Hello! I’m Kimberly Reynolds, and as a professional photographer, I’ve encountered more than my fair share of photography problems. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been shooting for years, photography isn’t always as easy as it seems. Every session—whether it’s portrait photography, maternity photography, or even a simple family photo shoot—can come with its own set of challenges.
If you’ve ever been frustrated by blurry photos, unflattering lighting, or awkward compositions, trust me—you’re not alone. In this blog, I’m going to walk you through some of the most common photography problems, explain why they happen, and share simple solutions you can apply right away to improve your shots. Plus, I’ll talk about how these issues can affect client expectations and how to maintain a positive relationship with your clients through problem-solving.
1. Blurry Photos: A Photographer’s Worst Nightmare
Problem: If your photos are coming out blurry, it can be one of the most frustrating problems to deal with as a photographer. Blurriness can occur for a variety of reasons, including camera shake, poor focus, or movement during the shot.
Why it Happens: Blurry images often occur because of low shutter speeds or improper focusing. If you’re shooting in low light and your shutter speed is too slow, even the slightest hand movement can cause motion blur. Likewise, if your camera isn’t focusing correctly on your subject, the image can come out soft and unclear.
How to Fix It:
Use a Faster Shutter Speed: A good rule of thumb is to use a shutter speed at least equal to your focal length. So, if you're shooting with a 50mm lens, aim for a shutter speed of at least 1/50th of a second. I, however, don't shoot less than 1/200th of a second to avoid any kind of blur. For moving subjects, try even faster speeds like 1/300th or 1/500th of a second.
Use a Tripod: If you're shooting in low light or at slow shutter speeds, a tripod can help eliminate camera shake.
Check Your Focus: Always ensure your camera is focusing on the right subject. For portraits, this usually means focusing on the eyes. If you’re using autofocus, double-check that your focus point is set correctly.
What Clients Think: Clients expect crisp, sharp images, especially for things like portraits or special events. Blurry photos can make them question your skills or professionalism. By preventing blurry shots, you’ll keep your clients happy and confident in your abilities.
2. Poor Lighting: Making Your Photos Look Flat and Lifeless
Problem: Lighting is everything in photography, and poor lighting can ruin even the best composition. Whether it’s too harsh, too dim, or coming from the wrong direction, bad lighting makes your photos look flat, unappealing, or overexposed.
Why it Happens: Poor lighting can be the result of shooting in harsh midday sunlight, not using reflectors or diffusers, or not positioning your subject in the best available light.
How to Fix It:
Golden Hour Magic: Try shooting during the golden hour (the hour after sunrise or before sunset) when the light is soft and warm. This will give your photos a dreamy, flattering glow.
Use Reflectors and Diffusers: Reflectors bounce light onto your subject, while diffusers soften the light and reduce harsh shadows. These tools are especially useful for portrait photography.
Adjust Your White Balance: Sometimes, poor lighting isn’t about the intensity of the light but the color temperature. If your photos look too yellow, too blue, or too green, adjusting your white balance can fix the color cast.
Portrait Photography at Mead Gardens Orlando Florida
What Clients Think: Clients often expect photos that flatter them and convey mood. Harsh, unflattering lighting can make people look tired or unappealing. Good lighting is one of the easiest ways to make your images look professional and polished, which is key to client satisfaction.
3. Underexposed or Overexposed Images: Losing Detail in the Highlights or Shadows
Problem: Exposure issues can leave your photos with either too much darkness (underexposure) or too much brightness (overexposure), causing you to lose important details in the image.
Why it Happens: Underexposure occurs when there isn’t enough light hitting the camera’s sensor, while overexposure happens when there’s too much light. These issues are often caused by incorrect camera settings or misjudging the light.
How to Fix It:
Use Your Camera’s Histogram: The histogram is a great tool to check your exposure in real-time. If your histogram is skewed too far to the left, you're underexposed; if it's skewed to the right, you’re overexposed.
Adjust Your Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO: A wider aperture (lower f-stop) lets in more light, which can help with underexposure. Lowering your shutter speed or increasing your ISO can also help. Conversely, reducing your ISO or using a faster shutter speed can help combat overexposure.
Use Exposure Compensation: If you’re shooting in semi-automatic modes (like aperture or shutter priority), you can dial in exposure compensation to correct the exposure in real time.
What Clients Think: Clients expect the photos to look balanced, with all areas of the image properly exposed. Underexposed or overexposed photos can make them feel like they didn’t get their money’s worth. So, learning how to expose your shots correctly will go a long way in ensuring client satisfaction.
4. Distracting Backgrounds: Making Your Subject Get Lost
Problem: A busy or distracting background can take attention away from the subject of your photo. In portrait or wedding photography, you want your subject to be the focus, not the clutter behind them.
Why it Happens: Distracting backgrounds can occur if you’re shooting in a crowded space or haven’t properly considered the environment. It might also happen if you're using too small of an aperture (high f-stop number), which doesn’t allow for a shallow depth of field to blur the background.
How to Fix It:
Use a Wide Aperture (Low f-stop Number): A shallow depth of field will blur the background, making your subject stand out more. Use a wide aperture like f/1.8 or f/2.8 to create beautiful background blur (bokeh).
Change Your Perspective: Sometimes, moving slightly to the left or right can make a huge difference in eliminating distractions. Try to position your subject in front of a simpler, more neutral background.
Shoot at a Distance: If possible, move further away from your subject. This will give you more room to create a background blur and separate your subject from the environment.
What Clients Think: Clients want to feel like the focus is on them. A distracting background can make a beautiful portrait feel chaotic. If you can clean up the background or make it complement your subject, clients will appreciate the thoughtfulness you put into their images.
5. Unflattering Poses: Making Your Clients Feel Awkward
Problem: Even the best lighting and composition won’t save a photo if the subject’s pose is unflattering or awkward. If your client isn’t comfortable in front of the camera, it can show in their posture and expressions.
Why it Happens: Not everyone knows how to pose naturally in front of a camera, and some photographers don’t give enough guidance during the shoot. It’s easy to fall into a routine of “point and shoot” without considering body angles or movement.
How to Fix It:
Guide Your Clients: Always give clear directions on how to position themselves. Simple things like telling them to relax their shoulders, angle their body slightly away from the camera, or shift their weight to one leg can make a world of difference.
Encourage Movement: Instead of having clients freeze in one position, encourage movement like walking or turning their head. This will help capture more natural expressions and avoid stiff poses.
Focus on Expression: A great pose is nothing without a genuine expression. Keep the mood light, make your clients laugh, or have them think about something personal to evoke emotion.
What Clients Think: Clients want to look good in their photos, and unflattering poses can make them feel self-conscious. By giving clear guidance and making them feel comfortable, you’ll ensure they leave with images they love and feel confident sharing.
Conclusion: Photography Problems Aren’t the End of the World
As a professional photographer, you’ll face challenges with every shoot. But the beauty of photography is that there’s always a solution—whether it’s adjusting your settings, refining your technique, or simply being mindful of the environment. Every problem you solve makes you a better photographer, and your clients will notice.
By mastering the art of problem-solving, you not only improve your technical skills but also build trust with your clients. They’ll see that you’re capable of delivering beautiful, polished images no matter the circumstances.
Show me your first year's work to your recent year's work! Let's relish in your growth and accomplishments. <3
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