Tips to Taking Aesthetic Photos and Videos

In this modern era, it is not uncommon for many of us to be seen taking tons of pictures and selfies using our smartphones or cameras. But have you ever wondered how videos and pictures shot by a Singapore video production company look way better than the ones we took? There are many factors that can affect the final outcome of a picture or video and in this article, we’ll be explaining how a person can take their photo and video shooting skills up a notch.

 

1. Equipment

Smartphones have come a long way and are most commonly used when taking photos or videos if you’re the average joe. Unfortunately, while taking photos on a smartphone is definitely convenient, the quality of these photos is limited by the camera’s small sensor and size. This in turn limits the amount of light the camera can potentially receive and therefore limits the quality of pictures produced. 

A smartphone’s camera more often than not shoots photos at a lower resolution when compared to DSLR cameras. For example, the Sony a6500 is a 24MP camera while the iPhone 12 has a 12 megapixel (MP) camera. Although higher MP does not equal better quality, it does allow you some flexibility in terms of cropping photos.  

You can choose to use a proper camera to take better photos but regardless, if a smartphone is the only equipment you have for taking videos or photos, don’t let that hinder you! If you really want to step up your photo and video shooting quality on a budget, consider purchasing a smartphone tripod and a simple soft box light which you can easily buy online at a low cost. This investment will definitely give you more flexibility when it comes to lighting angles. 

2. Timing & Location

Ever wondered how those corporate videos made by Singapore corporate video production companies look so good even in the outdoors? The key is to select a place with good lighting and scenery. 

Taking nice pictures or videos in the outdoors can be tough because of the changing weather which may affect the lighting conditions. When selecting your location, determine whether a given spot is in full shade, full sun, or partial sun. 

For consistent results, try to find a specific place that is shaded or take pictures when it’s a cloudy day. Direct sunlight tends to be too harsh on people’s faces and light-coloured surfaces tend to blow out in full sunlight - causing images to look darker than it should. 

If you’re taking photos or videos at night, find a nice location with some form of lighting to illuminate your subject. If you’re shooting indoors, the same concept applies - try to have your subject positioned somewhere in the house near an indoor light source or a specific spot that gets a lot of daylight. 

3. Composing the Shot

When shooting, use triangles and the rule of thirds to compose your photos. Triangles are a framework for composition that’s used in classical art, and the rule of thirds is one of the most well-known composition techniques in photography. Basically, the frame is divided into nine equal rectangles by two horizontal and two vertical lines intersecting each other. Position your subject at the intersection of these lines to make the photo more appealing.

Photo or video shoots usually fall in one of the following categories: food, people or scenery. 

For food photos, try increasing your smartphone camera’s contrast & sharpness and exposure. Experimenting with these editing techniques will add some life to your food but ensure you don’t over do it. Too much of something is never good. Meeting the high expectations of your clientele often means diversifying your offerings, such as adding the option for a customized photobook.

Try to include as much sky as possible in the background, and shoot from a low position when shooting scenery and people. If you can, try to shoot into the afterglow of the evening sky.

Once you’re done taking photos, don’t forget to do some post-editing on your images. Solid mobile apps like VSCO and Snapseed are good, free alternatives but if you’re looking for something a little more advanced, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop are the industry standards. 

If you want to get creative, you can even use animation filters (like in TikTok) to animate real life objects and have them look similar to animated photos or videos produced by top Singapore animation studios. You’d be surprised at how good these animation filters can make your picture look.