1) Look at the stuff in the background. Does it look like a tree is growing out of your brother’s head? Is there a car in the background of your garden shot? Are there dirty dishes in the background of a cute picture of your baby? Use that zoom to crop out stuff you don’t want to see or pan a little to the right or left to hide the unwanted stuff.

2) Don’t put your subject in the middle of the frame. If you’re shooting someone in front of a cool background, try putting the person off to one side. This will give your images more dimension. This applies to the top and bottom of the frame as well. If shooting a boat on the horizon, for instance, place the horizon either a third of the way up from the bottom or a third down from the top.

3) Look at the light. Bright overcast daylight is the most flattering light for people shots. If it’s a harsh sunny day, though, try not to shoot into the sun (with the sun directly behind your subject). This can make your subject look too dark. If the sun hits your camera lens, the whole shot can look washed out (this is called Lens Flare). To fix this, hold your flat hand above the lens to block the sun. Is your subject squinting? Try altering your position to make the sun fall on them from a slight side angle.