In my early years as a photographer, I discovered that being great isn’t just about taking pictures; it’s about making them. It’s about thinking through what you want to express and sharing that feeling through every detail in the frame.
As I honed my craft, I found myself carrying my camera around a lot less. I no longer felt the need to snap every scene I encountered or post constantly on social media. Instead, I focused on creating images with vision and intent. Early on, I took inspiration from my father, who taught me to visualize the result before making it real. “See it before you play it,” he’d say while we played golf, urging me to imagine the ball’s path and landing before taking the swing. Photography works in the same way. When I photograph a wedding or any subject, I pre-plan my shots, picturing each one before I press the shutter. I walk the site, mentally mapping locations and visualizing subjects in their spaces. This careful planning not only helps me capture the images I want but also gives my clients confidence in the process.
Building a Framework for Every Shot
A motto I live by is always be learning, and one of the most valuable things I learned early on was to create a framework for every shot. During art history studies, I noticed recurring themes in fine art: background, lighting, emotion or action, pose or orientation, and technical execution. When applied to photography, these elements guide me from concept to final image, helping me make, rather than take, pictures.
In this Pinterest board, you can see how these elements are at play within fine art.
Background: Setting Your Canvas
Just as painters start with a blank canvas, we start with a background. Set out to see your background, no matter how simple it may be. It doesn’t have to be a grand location; it could be as basic as a colored wall or textured surface. The background is your canvas, setting the stage for everything else. In many of my favorite shots, the “canvas” is a single-colored wall or the soft focus of an open field. It’s whatever you want to paint onto.
Lighting: Shaping Your Subject
Ansel Adams once said, “To create interesting light, you need interesting shadows.” Light shapes our images, and without it, there’s no dimension. Poor lighting can distract and disrupt the viewer’s engagement, so use light to draw viewers in. Sculpt your light thoughtfully, using shadows to create depth and interest that keeps the viewer locked into the story you’re telling.
Emotion, Action, and Reaction: Creating a Connection
Emotion makes an image unforgettable. When we look at famous paintings, there’s often an emotion, an action, or a reaction that resonates deeply. When photographers ask me to review their work, I often start with, “How does this image make you feel?” If we want our work to connect, it must evoke a reaction that others can feel, not just something we felt in the moment. Aim to communicate a feeling, action, or reaction that viewers can connect with.
Pose and Composition: Directing the Viewer’s Eye
Great artists position their subjects using composition techniques like the rule of thirds, the Fibonacci sequence, or symmetry. These guide the viewer’s eye and add balance to the image, creating harmony. In photography, thoughtful composition is one of the most effective ways to engage the viewer and keep them captivated.
Technical Execution: Mastering the Craft
Our cameras are our tools, and our approach to using them is our craft. Technical execution covers everything from depth of field and focus to sharpness and framing. Think of how you want to tell your story visually—whether everything is in focus or just the subject. Experiment with techniques like focus stacking, panoramas, or using out-of-focus elements as part of your canvas. Your skill with these tools determines the clarity and impact of your final image.
Final Thoughts: Making Each Shot Intentional
Moving from taking pictures to making them is a journey rooted in vision and intent. Each element—from background and lighting to emotion, composition, and technical execution—becomes part of the story you’re telling. With a framework to guide each shot, you’ll find yourself creating images that go beyond aesthetics to connect, resonate, and captivate.
Photography is as much about the feeling you share as the scene you capture. Stay curious, keep learning, and always strive to make your next picture more intentional than the last.
Applying these fundamentals to your photography, will force you to make your pictures versus just taking your pictures.
In these examples and throughout my work, you can see how all the elements come together.
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