By Megan Brandrup

Photos are the perfect way to keep the memories of a great adventure and to share these memories and adventures with your family and friends. I recently just got back from a three-week tour of Europe. While I was there I was lucky enough to see some of the most beautiful landscapes, architecture, art and food in the world. These images are something I never wanted to forget, but with only an iPhone camera in hand, I was worried the pictures wouldn’t be able to truly capture how amazing these sights were. However, there are so many great tips, rules and tricks for taking great photos no matter the quality of your camera. My favorite place to edit and post photos in on Instagram. Here are some tips for getting the perfect photo without a professional camera.

1. Find the perfect light

Photo courtesy of: http://betterphotograph.com/best-time-to-shoot-landscapes/

Lighting can either make or break your pictures. If the lighting is poor, the picture may appear grainy and the picture may lose the beauty you are trying to share. When taking pictures outside, avoid taking photos towards the sun. Doing this will make all of the figures or objects in the foreground appear to be silhouetted. When shooting indoors avoid using flash, this tends to wash people out and make for a grim looking photo. Try using natural light as much as possible. If you take the photo while on the Instagram app, feel free to hold the photo screen down and adjust the brightness by dragging your finger up or down, until you get the lighting you want.

2. Framing Your Photos

Photo courtesy of: http://ecvphoto.weebly.com/the-art-of-composition.html

Good framing in a photo can direct the viewer’s eye to the focal point of the piece, and add a window effect. You can use nearly anything to help create a frame and direct the eye. Plants and trees work well while outside. The frame of a window or the doorway from one room into another can help create depth and add a more dramatic effect to your photos.

3. Photo Cropping

Photo courtesy of: http://2heartsphoto.com/blog/laguna-niguel-portraits-tuesday-photo-tip-crop-the-frame/4625/

Sometimes all you need to do is take out extra elements in the background or cut the blank space down to make a photo perfect. Cropping to capture a certain moment taking place in a larger scene can make the overall feeling and mood more apparent. Make sure that when cropping and image, you avoid overcropping. Also, when a figure is facing a certain direction, you leave space in from of them. This helps create depth and shows more movement in the photo.

4. Fill 3 of the 4 points of interest.

photo courtesy of: http://petersudsigt.blogspot.com/

The rule of thirds is one of the most important rules in photography. If you were to divide a photo in a 3 by 3 grid, you would find four intersecting points in the middle of the photo. When taking a picture, try to fill at least three of the four points. This imaginary grid also comes in handy when taking photos of landscapes. The horizon line should always be either in the upper or lower third of the photo, but never directing in the middle of the picture.

5. Make it your own!

Photo courtesy of : http://amazingonlinemagazine.com/20-creative-and-unique-wedding-photography/

Yes, there are a lot of rules for photography, but sometimes these rules are made to be broken. At the end of the day, if you are only able to apply a few rules, but still end up with a photograph you love, then it has been a successful day! Don’t be afraid to play with the filters, try different effects, edit the colors, and add a unique twist to a regular photo. Your photography should reflect your personality and share how you felt in that moment. Don’t let the fear of breaking a photography rule, keep you from sharing your photos!

I hope this guide helps you take the best Instagram photos ever! Have any more great tips that you think should have been included in the article? Comment below!