Magical Shots: How to Create the WOW Effect!
Here’s How to Take Perfect Photos for Social Media
Composition in Social Media Photography
Composition involves guiding a viewer through your image by dividing the photo into visually appealing sections. It’s particularly important when shooting with a phone: a well-thought-out composition will attract attention and help tell a story; it’s your first step in learning how to take photos for social media.
Since your phone’s camera will never match a professional camera in image quality, perfecting composition becomes essential. A good composition makes a photo more interesting to look at.
There are many ways to compose an image, and this largely depends on the scene in front of you. That said, consider these rules as guidelines rather than set-in-stone rules. Don’t get so caught up in them that you forget to trust your instincts! Sometimes the best photos break all the rules!
How to Take Captivating Social Media Photos
To capture a compelling photo, look around for natural lines and get to know them. Leading lines are natural lines that draw the viewer’s eyes into the image toward a chosen point. They can be anything from a road to a bridge, but pay attention to where you place them as they completely shift the viewer’s focus.
Rule of Thirds This is probably the most well-known rule of photographic composition. Learning to master it is the first step to taking beautiful photos for social media. Divide your image into 9 equal squares and place important elements along the lines or intersections. Doing so will create much more visually appealing images than if you place your subjects elsewhere in the photo. For portraits, position the subject’s eye at one of the intersections for an incredibly beautiful composition.
Activating the Grid on Your Phone Camera
- For iOS: Go to settings, select the camera, and enable “grid.” This helps you compose your images following the rule of thirds and keeps your shot parallel to any vertical or horizontal lines in your photo.
- For Android: Go to settings > app > camera, then select “grid” to add a rule of thirds overlay to your camera.
The rule of thirds is a foundational composition rule, but there are times when centering the subject is a better choice, especially in symmetrical environments where it enhances the symmetry, creating a sense of balance and pleasure for the viewer.
Additionally, if you have natural lines in your shot and center your subject, this will direct the viewer’s eye toward the subject, further enhancing the image.
Using Frames in Photography Framing a subject can help direct the viewer’s eye. By framing with interesting details, you’ll guide the viewer to move back and forth between the frame and the subject. Anything can be a frame: a door, a window, a bridge, tree branches, clouds…these are just a few common examples.
Playing with Symmetry Symmetry is a powerful tool that automatically creates harmony and balance in a shot. It’s found everywhere in nature: look for it and learn to use it! Training your eye to find symmetry will be a great ally in your photography.
The main types of symmetry in a composition are:
- Horizontal Symmetry: The image is divided between the upper and lower parts.
- Vertical Symmetry: The image is mirrored from left to right, the most common type in photography.
- Radial Symmetry: Some images are symmetrical around a central point, like ripples radiating from a splash of water. Reflections create a symmetrical composition, making it more captivating. Common places to find reflections are water and surfaces like glass.
The Importance of Perspective Perspective can change the entire sense of a photo and exaggerate or reduce your subjects, playing a crucial role in creating social media-worthy photos. Tilt your phone up or down, crouch, or stand on a bench to change the perspective of your photos.
Most photos are taken from our eye level at a 90-degree angle to the ground, but by getting very low or high above the subject, you can offer a different, often unexpected, view of your photo, which could make your shot go viral.
Inspiration Here are some links to my favorite profiles for inspiration on how to take photos for social media:
