What Makes a Photo Great | 5 Key Ingredients

As a photographer, it is crucial to understand what makes a great photo. Here’s the good news, anyone can make a great photograph. The key to capturing great images is the consistency in each photo. Here at Pacific Dream Photography, we have compiled a list of qualities that make good photos great! Here are the six qualities that make up great photographs.

1. Composition – Every image must have a solid composition and be organized. Composition is what attracts the viewer’s eye and keeps the viewer’s attention. Composing an image starts by arranging the objects or subjects, and placing them in a suitable place within the frame.
2. Tells a Story – The best photographers tell a story through each image. Strong photos express a story and bring to mind a response from the viewer. As a photographer, it is important to step back and take the image from the viewer’s point of view. This keeps the photo original and tells the story more clearly.
3. Lighting – Lighting plays a huge role in making a great photo. Lighting determines the atmosphere, tone, and overall mood of the image. A good photographer knows where to place the subjects, so that the light is just right. Great photographs contain well-lit subjects and a good temperature balance. Most importantly, a good photographer takes advantage of shooting at sunrise and sunset. Take a look at one of our earlier posts on why sunrise and sunset are the best times to shoot at.
4. Creativity - What’s a great photo without the creativity? The secret to a great photo is the photographer’s creative edge. Yes, it is key to understand lighting, equipment, and composition, but without creativity everyone’s photos would look the same. Creativity is what makes a good photo a great photo!
5. Timing - Timing is everything. The right sense of timing makes a great photograph. Capturing great photos start by snapping the shutter at the perfect moment. Often times, photographers miss the best moments. It’s important to always have the camera in ready position and be prepared at any given moment.

Written by Julia P. (Pacific Dream Photography at the St. Regis Princeville)

Age is just a number | Special Moments

The wonderful thing about photography is that it is timeless. We capture fractions of a second for you to cherish throughout your life. What’s even better is that there is no age limit on who can be photographed, no matter what the occasion. Here at Pacific Dream Photography, we have photographed as young as newborn children to great grandparents.

We believe that life should be cherished and special moments can be captured throughout one’s life through the lens of a photographer. In Laguna Beach, we have photographed a child’s first steps on the sand and first time touching the Pacific Ocean water. We’ve also had the pleasure of photographing milestone anniversaries, engagements, and Weddings here in Laguna Beach.

To make your photo session as memorable as possible, we recommend considering to bring a few things to make it extra special. It’s common to see customized shirts being made for your vacation. Especially with large groups, this adds a fun element into your photos when looking back at them later on. The second, if you’re celebrating a birthday or engagement, is to bring balloons or other props to make your session unique to you! If you’re celebrating a baby-moon and expecting, you can bring your ultrasound and baby shoes as props for a maternity shoot. Whatever you think will make your photography session more memorable, please let your photographers know! It’s our passion to document these important moments of your life.

So whether you’re celebrating your first anniversary or your 50th, the whole family is there together, or you are by yourself, we see no limits on your photography session and are here to capture memories for you.

Written by Alesha D. (Pacific Dream Photography at the Montage Laguna Beach)