Basic photography tips for pavers
Where can you show them afterwards? For example, on your website or your company’s Facebook or Instagram profile. Such materials will certainly help attract new customers.
Just remember that before taking a photo, you must have the consent of the person for whom you carried out the work. But if the client is happy with our work, there shouldn’t be a problem with that.
Some of you might think: “So what, am I now supposed to buy a camera costing tens of thousands of zlotys? I’d rather buy paving equipment…”. And you’re right! After all, you’re paving professionals, not professional photographers. But a smartphone is all you need to take good photos. There’s nothing wrong with photos taken on a phone. Of course, the quality won’t match that of a DSLR, but that’s not essential for your photos to look good. Above all, taking photos on a phone is convenient, as you usually have it to hand. To make things easier for you, we’ve put together a few tips.
Taking photos is a bit like laying pavers. First, you need to prepare the ground and the base, the equipment… and then take care of the composition and arrangement.
Tidiness on the photo
set
Let’s start with the basics: preparing the ‘photo set’. Once the job is done, make sure the pavers are clean. No traces of sand or other signs of your work. Move your tools to another spot too. Unless you’ve polished them beforehand and they’re a key part of the arrangement. :)
A clean lens
It seems obvious, but… As a paver, you work in unique conditions where dust, sand or grit are common. And even if your phone was protected from them, there might simply be greasy smudges on the lens. It’s best to wipe it with a soft cloth, such as one used for glasses.
Composition
If possible, you can add a small garden feature to the composition, such as a flower pot. This will enrich the photo and give it real context. And if you have the chance to return to the location and take a photo once the garden is ready, so much the better.
Photo
composition
The centre of the photograph is not necessarily the most favourable from a compositional point of view. The key concept here is the rule of thirds. Imagine that your frame is divided into three (equal parts) on each side. This creates a grid consisting of 9 equal rectangles. It is best to place the subject at the intersection of these lines (the so-called ‘strong points’), i.e. at 1/3 or 2/3 of the frame. The photos will look more dynamic than if you place them in the centre. You can, of course, break this rule, but it’s best to do so deliberately.
Focus
Smartphones are getting better and better at automatic focusing. But sometimes it’s worth setting the focus yourself on a selected subject. On most models, you can do this yourself. Usually, all you need to do is tap the screen in the right place.
Lighting
It’s better to take photos on a sunny day than a cloudy one – that’s obvious. The best time for outdoor photography is the so-called ‘golden hour’, i.e. morning or evening. However, try not to take photos against the light. Unless you have extensive experience in photography and know exactly what you’re doing and the effect you want to achieve. Otherwise, it’s best if the light comes from the side or from behind you.
Camera
stabilisation
The camera (in this case, your smartphone) must be steady. If the situation requires it, hold your breath whilst taking the photo. You can also rest your phone on a hard surface or buy a special smartphone tripod. Fortunately, as professionals who often work in unusual positions, you shouldn’t have any trouble maintaining a stable posture.
Photo
editing
Photo editing is also the time to fine-tune the framing. Even small changes can make a big difference here. If you want to correct any flaws, use free and easy-to-use apps, such as Snapseed. With these, you can fix imperfections, crop the photo, sharpen colours or adjust shadows.
That’s all for now. We hope we’ve been of some help. If you’re interested in photography, we encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments. We look forward to your feedback and tips!
