Macro Photography 101
Macro Photography is my passion in photography. It is the one genre of photography that I am drawn to more than anything else. You might say it’s my niche.
When I first started macro photography, I thought that if I just pointed my new lens at the flower, or the butterfly or the leaf, there would be magic.
Um no. It was a lot harder than it looked! I’ve  learned a lot through reading, observing, trial and error, classes and practice practice practice.
So today, so you won’t have to go through what I do, I’m giving you my
3 essential Macro Photography Tips
1. Understand Depth of Field
Depth of Field is the amount of your photo that is in focus. So a LARGE depth of field would mean there is a lot in focus. A SMALL depth of field would mean that there is only a small amount of your photo in focus. Â In macro photography, the closer you are to your subject, the shallower your depth of field and the less is in focus. keeping that one fact in mind, I almost always START shooting at f/5.0.
In the following photo, I didn’t move, change my angle or change any setting other than my aperture. In the photo on the left, my aperture in 2.8. And only a few of the front petals are in focus. This is a shallow depth of field. In the photo on my right, the aperture is 8.0. And more of the petals are in focus. Which one is better? Neither. I think it depends on what YOU like. I like them both 🙂
2. My next macro photography tip is to Mind Your Composition
There are three compositions that I almost always try when shooting:
1. The traditional Rule of Thirds:
2. Negative Space
3. Groups of 3s.
3. Â My last tip is to shoot the details
Move in. Macro photography is really all about the details, the little ones that your normal lens would miss.
So shoot Straight On:
At An Angle
From Above
Get Close.
Now, Â that I’ve shared my favorite macro photography tips, I want you to go out and try it. I want to see the results!
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Thank you for the tips! I just got my first DSLR and I can’t wait to try your tips out.
OMG! I so needed this tutorial. My photography is subpar to say the least. I will be trying out your techniques over the weekend. Keep the tutorials coming. A sista needs help. LOL
Okay! I am not knowledgeable in photography. Loving this Rule of Thirds concept! I knew nothing of Depth of Field and have a beautiful camera that intimidates me. I usually just use my iPhone but this post has encouraged me to try your tips. Thanks for sharing!
Girl I really need these tips! I have no knowledge of taking pics what so ever! I’ll be going back to this tutorial once I have my camera with me.
Macro photography is so gorgeous to me! I love looking at all of the details. I really know nothing about photography, but I really enjoyed these tips! Hopefully I can implement some of them in my blog!
This is so helpful to me. I noticed that now I have my 60 that a lot seems out of focus, and I am realizing that although I love the bokeh I may need to play with the aperture a little more to see what really works for me.
Now I have to go buy clearance flowers from Kroger!
These are beautiful photos! My next lens will be a macro lens, I think. The possibilities of what I can do with my food photography with one are blowing my mind looking at this post! Thanks you! Pinned!
Wonderful tips! I’m going to try these, I just got back from shooting around the city, wish I had seen this first!
Love the photos! Which lens did you use? I definitely need more prime lenses in my collection 🙂
These are positively stunning! I love macro photography and really need to work on it a bit more. Thanks so much for sharing this!
I am not going to even attempt it I am just going to be real. Macro will not be my thing at all.
Gorgeous flowers. Great tips. You really love Marco photography! I have fallen all the way off with my photography hobby. I’ll just live through you on that one.
Cries real tears now. After my one class last weekend, I thought I was a pro. Now, I see that I’m so in the woods still. LOL I’m going to be Gordon Parks… I’m just gonna.
Excellent tips. I’m printing these for my photo binder.
Love the contrast of the pink against the black. Great tips.
I don’t consider myself a budding photographer but I love “knowing stuff” and I LOVE pics 🙂
This was really helpful 🙂
What are good beginner macro lenses to start with?
If Canon, the Canon 60mm macro lens. If Nikon 40mm macro lens. Neither will work on full frame cameras though. Canon’s 100mm macro lens is awesome weather you do the L lens or not. Nikon 105 mm macro lens is also good. But for a cheaper good macro lens for either Nikon or Canon, look at Tamron’s macro lens too! Hope that helps!
Thanks!