Here are some really useful tips when it comes to taking photos, recording your videos and up-ing your audio game.

 

Photography Tips (General)

These tips are for everyone. They are easy to follow and will make the biggest improvement to your photography. 

• Try and use diffused light, as it's the most flattering (think of a cloudy day). 
• Avoid direct light, as it can cast harsh shadows.
• Natural is best; make the most of light from windows. 
• Use large, reflective surfaced to bounce light around. Like a sheet of A3 paper.
• Not a camera whiz? Don't worry - the automatic mode on most cameras and phones will get the job done. 
• Avoid overly busy backgrounds - they are distracting.
• Be aware of your surroundings - think about what is in your image. 

 

Photography Tips (Pro)

These tips are for people who have a more capable camera and don't mind changing settings. 

• Consider using a wide aperture to create a shallow depth of field. This blurs out the background whilst keeping your subject in focus.
• A narrow aperture, like f9, is ideal for landscapes (as it gets more in focus).
• A wide aperture, like f2.8, is ideal for portraits (gives nice, blurred backgrounds).
• Caution, anything below f2.8 might make focusing difficult due to the shallow depth of field.
• Adjust your ISO in low light. The higher the ISO, the greater the light sensitivity is - but - the image will be grainier. 
• Adjust your white balance to compensate for the warmth of the light available.
• Shoot in high-quality JPEG (or RAW if you have access to professional editing software).

 

Audio

Good audio makes all the difference. If you're just recording audio, here are a few tips.

• Don't worry about expensive equipment; most phones have good microphones.
• Find a quiet place with soft furnishing (they absorb echoes).
• Avoid echoey rooms.
• Be mindful of your movements, as the microphone will pick up noise.
• Be mindful of background noise and objects making noise (like a squeaky chair and outside traffic).

 

Video

The above tips also apply to video, but here are a few things to keep in mind. 

• Think about orientation - are you shooting in landscape or portrait format.
• Keep your camera as steady as you can - consider using a tripod.
• Think about the points you want to cover in your video - make notes.
• Try and avoid reading off a piece of paper directly.
• You don't need to professional edit your videos to get your point across. But if you want to edit them, iMovie or Windows Editor can help.