Getting Sharper Photos Straight Out Of Camera : 5 Steps To Crisp Photos

when it comes to photography, creative blur can add interest but it’s important that our photo is appropriately focused as well.  one of our biggest goals as photographers is to achieve crisp focus in camera because there is no way to fix focus in post processing.  your photo is either in focus or it isn’t, making it more important than ever to master focusing skills.  when it comes to getting sharper photos straight out of camera, there are 5 things that i do regularly to ensure that every image i take is a keeper, instead of being thrown out because it is out of focus.

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Getting Sharper Photos Straight Out Of Camera: 5 Steps To Crisp Photos

Consider Your Lens Choice

when it comes to lenses, you get what you pay for.  your lens can really make or break your focusing, based on the quality of glass on your lens.  for me, i saw a huge difference in the quality of my images once i upgraded to an art series lens.  in fact, after only taking a handful of images with this lens, i sold every other lens i had because they simply didn’t add up in comparison.  when it comes to getting sharper images straight out of camera, it all starts with a proper lens choice.  i whole heartedly recommend my art lens, as it lives on my camera and i never take it off.

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Watch Your Aperture

while we all love the beautiful bokeh and softness achieved at f/1.4, it can be really hard to nail crisp focus if you are not careful.  for that reason, i had to break up with low apertures for awhile because my images were simply not as crisp.  as you are working towards getting sharper images straight out of camera, be sure to watch your aperture and make sure you are choosing an aperture that is wide or narrow enough to achieve focus on your subject.  my go-to aperture, and therefore happy place, is f/2.8 on my wide angle lens and portrait lens.

Slow Down

half the problem with failing to achieve focus is being too hurried with our camera.  as you are picking up your camera to photograph, be mindful to slow down and focus.  take a few deep breaths, if that helps you slow down.  by slowing down and really thinking through your camera settings, you will begin making better choices in order to achieve proper focus.  of course, there are the times when we are in a rush to photograph our subject in a unique moment before it’s gone.  but for the times when we can, slowing down is one of the silent secrets for getting sharper photos straight out of camera.

Fast Shutter

sometimes we mistake a blurry photo for simple camera shake.  as you are thinking through your settings, be sure to account for a faster shutter speed to offset any camera shake on your part.  the same should be kept in mind when working with a subject that moves.  when you are working with a moving subject, such as a child, it’s best to have your shutter at 1/250th or faster in order to freeze their quick and unpredictable movements.  save your slower shutter speeds for still life photos or for situations where there is little to no movement.

Continuously Monitor Your Focus

getting sharper photos straight out of camera can be as simple as always being aware of your output.  you can do this be continuously monitoring the back of your camera, as you are practicing nailing focus.  when i am photographing, i usually monitor my results on the back of my camera during the beginning of picture taking, to ensure that my settings are correctly achieving me focus.  after that, i don’t really check much and focus on photographing, only checking if i become concerned with a moving subject, the potential for camera shake or to ensure that i got the shot i wanted.

getting sharper photos straight out of camera is something that truly takes a little time and practice.  by developing these habits when photographing, you will help to ensure that more of your images are in focus and, therefore, keepers.  as you consider your lens choice, be mindful of your aperture, offset your camera shake, slow down and focus, and continuously monitor your results, you will begin developing great habits that create better images that have crisp focus.  what are some of your good habits for getting sharper photos straight out of camera?  be sure to share them with us in the comment section below!

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