---
title: "Taking better photos: what makes a photo good?"
url: "https://goedefoto.nl/en/blog/taking-good-photos"
description: "What makes a photo good? Learn to notice your subject, the light and the moment. Decide what to change when taking a photo and what to edit later."
---

 ![Illustration of a photographer capturing a leaping dog in warm side light.](/_astro/hero-dog.BEvTZ6lH_ZpEe5A.jpg)

A good photo shows what matters to you. That might be a face, the colour of a flower or the mood around a table. Light, sharpness and what you include in the frame help make it visible. A photo does not have to be perfect in every way to do that.

Taking better photos starts with a choice: what do you want to keep? That question helps when you take a photo, choose between shots or edit one you already have.

## What should this photo show?

Imagine photographing a bunch of flowers on your kitchen table. Do you want to show the shape of one flower? Then you can leave the rest of the room out. Do you want to remember how the kitchen looked that morning? The table and window might belong in the picture.

These AI-generated images illustrate composition and light.

 ![Yellow flowers in a red jug on a wooden kitchen table, with the room and window around them.](/_astro/context.G-0mxbeV_7Opf4.jpg)

**The setting** Including the table and window keeps the feeling of the place.

 ![A yellow flower fills almost the entire frame. The background is out of focus.](/_astro/detail.J8ufyS7k_2cqt2D.jpg)

**The detail** Up close, the photo is about the shape and colour of one flower.

How you plan to use the photo matters too. A photo for a sales listing needs to show an object clearly enough to judge it. In a photo of a meal with friends, a moving hand might be part of the moment. A slightly blurred or dark area is not always a problem.

## Move around and check the edges

Before taking the photo, look along all four edges of the screen. Have you accidentally included half an object? Does a light-coloured bag draw more attention than the flowers? Move a little and see what changes.

Try sitting lower so the flowers appear against a plain wall. Or step to one side so the tap no longer sticks out behind the vase. You have changed the photo before touching a setting.

The arrangement of everything in a photo is called _composition_. Your subject can sit in the centre, but try placing it to one side too. See which position suits what you want to show. [Nikon explains how placement and space guide attention](https://www.nikon.nl/nl_NL/learn-and-explore/magazine/tips-and-tricks/essential-composition-techniques).

Keep the things that mean something. An empty background can make a photo calmer, but it says less about the place. Leave the table out completely and you might lose the feeling of that morning.

 ![A red jug with yellow flowers in the centre of the frame on a wooden table.](/_astro/center.BykqVb8y_1fuH28.jpg)

**In the centre** Centred framing puts the emphasis on the jug of flowers.

 ![A red jug with yellow flowers to one side of the frame, with empty table space beside it.](/_astro/offset.D4h9x2VB_ZMK9EH.jpg)

**To one side** Space beside the jug lets you see more of the table.

## Look at the light on your subject

A bright room does not always mean your subject will show up clearly. Flowers in front of a bright window can look dark in a photo. Stand beside the window and photograph the flowers from that direction. See whether the petals are easier to see.

 ![Yellow flowers in front of a bright window. The red jug on the table is mostly dark.](/_astro/backlight.CF_ZJEEo_Zu0OjH.jpg)

**Light from behind** The window is bright, but the front of the jug stays dark.

 ![Light from the left illuminates the yellow flowers and glossy red jug on the table.](/_astro/sidelight.DfNkKk3R_1K9w2T.jpg)

**Light from the side** Side light reveals the jug’s red colour and shine.

With a face, notice the shadows under the eyes and nose. In bright sunshine, try a spot in the shade. [Canon suggests shade as a practical option in harsh midday light](https://www.canon.ca/en/Articles/2024/portrait-photography-tips-and-techniques).

Soft light is not a requirement. A strong shadow might suit your photo. What matters is whether you show the face, shape or mood you had in mind.

## Check the detail that matters

After taking the photo, inspect the part that matters. Are the eyes sharp, or are the chairs behind them sharper? With flowers, you could check a petal. The whole photo does not need to be equally sharp.

On an iPhone, you can tap your subject before taking the photo to focus on it. You can then adjust the brightness too. [Apple explains these camera controls](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/iph3dc593597/ios). The controls vary between phones and cameras.

Hold your camera still while taking the photo. If your subject is moving, also take a shot when it pauses. Compare the two: the movement might work well for what you want to show.

## Choose the moment before the edit

Compare a few photos before you start editing. Look at the whole picture first. Which photo shows the gesture, expression or place you wanted to keep? Only then look closely at the small details.

A slightly dark photo with an expression you like might be your best choice. A sharp shot of someone looking away may not suit what you had in mind. You do not need to edit a photo that already does what you want.

If you do want to change something, name one problem. That makes it easier to choose between taking another photo and editing this one.

| What do you notice? | What can you try? |
| --- | --- |
| There is too much around your subject. | Crop the photo. Check that the place and moment are still recognisable. |
| The photo tilts when you did not intend it to. | Straighten it. This usually removes a little from the edges. |
| Your subject is a little dark. | Brighten the photo slightly. Stop if light areas start losing detail. |
| The important detail is blurred. | Compare another shot. If you can take the photo again, check the focus. |
| The expression or moment is missing. | Choose another photo or wait for another opportunity. |

Keep the original and compare each edit with it. Also look at the result at the size you plan to use. A change you notice when zoomed right in may be barely visible in a small photo.

## Try it with one subject

Put a jug of flowers on a table and take a first photo. Then change only where you stand. Leave the jug in place and take a second shot from a different height or side.

Compare the two. Which flower catches your eye first? How much of the room can you see? Choose the shot that suits your intention. Then try a different position relative to the window and notice what the light does.

You will see the difference your choice makes. You can use that observation for your next photo, with the camera you already have.

## Keep trying

Not every photo turns out as you hoped. That is okay. Choose one thing to try differently next time and take another photo. You can learn this at your own pace.