Notes

ALWAYS use natural lighting. Don’t take your pictures at night, don’t take them when you have to supplement indoor lighting. Just always use natural light. There is no substitute. Your pictures will be brighter, clearer and more eye catching and the colors will not be distorted. Natural light means the sun.
Using the natural lighting can be tricky though-you aren’t going to want direct lighting that casts a shadow. I pull a table next to a big window that gets lots of sun but I place the table near where the light is hitting (as close as I can get it) but not in the direct light. Or you can use something to filter the direct light.
Use something to bounce the light. This is as simple as a piece of white poster board. I have one that is folded in the middle so that I can prop it up behind or next to my photo. I only recently started doing this and I am amazed at the difference it makes in my pictures. This helps reduce shadows and brightens the whole picture. I am not placing it in the picture usually, just near the picture and it reduces shadows and makes everything brighter.
Edit your pictures!! Most of my pictures don’t look amazing right when I take them. I spend a little time brightening, clarifying, cropping, and making them better. Here’s a tutorial to help you edit your pictures better.
Practice, practice, practice. I have noticed that I am not the only one who has struggled with photography and improved as time has passed. Most bloggers are this way I think. Just keep trying.
Pay attention to what others are doing that is working. When you need ideas for how to shoot a project, have a look around the internet at what others have done that works. I am not saying to copy them, just look and get some ideas of how to compose your photo, colors that work well, etc., then go for it.
Take a lot of pictures. You might need a lot before you find one that works.
I highly recommend this book: Tasty Food Photography for anyone and everyone-even if what you are photographing isn’t food. It has fantastic photography tips that will make an amazing difference in your photos and ultimately lead to more traffic. I promise, this book is worth the $29 you will pay for it. You will make it back because your photography will be so much better. Get it now!