Isolate the subject from the background
Be aware of what is in the background of the photo – change your angle or position to eliminate things that do not need to be in the photo and could be distracting, such as a pole behind someone's head. Use a short focal length to blur the background while keeping the subject in focus. Flash can help to illuminate the subject against a darker background. For shots such as close-ups of fruit or first-aid techniques, try to use a white background (eg a sheet of paper or a screen) behind the subject. This will highlight the subject matter and prevent background distraction.
Ensure even lighting
Avoid bright sunlight and heavy shadow across the subject or in the background, as it can be very distracting. Check your exposure level, and adjust ISO, shutter speed, aperture and white balance settings to suit the situation.
Experiment with and without the flash. Flash can help fill in shadowed areas, particularly if you cannot avoid backlighting or high-contrast lighting. On the other hand, being too close with the flash can overexpose the subject, so also experiment with distance.
Control unwanted reflections on the subject by repositioning lights; using flash; or using white cards below, behind or in front of the subject to reflect or block light.
Ensure that the subject is in sharp focus
Check your shots, zoom in on your preview and ensure that the focus is crisp. It is better to stand further away from the subject and get a good, high-resolution shot that you or your designer can crop than to stand closer than the camera’s focal length. Use a tripod to hold the camera steady to avoid motion blur.
Ensure high resolution
Take photos at the highest resolution your camera is capable of.
Consider the orientation
‘Landscape’ and ‘portrait’ refer to orientation, not visual content. ‘Landscape’ means horizontal – that is, wider than it is tall. ‘Portrait’ means vertical – taller than it is wide. Consider which is most appropriate for the subject and the publication when taking the photograph.
