10 Common Photography Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

1. Not Checking Your Background

**The Mistake**: Focusing so much on your subject that you miss distracting elements behind them—poles, trash cans, or photobombers.

**The Fix**: Before shooting, scan the entire frame. Move slightly to eliminate distractions or use a wider aperture to blur the background.

2. Shooting in Auto Mode Forever

**The Mistake**: Relying on automatic settings prevents you from understanding exposure and limits creative control.

**The Fix**: Start with Aperture Priority (A/Av) mode. You control depth of field; the camera handles shutter speed.

3. Centering Everything

**The Mistake**: Placing every subject dead center makes photos feel static and boring.

**The Fix**: Apply the Rule of Thirds. Position subjects at intersection points for more dynamic compositions.

4. Ignoring Light Direction

**The Mistake**: Shooting with harsh midday sun or unflattering light angles.

**The Fix**: Shoot during golden hour (sunrise/sunset). For portraits, position subjects facing the light source.

5. Over-Editing

**The Mistake**: Pushing saturation, clarity, and HDR too far creates unnatural-looking images.

**The Fix**: Less is more. Aim for edits that enhance without being obvious.

6. Not Getting Close Enough

**The Mistake**: Including too much in the frame dilutes your subject's impact.

**The Fix**: Fill the frame with your subject. As Robert Capa said, "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

7. Blurry Images from Camera Shake

**The Mistake**: Shooting handheld with slow shutter speeds causes motion blur.

**The Fix**: Use the reciprocal rule—shutter speed should be at least 1/(focal length). For a 50mm lens, shoot at 1/50s or faster.

8. Poor White Balance

**The Mistake**: Leaving white balance on auto in mixed lighting creates color casts.

**The Fix**: Set white balance manually or shoot RAW to adjust in post-processing.

9. Not Shooting Enough

**The Mistake**: Taking only a few shots and hoping one works.

**The Fix**: Shoot more! Experiment with angles, compositions, and settings. Storage is cheap; missed moments aren't.

10. Never Getting Feedback

**The Mistake**: Never asking for critique keeps you in a bubble, repeating the same mistakes.

**The Fix**: Share your work. Get feedback from communities or use AI tools like ShutterMor for instant analysis.

Want personalized feedback on your photos? [Upload to ShutterMor](/auth) and get AI-powered critique in seconds.