Photography Perfection: Top Composition Rules for Stunning Shots

In general, as in many creative fields, there are no essential rules regarding the composition of your images or photographs. It only depends on your own style and purpose. Yet, you can use several techniques to improve the composition of your photographs, whether it’s a landscape picture, a portrait, or a family photo.

Top Photography Composition Rules

1. Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a technique of composition in which an element is divided into thirds.

Rule of Thirds - 10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Photo courtesy / Kevin Noble

2. Balancing Elements

Balancing is a technique of visual weight of objects inside a composition.

Balancing Elements - 10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Photo courtesy / Luca Zanon

3. Symmetry

Symmetry often refers to a line that splits an object in the middle as if both sides reflect each other.

Balancing Elements - 10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Photo courtesy / Evan Qu

4. Leading Lines

There are many different types of line: Straight, diagonal, curvy, zigzag, radial, etc.

Leading Lines - 10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Photo courtesy / James Padolsey

5. Background

In photography, the background is part of the overall scene. It’s behind the main subject of the photograph.

Background Composition Rule - 10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Photo courtesy / Colin Moldenhauer

6. Viewpoint

The viewpoint refers to the position from which we take a photograph.

Viewpoint Composition Rule - 10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Photo courtesy / Joseph Barrientos

7. Depth

Depth of Field (DOF) is a focusing technique that involves playing on the distances between the elements of a composition.

Depth Of Field - DOF - 10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Photo courtesy / Bonnie Kittle

8. Fibonacci Sequence

The golden ratio, sometimes called the Fibonacci spiral, golden spiral, phi grid, or golden mean, is a composition guide.

Fibonacci Sequence - 10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Photo courtesy / Boris Smokrovic

9. Cropping

Cropping is a technique of removing unwanted elements from the outer areas of a picture

Cropping - 10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Photo courtesy / Preston Pownell

10. Framing

Framing involves using elements that are part of a scene’s composition to create a frame that encompasses the whole.

Framing - 10 Top Photography Composition Rules

Photo courtesy / Luis Vidal

photography composition rules

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Author

Outmane is the founder of Proactive Creative. He is an artist/designer.


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