Many people are skeptical of the benefits that come from hiring professional photographers. They worry they’re not getting a good enough photo, and it’s too expensive to hire outside help. There is no need for this concern because there are other ways to take pictures without paying an arm and a leg, using products like Photoshop or Lightroom. These software have easy-to-use features designed for those who want to get professional results without the headache! You should use high-quality photographs as a promotional tool regardless of the sort of company you have. You may use these images in all of your marketing platforms. Share them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, among other social media platforms.
To make your website appear more professional, use photographs. To make your communications more visually attractive, you may even send photos to subscribers on your email marketing lists. Break up your information using photographs in your blog entries to make it simpler for visitors to read. I prefer to utilize graphics in my posts to emphasize what I’m talking about. Your website’s trustworthiness may be boosted by using high-quality photos. While there’s nothing wrong with using pictures from the internet, nothing beats original photography when connecting with customers. Taking your images ensures that they are one-of-a-kind. Nobody will be able to say, “Oh, I think I’ve seen this photo before.” Finally, placing the appropriate image in the correct position might help you produce more traffic and leads, regarded as the #1 marketing problem in 2017.
But there’s a catch: there’s an issue. Photographers who work for a living do not come cheap. You should not be paying for a service that you can do yourself since your business already has enough expenditures to deal with. Another issue I observe is that original photographs often appear horrible. That’s also not a good idea. You don’t want your brand to be connected with pictures of poor quality. It seems unprofessional and will cause your present and potential consumers to have an unfavorable impression of you. I can assist you if you fit into one of the above categories.
How to snap and edit images without hiring an expert?
1. Get the proper gear.
Camera equipment does not have to cost thousands of dollars. You shouldn’t use one of those cheap disposable cameras to take images. Find a happy medium. Right now, you may have a suitable camera in your pocket. In the United States, 77 percent of individuals have a smartphone.
You presumably have a smartphone as a company owner or marketing professional. The majority of gadgets have good cameras. It makes sense to acquire a phone with a good camera if you’re in the market for a new phone. Many internet review websites, such as Tom’s Guide, provide thorough information on numerous products based on your needs.
Here are some of the most excellent products in 2017 according to their specialists in various categories:
- iPhone X has the best overall smartphone photography.
- The Galaxy Note 8 has the best photography features.
- LG G6 is the best camera for landscape photography.
- Samsung Galaxy S8 has the best camera for selfies and low-light photos.
- Pixel 2 XL has the smartest phone camera.
- LG V30 has the best smartphone camera for videos.
These are beautiful areas to begin your search. However, conduct some independent research before making a purchase. You could already have one of these gadgets. It’s OK if you’d prefer to shoot images with a camera than with your phone.
Here’s a comparison of various cameras that are good for beginners:
As you can see, the pricing is fair, ranging from $400 to $800. But, of course, professional photographers may charge you more than that for a day’s labor.
2. Brush up on your photography basics.
It would help if you grasped some basic photography ideas now that you have a good camera to shoot images with. First, learn how to utilize your device’s many features and image modes. Let’s pretend you’re taking photographs using your iPhone. There’s a setting called “HDR Mode” that you’ll notice. High dynamic range is an abbreviation for high dynamic range. Here’s how to activate it:
When is it OK to utilize it? For every photograph? The HDR option is best used for landscapes and outdoor photos. Because each of them has some bright and dark parts, this is the case. If you don’t use HDR mode, some details might be lost between the bright and dark contrasts. However, HDR photographs take longer for your camera to process. Keep the HDR feature turned off if you’re attempting to shoot many shots quickly or photograph a moving item. It would be best to think about where you want to discharge your images. The way you take them will depend on the circumstances—whether you’re indoors, outside, in the light, or in the dark. For example, it isn’t easy to obtain a photograph when the sun is directly behind the subject. Unless you have a professional camera, the image will be either too bright or too dark, depending on what you’re focused on. It would be best to learn when it’s OK to utilize your camera’s flash. It’s also vital to consider the composition. You must be aware of how your subject should seem in your photograph. The three-thirds rule is one of the most often used compositional ideas in photography:
Assume your camera’s frame is divided into nine equal-sized pieces. These horizontal and vertical cues are available on specific cameras to aid composition. You want your topic to be in the middle of the two lines. The issue in the example above is in the left third of the screen. Let’s imagine you’re photographing a landscape rather than a person or an item. In this situation, instead of aligning the horizon with the left or right third of the frame, you’ll want to align it with the higher or lower third, as seen in this example:
As you can see, the result is a much more attractive image. Natural framing is another fundamental photography strategy. Let’s imagine you’re photographing a structure with pillars or columns. It’s better to place your subject between two posts rather than in front of one. Here’s an example of a natural frame created by a bridge:
When shooting images, if you find a chance to capture a natural frame, take advantage of it. Assume that the top of the picture was chopped off in the previous case. It wouldn’t seem to be as natural. However, adding the complete frame gives it a more professional appearance. While shooting photographs, another thing to think about is what you’re focused on. If you’re shooting a person or a particular topic, it is critical to make sure they’re in focus. It might seem attractive to have part of your shot in the direction while the surrounding is fuzzy. Photographs with symmetry and patterns are pleasing to the eye and seem professional. Take a look at this image of the Taj Mahal:
Because all of the parts are symmetrical and the structure remains in the top third of the image, it follows all requirements. Of course, there is a slew of other photography principles to follow to ensure you’re getting amazing shots, but these are a fantastic place to start. You may learn more about photography fundamentals by doing a further study or enrolling in a class. Both of these alternatives are far less costly than employing a professional. Plus, learning a new valuable talent for your company is always advantageous.
