Fundamentals of Photography

As most websites and experiences use still images in one form or another, it is helpful to possess some fundamental knowledge of photography. This includes understanding the basics of composition, lighting, and editing since your designers or vendors might need to apply some of these to fulfil the client’s objectives (an emotional mood for their audience, or brand values).

Whether you're coordinating a still photo shoot or a video production, these principles will remain the same.

This chapter is essentially a lexicon of common terms and expectations (from clients, or from you to vendors) on photoshoots. I’ve also included a list of websites from which you can find royalty-free photography.

Composition

Composition refers to how elements are arranged within a photograph.

Rule of Thirds

When framing your shot, imagine a grid dividing your frame into nine equal parts - three vertical sections and three horizontal ones. The points where these lines intersect are your points of interest. Placing your subject or key elements along these lines or at the intersections can lead to a more balanced and visually interesting shot.

Cropping

Cropping can help enhance your composition by removing distracting elements. Naturally be mindful not to crop too much as this can result in a loss of image quality.

Perspective

Experimenting with different perspectives can add depth and interest to your shots. Common perspectives include frog's eye view (low angle), bird's eye view (high angle), and hip's eye view (eye-level).

Colour Theory

Understanding colour theory can help you create visually appealing images. A common practice is to use the three primary colours (red, blue, and yellow) to create a harmonious colour palette.

Desaturation

Desaturating colours can give your image a more muted, vintage look. It can also help to create a sense of emotion.

Depth of Field

Depth of field refers to the range of distance in a photo that appears sharp. A shallow depth of field can help your subject stand out from the background, while a large depth of field keeps more of the scene in focus. If you want to focus on the background you’ll choose images with high DoF, if you want to focus on subjects you’ll need to request images with shallow DoF.

Conceptualize Before Shooting

Don't overload your image. As the adage goes, 'less is more', and this certainly applies in the realm of photography. It's essential to guide the story you're telling through your images with one dominant style or theme per narrative. A clear, coherent style can provide a solid foundation for your narrative to unfold, helping your audience to connect with your intended message.

Working with Colour

Be mindful that excessive use of colour can be distracting. When possible, juxtapose similar elements to tell a more cohesive story. Your selection of elements should be based on their style and colour. Utilizing both black and white and colour can help draw attention to key aspects of the scene.

For most websites you’ll need still images as visuals to support the design, these are the most common platforms to find royalty-free images.

On your previous Figma project file, create a new page and start a photography moodboard for your project.