Photography

None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.

How this was put together

If you only read a few

  1. Cut wallet photos with rounded corners or 45-degree angled cuts to prevent furling and splitting.

    It makes sliding into the wallet easier and removes points that abrade.

    one person who lived it

  2. Use a focal length of about 85-110 mm for professional-style portrait photography.

    It is considered the perfect zoom.

    one person who lived it

  3. Film the launch site of fireworks displays rather than the display itself, in case something goes wrong.

    Videos of mishaps or accidents are worth re-watching, whereas standard displays are rarely viewed again.

    3 people, independently

  4. Show recent photos via the lock screen camera shortcut instead of handing your phone to others to avoid gallery privacy concerns.

    Viewers will only see photos taken since the phone was turned on, avoiding discomfort from swiping through the full gallery.

    • Some suggest simply not handing the phone at all.

    one person who lived it

  5. Hand-develop black and white film using caffeinol to reduce costs.

    It is super cheap.

    one person who lived it

  1. Use microfiber cloths or dedicated glasses cleaning cloths instead of regular cotton shirts.

    Lint from cotton will scratch glass over time.

    one person who lived it

  2. Shoot from a tripod when taking background-only shots for editing purposes.

    It ensures identical frames for editing.

    • You probably won't have a tripod in a wedding situation.

    one person who lived it

  3. Pantomime a silent laugh before smiling to make your expression look less forced in photos.

    It helps achieve a natural smile that is easier than faking one.

    one person who lived it

  4. Crop images properly to improve composition and aesthetic appeal.

    Proper cropping can make an image look better.

    • Some find that uncropped versions look better.

    one person who lived it

2 more on this
  1. Hold your camera vertically when taking panorama shots to get higher resolution.

    Vertical orientation requires more individual frames, resulting in higher resolution.

    one person who lived it

  2. Use coffee filters as paper negatives or alternative printing surfaces for alternative process photography.

    They provide a really beautiful texture.

    one person who lived it

Close