Good composition is important because it will not only keep your viewer engaged, but it will also make your photo more interesting. These tips will help you take great photos. For most beginning photographers, it will take a while to develop an “eye” for composition, but don’t worry because you will get better.

1. When you are photographing your subject, always keep composition in mind. Do not rely on cropping them afterward. While it is okay to crop your photos, you do not want to be spending time cropping every single one in order to get an interesting photograph.

2. Firstly, consider the placement of your subject. You will want to avoid placing your subject in the middle of the frame. “Sweet spots” are where you want to place your subject.

To get an idea about where these sweet spots are located, imagine a rectangular, blank photo. Envision 2 vertical lines dividing the frame into 3 equal sections. Now imagine 2 horizontal lines breaking the frame into 3 equal sections. Where these lines intersect at 4 spots are the sweet spots. For a great photo, experiment placing your subject in these imaginary sweet spots.

3. Use lines or texture to draw the viewer into your photograph. Your viewer is going to be guided around the photo by the lines.

For example, if your subject is a spiral staircase, the lines will draw the viewer around the entire photo. A cycle can be made if you have grass that draws the viewer from the bottom of the photo to the top, and rays of sun that draw the viewer from the top of the photo to the bottom.

Horizon lines can be placed either above or below the center. Lines from subjects such as trees, ladders, buildings, or railroad tracks can also be used to create strong composition.

Anyone can make a short film, you don’t need to be a professional. Any kind of camera will do, because these tips will help you make a great video. Post-production is key to creating an awesome film, however, you’ll need really good footage for post-production to run smoothly. The first step is to figure out what you want the film to be about. You’ll want to pick someone interesting. Get ready for an adventure- forget the tripod, you can leave it behind.

1. Don’t move the camera. You don’t need to move the camera to capture movement. Hold the camera still and don’t feel like you need to follow the movement. Later on you may want to pan the camera, if you have a steady hand.

2. A close up shot is key. It draws attention to the action and engages the viewer. This is no time to be shy- get the camera right next to that person’s face.

3. Next, get a great shot over the person’s shoulder. This is a good perspective to have, and the viewer feels as though they are right there. It’s okay if the person moves in and out of the frame.

4. Take a step back and make sure to include an overview shot- the previous shots will make more sense. Get a number of different shots by walking around (not while you are recording) the action.

5. After you get the critical shots, experiment with other angles. Try shooting from up high, or getting down low. Rarely do you want to “zoom.” If you want to get a close-up, all you have to do is move yourself closer in.

Typically, you will want to record 10 second segments of all the shots mentioned. When deciding what to shoot, follow your instincts and capture what your eye is drawn to. Put all these shots together for a dynamic film!