Anna Moffat’s Professional Photo Tips
Already this year (and it’s only February), Anna Moffat has photographed some incredible individuals. From Bill Gates at Davos to Rafael Nadal in Vienna, John Kerry and Mark Carney for the Wall Street Journal and Humza Yousef for the cover of Holyrood Magazine. What sets Anna apart is her remarkable ability to capture striking in-situ portraits, often without posing or relocating her subjects.
Anna’s Key Advice
1/ Clean your Lens
This seems like an obvious one, but a clean lens is so important for capturing sharp photos. Our phones are constantly exposed to dust, fingerprints, and smudges so before taking a photo, take a second to wipe your phone's lens with a soft cloth (or if you’re me, your sleeve will do!)
2/ Look for the Light
If you have any photographer pals you may well have heard the phrase ‘it’s all about the light’ and really this can’t be underestimated. Natural light is best (in an ideal world you’ll be snapping on the beach at golden hour but for day to day shots indoors it’s as simple as lighting your subject with the window). Whatever you do, avoid downlighters at all costs - these are truly the least flattering light you can find!
3/ Experiment with Composition
Follow a bunch of awesome photographers on insta and next time you’re scrolling and you see an image you particularly like, have a think about the composition - are there any leading lines which draw the viewer’s eye towards the subject? Any evidence of the rule of thirds? Has the photographer filled the frame or does the subject have a bit of space to breathe?
Next time you’re taking a photo try to replicate - experiment and have fun!
Leading lines; find photos you love, think about why and play with your composition.
4/ Do a Spot of Editing
While it's tempting to rely on filters, it’s nice to have a go yourself and find your own style. Have a play with the basic editing functions on your phone to adjust brightness and colour tone but if you do nothing else - straighten your horizon - taking a moment to do this makes all the difference!
Do a Spot of Editing: first step is to straighten your horizon. You’ll soon find your own style.
About Anna Moffat
Anna is passionate about capturing moments that reveal something about a person or showcases genuine connections in relationships.
She is the winner of the PPA Editorial Photograph of the Year award for her photograph of MSP Pam Duncan Glancy, titled ‘If Not Me, Who?’.
This year, Anna is keen to photograph more fun events, help more business owners with their branding photos, and embark on a couple of personal projects. If you’d like to know more, get in touch with her here.
Also in this series
Rachel Hein’s photo thoughts - Rachel’s skill at capturing beautiful moments between people shines through in her 8 practical tips.
Kenny Gordon’s tips - showcasing advice on wild weather, getting up early and just asking!
Mike Guest’s advice - featuring his glorious water and surf work - his advice focuses on joy, photographing friends and seizing the moment.
Or begin at the very beginning of this series- join James Robertson’s photo strategies in his ultracycling work - looking at different kinds of portraiture, the importance of patience and lateral thinking!