Whether they’re for a photo book or holiday greeting cards, photographs of the sunset are always a stunning and appreciated choice – especially when you’re taking them yourself. Nailing the perfect sunset shot isn’t as simple as it sounds, but there are a few tips that will help. Below are some do’s and don’ts of photographing sunsets.

Do:

Give yourself plenty of time to capture the moment.

Arrive at your chosen location before the sun starts setting and stay until after it’s done. This gives you time to set up your equipment and take more photos. You’ll capture a wider range of colors throughout the sunset’s progression, and it gives you enough time to play with the composition and settings of your photos. You’ll also take more pictures, which increases your chance of taking that breathtaking shot you were hoping for.

Take photos in RAW setting.

Photos taken in RAW will be more detailed, as RAW images contain more data than standard JPEG photos. Another perk of using RAW settings is that you can edit certain aspects after you take the shot, like changing the white balance. This saves time during the shoot since you won’t have to adjust settings as often while taking pictures.

Don’t:

Aim directly at the sunset.

Taking pictures of the sunset directly leads to poor-quality photos that aren’t visually interesting and can contain a number of issues. Instead, find an interesting foreground to focus on, with the sunset creating the perfect backdrop. Another option for your photo book photography is leaving the sun itself out of the picture and shooting photos with it either beside or behind you. This allows for depth of color and captured serenity without damaging your camera’s lens or dealing with lighting issues.

Forget the basics.

Don’t forget the simple steps that are easily overlooked. Use a tripod if possible to achieve steady pictures free of blur with accurate aiming. Check your camera before shooting to ensure that the lens is clean and the camera is free of damage. Additionally, make sure all settings and functions are working the way they should so you don’t encounter unexpected issues when you get to the location.

Once you’ve nailed your photo shoot, let the experts at NuImaging Professional create your photo book or greeting cards for you. A nationwide leader in photo printing centered in Covington, KY, they offer a multitude of ways to turn your photos into timeless creations, including keychains, magazines, business and greeting cards, photo printing on metal, and photo books. Learn how to get started online, and call (859) 261-7427 with any questions.