3. Use Canva.
You’ll need to edit the photos once you’ve shot them to remove any flaws and make them seem as professional as possible. Canva is a photo editing program. It’s one of the better possibilities available on the internet. You may edit photos straight on their website or use a mobile app for your iPhone or iPad. Canva is one of my favorite tools since it is so versatile. You can get to a lot of different things in one area. Depending on where you want to publish your photographs, Canva provides a variety of templates. Do you, for example, use sponsored adverts on social media or other platforms like Google AdWords to market your business? Canva makes sure your picture is the right size for the sort of advertising you’re running.
If you try to do it yourself, the picture may become distorted, hazy, or unreadable. As a result, professional editing software is recommended. One of the most excellent aspects of Canva is that it is entirely free. You may come across many features that require money to use, but you can make all of your fundamental modifications without paying anything. I suggest subscribing to their Canva for Work plan if you want full access to everything on the Canva site. It’s just $12.95 a month, and if you pay for the whole year in advance, you’ll save over 20%. In addition, you may test it for 30 days for free to determine whether it’s worth the money. This is, once again, much less expensive than paying a professional photographer to edit your photos.
4. Take a look at PicMonkey.
PicMonkey is just another of my favorite photo editing programs. It’s user-friendly, and adding photographs is a snap. They also offer a mobile app available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, making it ideal for Apple and Android users alike. If you’re capturing photos with your smartphone, you can edit them right on the device instead of needing to transfer them to a computer. PicMonkey’s photography lessons are excellent. They go over some of the fundamental ideas I mentioned before and show you how to utilize the various features of their program. However, I believe it is relatively simple to use.
PicMonkey’s best features are as follows:
- editing software
- retouching
- collages
- designs
It includes pretty much everything you’ll need to edit your images. The collage tool is ideal for showing various items or features on your website. For example, you may make a single primary image with a combination of the photographs you took. On the Square website, here’s an example of a fascinating collage:
PicMonkey can help you create something similar for your company.
5. Piktochart allows you to make infographics.
You don’t always need to snap a picture to have a unique image on your website. Construct an infographic. It’s a fantastic technique to boost traffic to your website or blog. Compared to plain text, consumers are 30 times more likely to read an infographic. Infographics may also enhance your website’s traffic by 12%. In addition, visual material is three times more likely to be liked and shared on social media than other sorts of content. Piktochart’s website includes all of the tools you’ll need to make your personalized infographics.
As a backdrop image, you may even use your photos. Find different methods to include those original photographs into your infographic, so you aren’t obliged to utilize those cartoonish styles if you don’t want to. For essential functions, they offer a free subscription. You may also pay an additional $15 or $29 per month for a plan with more features. But first, try the free version to make sure you like it.
Conclusion
Unique photographs can provide the finishing touches to your website, blog, emails, and social media sites, making them more appealing to your clients. It is unnecessary to employ a professional photographer to shoot and edit your photographs. That is a complete waste of money. You can accomplish all of this on your own for very little money. It’s simple. Just make sure you’ve got the correct gear. Purchase a smartphone with a high-quality camera. Alternatively, you might begin with a camera meant for beginner photographers. After that, brush up on some fundamental photography ideas.
As a guide for composition, go to the things I mentioned earlier:
- rule of thirds
- frames made of natural materials
- symmetry
- focus
After you’ve shot your photos, you may touch them up using editing software on your computer, smartphone, or tablet to make them appear more professional. To get started, use programs like Canva, PicMonkey, or Piktochart. You’ll be capturing and editing images like a pro in no time if you follow these instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I edit my photos like a free professional?
A: You can use Photoshop to edit your photos. However, suppose you are looking for a free alternative. In that case, I recommend using Gimp as it is an open-source photo editor with all the Adobes Photoshop software features with many more added in.
How can I take professional pictures without a photographer?
A: You can take professional pictures with a camera and some software. This will allow you to adjust the exposure, shutter speed, color balance, contrast, and more depending on your needs. The best option is to do this in manual mode, which allows for a higher level of control than an automatic mode.