3 Easy Photo Composition Techniques for Better Photos

You can create better images just like my students. I’ll share 3 photo composition techniques that they used to improve their photos, and if you stay until the end, I’ll share a bonus photo composition technique to elevate your photos.

Lai used to take images like this until he applied a simple photo composition technique. I’ll share the name of this photo composition technique in a moment.

Once upon a time, Kelly took images like this until she learned a specific photo composition technique, and now she creates images like this.

Patty applied the easiest photo composition rule to transform her images from ordinary to extraordinary.

IAI

Let’s see what photo composition technique Iai used to create better images. This image lacks a primary subject, is very busy, and has a poor composition overall.

The easiest way to create a better image is to zoom in on the primary subject so there is no doubt about the primary subject. 

Eliminating all other elements, like the dirt, stems, etc., simplifies the image and makes it ten times better.

Wouldn’t you agree?

This photo composition technique is known as Fill the Frame. Try it on your images, and I guarantee you'll start creating better image

KELLY ANN

This image is also very busy, and the primary subject gets lost among all the branches.

Kelly's composition technique for this image differs from “Fill the Frame.” 

For this composition, she used the process of elimination by composing the subject without a busy background. 

She eliminated many of the busy and distracting elements often found in wildlife photos. 

Yet, she still included part of the tree branch it was standing on to give us more context on its location. 

This photo composition technique is known as “Minimalism,” which, I’ll admit, is difficult to use with wildlife, but Kelly did an excellent job with it. 

Try minimalism in your next photo to create amazing compositions regardless of the type of images you choose. 

This next composition option is easier and one that I’ve used on many of my images in the last 35 years. 

My motto is that if it’s good enough for Hollywood, where I was born, then the technique is good enough for my clients and me.

PATTY

Patty decided to create better images after the loss of Molly.

In her words, after she had passed away from cancer, Patty realized she didn’t have many good photos of her.

She had a lot of pictures but not many good ones.

From that moment, she decided to take photography more seriously to create better images.

In the last few years, she has transformed into an exceptional photographer from my classes and photographic community, which you can also join with the link below.

She also attended a dedicated pet photography course with another photographer for full transparency.

For this image, she applied the easiest photography composition you can apply to your images to improve them.

The primary composition technique for this image is known as the Rule of Thirds, which consists of nine equal boxes with four points of intersection.

According to the rule of thirds, placing your subject either on the left or right side or along one of the four main points creates a stronger composition.

There’s another composition technique used in this image known as Leading Lines.

The leading line isn’t apparent since it’s an implied leading line.

We have one based on the direction that Lucas is looking into, and our mind naturally wants to follow that direction.

It’s a technique often used in advertising, and I used it here to get you to see what I wanted you to see.

So, the primary purpose of a Leading Line is to direct your viewers' attention where you want it or to guide them through your image.

If you want more composition tutorials, click this playlist for more composition techniques.