This week, I’m going to dive into how you can make your photos look more interesting and creative!

I was inspired to write this by a question from one of our followers that went a little something like this:

“How to do you find something interesting to photograph, but then actually make it look interesting! I see many things I want to photograph, but when I take pictures of them, they look so mundane”

This feeling is really common among photographers who have learned the basics, in other words, they understand exposure, they are shooting in manual mode, they get sharp focus, and probably know how to use some types of light or composition rules……

…but they are now ready for their photos to go beyond that.

I definitely struggled with this too, and I had to challenge myself to leave my cozy comfort zone, and get out there and explore new ways of photographing things that maybe weren’t so easy to do, because its by growing and expanding our skills that leads to more jaw-dropping photos.

Every time I shot, I would really push myself to try different things, even if they didn’t always work out in the end, because when they did work, they REALLY worked.

The good news is, there is only really two things you need to consider when trying to get your photos to look more interesting: light and composition.

When you start to focus on those things, your photos will come to life, and you will be able to create magical “next level” photos.

So, I thought I would share with you 5 things I focus on that help me break out of my comfort zone and create more interesting photos, even when the subject matter itself might be totally mundane.

#1 - Change your vantage point

Let’s start with a super easy one shall we? Because everyone can do this, regardless of where you are in your photography journey.

And that is to simple try to change your vantage point.

We all get stuck taking the same photos, in the same way, and from the same perspective. But when you are always taking photos from the same vantage point as people would normally view a scene, it can sometimes look a little bit bland.

So a really simple way to jazz up your image is to choose a more interesting vantage point.

You could try shooting from the hip, getting above your subject and shooting down on them, or lying on your tummy and shooting across the ground, and look up and see what’s happening from that vantage point!

You will be amazed at the difference just switching away from the usual vantage point can make.

#2 - Use colour effectively

Another way to get more interesting photos is to use colour effectively, because using it right can convey emotions, draw attention to your subject, add interest or tie the various elements of a scene together and make it all look more interesting!

There are lots of different ways you can do that, from using chromatic contrast, or using the same set of colours for a more harmonious feel.

You can use chromatic repetition to help create a connection, and you could go even deeper and explore the psychological effects of color by using the color in the frame to set or enhance the mood of your image!

So we can add yet another level to our work by considering our colour palettes, which will in turn make our images either more interesting, either just visually or by creating an emotion in our viewer (which is an incredibly powerful way to make your photos more engaging!)

I could talk about colour all day, because it really can make the most mundane thing seem interesting, so definitely try considering the colours in the frame next time you shoot.

#3 - Wait for the perfect moment

Let’s move on now to another element of an interesting image, and that is to wait for a the perfect moment.

The famous photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson wrote of ''the decisive moment,'' which he defined as ''the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms which give that event its proper expression.'' but to put that in more simple way, it’s come to mean waiting for the perfect second to press the shutter, both in terms of what’s happening in the frame, and how the image is composed.

waiting for the perfect moment is going to be more true in scenes where there is action happening, rather than a still life, but I guess it can apply to all forms of photography.

For me, who mainly shoots portrait and lifestyle or family documentary images, it means waiting for a perfect moment, or guiding it along.

For example, in a portrait shot it might mean waiting or playing a game (if younger children) to get the moment when the smile actually reaches the eyes, rather than the fake cheesy smile most children, and people, start off with.

Or it may mean getting myself into the right position for the light and composition, and patiently waiting for my son to come into the perfect place in the frame (or far more likely, entice him there in some way!) or simply by waiting until there is a gesture or expression during a mundane activity that lifts it up a little.

As a side note, if you have great light, great composition and a great moment, then you’ve pretty much nailed getting an amazing picture!

#4 - Use more interesting light

I should probably have led with this one, because I don’t think there is anything as important in creating a compelling image than how you use light and shadow.

After all, photographers are literally “writers of light” - that’s exactly what the word means - so it’s critical that we keep learning about light, and the many ways we can use it, if we want to lift our images up to that next level.

There are also so many types of light, and so many ways we can use each type, that we can literally experiment with different light from morning to night!

You can use direct light, diffused light, reflected light, lighting patterns, backlight, side light, front light, light from the sun, light from the window, light from a lamp, a flashlight, an iPad, at sunset, at midday, lighting the background, darkening the background, photographing the shadows, dappled light, sunbursts, silhouettes, pockets of light and many more.

Learning about light is CRITICAL in photography, and you can make a start today with my FREE Mastering Natural Light guide - just go here to grab your free copy!

In short, learning how to identify, then use the different lighting opportunities that is around you every single day is absolutely key to creating interesting images.

Just as a side note - in order to be able to use light effectively, and be able to really manipulate the light and shadow, you do want to be shooting in manual mode! So if you are still on auto or any of the semi automatic modes, go learn manual mode first, then start learning about light.

#5 - Use advanced compositions

Last but not least in my little list of how to get more interesting photos is to use more advanced compositions.

When we start in photography, we all use the same composition rules, because they are easy to do, and so perfect for us when we are just starting out.

And that is absolutely as it should be - learn those basics first, but then, when the time comes where you feel like you want MORE, and you want to take your photos up a notch, make sure you break out of your comfort zone and try new and interesting compositions.

Elevated composition is a sure-fire way to create more interesting photos!

Again, there are far too many composition guides for me to even mention, much less get into! But again, here are just some quick examples for you to try:

The first is considering the depth of your image, and adding in different planes to give a feeling of depth.

When we take an image, we flatten our three dimensional world into a two dimensional one, which can leave our images looking a little flat. To counteract this, we can add depth to our image by creating layers, which in turn, makes our images look more alive, and yes, more interesting!

Another option is to use the golden ratio. There are lots of guides that spark from this mathematical ratio, such as the fibonacci sequence, the golden triangle, the golden spiral, golden grid or golden rectangle.

There is (apparently) a strong relationship between this golden ratio and what humans perceive to be beautiful - this may be because this ratio is found naturally, all around us in nature, but for whatever reason, they can give you a very powerful composition, which again, is a little more interesting that just sticking with the rule of thirds for every picture.