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Simple Macro Photography Tips for Beginners

These are the best macro photography tips for beginners that will perfect even the hardest close-up shots.

By Leanna DavisPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
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Though macro photography might seem like an entirely different world of photography, it's not too much harder than what you've already mastered. To start, you must become comfortable with the basics of this type of photography.

To aid this process, follow some of the best macro photography tips for beginners. These top ten tips will make your learning process much easier and quicker.

Find the best macro lens for you.

The first step to mastering macro photography is to find the best macro lens for you. As one of the simplest macro photography tips for beginners, there are a lot of great options.

To play it safe, most beginners will start off with a model that comes in focal lengths between 90 and 105mm with a 1:1 magnification; that way you get a large variety of zoom and focus.

Lighting is key.

Finding the right lighting is one of the best macro photography tips for beginners because it can entirely change a photograph. With this being said, you have two choices. Either natural light or flash can be used to capture macro photographs. Ultimately, natural light is always the preferred option, as it will provide the most authentic color and exposure.

However, you aren't able to adjust this type of light, obviously. And this is where special flash units come in. Be sure to dabble in this, as a way to process each of your shots with the best exposure and light.

Use a dioptre.

Dioptres are used to aid in your focus, as a way to adjust your lens from near to far. The device is used to calibrate the viewfinder, making the focus process easier.

It will take some getting used to, but once this is mastered, your macro photography will be easier, faster, and more professional looking. As one of the best tips for beginner photographers, always be aware of the tools that are available to you.

Learn the best way to focus.

In most other photography styles other than macro, you can typically rely on your camera's autofocus feature. This is not relevant for macro photography. As one of the best macro photography tips for beginners, you must alter your focusing process, as autofocus won't be fast enough to capture your shots.

Instead, learn to manually focus and master a steady hand, as tripods won't be your friend anymore either. Macro photography is all about capturing the most detailed images in the quickest amount of time, and these two tips will help you do so.

Use a diffuser.

Going along with the flash tip, using a diffuser will go hand in hand with this process. Using a diffuser will soften your photo and eliminate harshness from the flash, ultimately leading to a more naturally colored photograph.

What's a diffuser? It is a translucent material that you put between the flash and the macro subject. You can buy a pack of diffusers on Amazon for very cheap.

Try out a "third hand."

Believe it or not, there is a device that is called a third hand, and it is used to support subjects such as flowers or other plants, making it easier to capture the photo in the perfect light and position.

As one of the best macro photography tips for beginners, giving this device a shot will give open up your photography to many new possibilities.

Flashes and the Different Types of Them

Whether you think you need a flash or not, you should always use it. This is because of the necessity of a small aperture and narrow focal plane while capturing macro photography. If you want to be sure that your subject will be in focus, a flash is important.

A situation where you might not need the flash is if you have a great amount of natural light. But for beginners, it is best to keep it safe.

Shoot early and late.

As one of the most simple macro photography tips for beginners, altering the time you choose to shoot will make a world of a difference in your art.

If you are interested in shooting insects, earning mornings and early evenings are the best opportunities to find bugs that will be more tolerant of your shots.

Be aware of your shadow.

Another little tip to keep in mind is that you must be constantly aware of your shadow, especially while the sun is setting. Though the sunlight is beautiful during this time, it will cast an unfortunate shadow on your potential subjects.

Simply being aware of this will make your process easier, and knowing where to position yourself first will make the shots come that much quicker.

Have a ton of patience.

Last, but not least, of the simple macro photography tips for beginners is to always remain patient. As we are sure you know, being a photographer relies on having a ton of patience, and macro photography is no exception to this rule.

When it comes to photographing wildlife, there will be a ton of waiting. But always keep in mind the ultimate reason why you are doing so. The end result is always worthwhile.

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About the Creator

Leanna Davis

Social media addict, find the best cute dog photos on my Instagram.

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