What is composition in photography? A beginner’s guide

Composition in photography is all about being conscious of how the human eye travels across a piece of work, and therefore being aware of how you organise visual elements within a frame.

In the UK and in the majority of Western culture, we read from left to right. This applies to reading a book just as much as admiring a painting or photograph.

We’re also attracted to bright objects first. After all, nobody has ever looked at an image of the solar system and not noticed the sun. By understanding these principles, we can apply the following six guidelines to create stunning composition in photography.

Related: The Exposure Triangle Explained

A beginner’s guide to photography composition

The rule of thirds

Arguably, the most important rule in photography is the rule of thirds. This rule says that when composing a scene, you should divide your shot into nine equal sections using vertical and horizontal lines to make a grid.

The elements of the shot you want the eye to focus on should sit on or around the four intersections. Many DSLR cameras and even smartphones include a helpful grid in their ‘live view’ display.

While we tend to place the subject in the centre of the photograph, placing it off-centre can often produce a more attractive final product. When setting up a shot using this rule, be aware of all the straight lines and points of interest in the composition, including things like the horizon, trees, or—if you’re shooting portraits—even a pair of glasses.

Read more: How to improve your food photography skills

Using frames

Frames help focus the eye on your subject and are commonly used in wedding photography. Framing uses the environment (e.g. bridges, arches, tree branches or doorways) to centre your audience’s attention. This technique can also add depth and context to a photograph.

When you use this technique, ensure the camera is focused on the subject of the photograph, and not the frame in the foreground. Test out different types of frames to find out what you think looks best, whether it be using natural or architectural frames.

Related: Composition Technique - Framing

Leading lines

The point of a decent composition is to help the audience ‘read’ your photograph. Leading lines do just that by drawing the eye to where you want it to focus on your photograph. These lines could be a road, a line on a pavement, or even a natural element such as a hedgerow. Leading lines can add symmetry to your shot as well as give context to your subject.

This technique can be used across all different forms of photography, whether it’s portraits, fashion, landscapes, or architecture. The lines don’t necessarily have to lead straight to the subject of your photo—they could run horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or even in a curve across the shot.

Read more: What are the different types of photography?

Clean your background

If you flick through the images on your phone looking for a great picture to print and mount on your wall, the chances are you’ll be looking for a while.

Cameras have an unscrupulous tendency to flatten the foreground into the background, but the human eye finds no difficulty in distinguishing between the two. To correct this, make sure your background is ‘clean’ and free of any great detail that might distract from your subject.

Once printed, your audience’s eye will then be pulled towards the subject without distraction. This technique works great for portrait and product photography where you want attention to be entirely on the subject.

Related: 9 ways to stop unsightly backgrounds spoiling your shots

Patterns and symmetry

Patterns are very pleasing to look at and shoot in photography. They add a sense of depth, order and life to a subject. Patterns can also provide a sense of predicability within a picture, with the use of lines, shapes, and colour.

However, breaking a pattern can also work. This requires either adding or taking something away from the photograph to interrupt the pattern. People are generally drawn to patterns, but it’s a break in the pattern that will make them stop to get a proper look at your picture.

For example, remembering the rule of thirds, try finding a symmetrical building and adding a focal point that bears no relevance. Suddenly, your image comes alive.

A great example of this is when a photographer snaps the dramatic heights of skyscrapers. The windows give endless symmetry and depth as they reach into the sky, but the photo is complete when an aircraft flies over, breaking the symmetry but ensuring the photograph lives on.

Related: Photography Composition: Breaking the Pattern

Depth of Field

Getting a sense of depth of field in photography can be tricky for beginners as we’re working in a two-dimensional space. But to trick the eye into appreciating a third dimension, include objects in the foreground, middle ground and background.

If you don’t have immediate access to a glorious horizon to do this, try overlapping your subjects. Your audience’s eye will distinguish between the overlapped layers and see depth.

Try experimenting with the depth of field in your photograph by focusing in on each subject within your photo whilst they’re overlapped. You can do this by changing your camera’s aperture settings.

A wide aperture will give you a shallow depth of field and a focus on the objects in the foreground with the background blurred, whereas a narrow aperture will give you a deep depth of field with all the elements in your frame in focus.

Related: Depth of Field: The Essential Guide

Specialist photography insurance through Ripe

The great thing about modern photography is that you can experiment, play, and test different angles, lighting, and dimensions to enhance and focus your subject.

However, whilst you’re working on your photography skills, you may want to protect your camera and its accessories from things like theft and accidental damage with specialist photography insurance. Through Ripe, you can build your own policy to suit your needs including cover of up to £60k for your camera and equipment.

Find out more about specialist photography insurance or get a quick online quote today.