Taking Great Photos During Summer

If you're like many people, you're already looking forward to putting together your summer photo book to commemorate all the fun times you've had with your family and friends - but how can you make sure you're getting the best possible photos? Here are seven tips to help you get book-worthy shots no matter where you go.

7 Tips to Help You Take the Best Photos This Summer

Long days, starry nights, and plenty of great photo-ops... that's what you're in for this summer. Use these seven tips to help you take your best shots while the weather's perfect for outdoor playtime:

1. Keep the sun behind your subjects

2. Look for natural reflectors

3. Use the sun to your advantage

4. Try black-and-white

5. Don't be afraid of bad-weather photography

6. Vary focal lengths

7. Experiment with different times of day

Whether you're a novice photographer with a DSLR, you're running around with your smartphone, or you're a seasoned pro, here's a closer look at each of these tips.

Summer Photography Tip #1: Keep the sun behind your subjects

As a photographer, you should be the one facing the sun - not your subjects. Sure, squinting is cute, but you don't want it in every photo. Ideally, you'll be able to take your photos at an angle so that neither of you is facing the sun directly. Use these extra tips:

• Keep open space behind you, rather than tall trees or dark buildings, to maximize the amount of sun on your subject's face

• Use exposure compensation or a special meter to keep your subject's face from looking too dark in the photo

• Let scenery filter the sun behind your subject (like tall trees)

Summer Photography Tip #2: Look for natural reflectors

Reflected light helps brighten all your photos, provided that you put the reflective object behind you, next to your subject, or even right below your subject. For example, try to shoot photos near sand, bright objects like white walls, or reflective spots like swimming pools or the open water.

Summer Photography Tip #3: Use the sun in your pictures

If you’re going out for some summer fun, experiment with taking photos under different lighting conditions.

Direct light will give harsh shadows, which can make certain things look more interesting.

The shade will provide more even lighting and a cooler temperature in your photos.

Golden Hour: The hour before the sun sets always gives a perfectly warm and glowy look. Play with taking photos of your subject facing and turned away from the sun. Try using your subject to cover the sun to achieve glowy sun flares!

Blue Hour: The hour right after sunset when the remaining indirect light is soft and blue. Experiment with getting soft pastel colors in the sky, or playing with your shutter speed as city and car lights begin to shine.

Summer Photography Tip #4: Try black-and-white

Lighting conditions aren't always just right for summertime photos, which means it's a great idea to explore your options with black-and-white photography. Look for interesting shadows and other ways to capture great shots of your subject and the environment to get more from your B&W photos.

Summer Photography Tip #5: Don't be afraid of bad-weather photography

There are bound to be days where the weather isn't perfect for taking pictures, but you can make up for it with your photos. In fact, bad weather will shoo away other people so you can get better shots - or even capture people scrambling for cover from the rain. You can capture other interesting subjects, too, like reflections and water drops in puddles and big, billowing clouds. (Just make sure you have a camera cover!)

Summer Photography Tip #6: Vary focal lengths

Try a focal length you don't usually use (or zoom in to a distance you wouldn't normally use). Because this pushes you outside your comfort zone for taking photos, it'll force you to compose a picture in your mind before you pick up the camera. It's great practice for later, too!

Summer Photography Tip #7: Experiment with different times of day

If you're planning ahead, visit the location where you'll be the day before you'll actually take photos. That way, you can see where the sun is at what time - and you might choose your subjects and placements before you actually get on the ground.

How to Pose in Photographs

Summer is the perfect opportunity to spend time with family and capture spontaneous moments together.

Bring your phone and snap away whether your subjects are posing or not. Sometimes the best photos are not posed!

Take advantage of distance and different perspectives. Use portrait mode on your phone, it works best with some distance between the subject and background. Or climb up to a higher vantage point.

What Are Your Best Summer Photography Tips?

We'd love to hear your tips on improving your photos during the summer, so please share them in the comments below. If you're up for it, you can also tag us on Instagram to show us your favorite summer shots - we're @Mixbook.