everything in between. 

Created by Benjamin on 11/12/2019, last edited on 20/05/2021.