Swami Photography

When you frame your shot, make sure you're not cutting right at a joint. It will make them look amputated. Instead, cut in between the joints.

Before you hit the shutter button, make sure their feet are inside the frame. If not just move back a bit.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but usually, there's one angle the model looks best.

Photographers love shooting symmetry because, well, it's fascinating, but also because it brings harmony and balance to the image.

It's OK to have empty space in your picture. Just as a single art piece in a museum often takes up a whole wall, having negative space in your photo brings attention and importance to your subject.

Keep your photos straight, especially landscapes, and especially if the horizon is visible.

A fantastic way to convey depth in your scene is to show a "1-point perspective" where parallel lines appear to meet and vanish at the horizon.

Look for something in your foreground to "frame" your subject. It adds character to your photo and conveys depth in the scene.

Including a line in your photo can create a sense of depth--especially a line that starts from the edge of the frame and goes into the scene.

When shooting reflections, position the horizon at the center to emphasize the symmetry--don't use the rule of thirds here for the horizon.

For a more interesting look, position the horizon (where the sky meets the ground) one-third way up or down rather than at the center.

Take more close-up shots. Going closer not only reduces the background area (which means less clutter) but also produces a more engaging photo where you can see your subject's expressions and feel their emotions.

Divide the frame (mentally) into three equal parts vertically and horizontally, and place your subject at one of the four intersecting points. This can create a more interesting look than if you just center your subject.

When shooting people, look out for protruding objects. Trees or poles can appear to extend out from your subject's head and make them look unintentionally weird.

View your scene as three layers: background, middle-ground, and foreground. For example, if you’re at a beach, the sky is your background, the water is your middle-ground, and the sand is your foreground.

Shoot selfies from above, if you want to look your best. This also applies if you're shooting a close-up (face only) shot of someone else.

Before you take a shot, make sure there are no random people moving about in the background. Having people partially cut off in your frame makes it look cluttered and distracting, and you'll come across as a careless photographer.

Position your subject so there is ample room in the "line of sight". For example, if they are facing right, place them on the left. If you place them too close to the wrong edge, it would trigger an uncomfortable feeling--almost like they are going to walk off the frame.