How to take better photos (and up your Instagram game)

As you read this, millions of photographs are being snapped and tapped on devices all over the world - but that doesn’t mean they’re all going to be pretty. (It’s blunt, but true.)
 
Sure, some people are born with the knack for capturing a beautiful image, but there are some simple steps anyone can embrace to take better photos - whether it be for personal enjoyment or the sake of, ahem, Instagram likes.
 
To that end, we asked Cohen Summers from GoPro’s Global Education and Training team to share his wisdom.

According to Summers, there are plenty of features that make for an eye-catching image - starting with “beautiful light and colour”, and ensuring the composition isn’t too cluttered or overly complicated.

“A simple composition will allow an image to quickly make an impact, and be easily digested by the viewer,” Summers tells 9Honey. 

“Always keep in mind how you can keep things clean and basic as you capture the busy world around you.”

Summers says capturing emotion where you can - “whether that be in the landscape you are photographing, or your happy friends and family” - will also take an image to the next level.

“Involving storytelling in your photography can give your audience an idea of who you are, where you are from, or where you’re going. We enjoying sharing images that tell a story,” he adds.  

Simple ways to up your photo game
 
Regardless of your camera-wielding skill level, Summers says there are some easy steps you can take to improve your photos.
 
“Practice, practice, practice, and use your imagination,” he advises.

Experimenting with different perspectives - and mounts, if you’re working on a GoPro or camera - will also pay off, as does toying with settings and capture modes.

Instagram edits that’ll bring the likes

Sometimes, just sometimes, our photos need a little bit of help before they make their online debut. Enter: image editing.

Instagram, for instance, has plenty of in-built tools you can experiment with.

If you’re not keen on the pre-set filters, select the ‘Edit’ function instead - this allows you to manually adjust the brightness, colour and contrast levels of your photo before you hit ‘Share’.

Otherwise, there are plenty of separate image editing apps out there to do the job - “I personally use Snapseed and Lightroom,” Summers adds.
 
If you’re using a GoPro, apps like the GoPro App and Quik allow you to post photos and videos direct to Instagram when you’re satisfied with the final result.

WATCH: The photography Instagram every travel junkie needs to follow. (Post continues.)

The biggest (and most common) photo mistakes

Summers says the biggest mistakes we all make when snapping photos tend to be simple. Really simple, in fact.
 
“Number one tip: keep that lens clean,” he explains.
 
Yep - whether you’re using your trusty iPhone, a GoPro or a camera, a fingerprint-smudged lens can instantly thwart all your good photographic intentions - as will a flat battery. 

GoPro's new HERO - a go-anywhere, capture-anything camera - is now available for $299.95