When taking photographs, learning the art of getting a picture perfect moment every time is easy if you know the right tricks. After following the advice found in this guide, you will have a much better understanding of ways to enhance your current abilities, and discover other ways to improve your talents.

When you are setting up a photograph, keep your effort simple. You can usually take a great picture without playing with advanced settings.

If you are having difficulty holding your camera straight, purchase a tripod. A tripod will go a long way in helping to keep your camera in place, so you can focus on other variables other than balance. Tripods work great if you are in the wilderness or on an uneven terrain.

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.

Natural light will always provide you with the highest quality photos. Cloudy days are actually better for shooting than sunny ones, because the clouds act as a natural diffuser, spreading the light out and eliminating shadows and harsh contrasts. Opt for your next photo shoot outside on an overcast day.

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.

Do not try to be unique all the time. You will not lose your status as a good photographer if you take some classic looking shots. Learn to make the difference between what is art and what is not. Do not edit your basic pictures of your friends to make them look artsy.

When you are first starting out in photography and want learn how to take great pictures, learning about proper composition is key. Such as with the other arts, if composition is lacking, your work isn’t the best it may be. For better shots, practice different ways of composing your photos.

Many parents cannot resist the temptation to put a bow in the hair of a young girl when she is being photographed. If at all possible, discourage this practice. It creates an unnatural feeling to an image, while almost always contrasting with the fine texture of human hair. Bows dominate the image and detract from the young girl’s natural features.

With this newfound information about photography, you are well on your way to taking better shots. You will enjoy spending less time deleting pictures and rustling through the catalog looking for the right picture. Just apply this information to what you already know and watch your photographs come to life.