Which camera settings should you use to shoot macro photography? What about the background? Point of focus? Is there a perfect time to shot macro photography? All these questions answered thanks to these 13 Macro photography tips. Some of them you may have never thought about!

1. Best
Macro
Photography
tips and
ideas

2. Brought to you by

3. About DreamsDiary®
We believe in people’s passions and experiences. Those
moments where you change deeply inside, while doing what
you love. Those moments that are out of routine and somehow
always inspiring.
We believe in enhancing dreamers’ capacity to share and
recount those moments.
To help them to do so, we specialise in improving the skills
every passionate dreamer needs:
- Photographic Techniques;
- Framing the right moment;
- Tell stories that are out of the ordinary.

4. Introduction:
About Macro Photography
Macro photography is extreme close-up photography.
It usually refers to very small subjects, in which the
size of the subject in the photograph is greater or
equal to life size (1:1).

5. Ready to
Start?

7. Aperture and Depth of Field
There is no golden rule in macro
photography regarding aperture and thus
depth of field.
Why?
Because it depends on how you want the
picture to look.
1

8. In the majority of cases you will use a really narrow
depth of field to exclude background completely and
highlight the subject (or parts of it) above everything
else.
In this case choose a Wide Open Aperture,
Low F-number.
But there are situations where you can choose to
use a deeper depth of field, so the background is not
blurred.
In this case you have to set a High F-number, for a
Small Aperture.

11. Shutter Speed
There is no golden rule for shutter speed,
either.
It mainly depends on your subject.
If you are shooting an insect buzzing
around you need fast shutter speed to
freeze the moment.
While, if you are shooting a water droplet or
a flower you can use a slower shutter speed
and allow more light inside the camera.
2

13. Point of Focus
When dealing with Macro photography a
change of a millimetre can change
everything. You are so close that it changes
the whole perspective.
Set your Manual Focus and place the focus
on the exact part you want to be the main
point of interest.
3

14. When shooting macro of moving subjects, such as
insects; the world’s best photographers usually fix
the focus on one point of the frame, such as one
point of the flower.
Only shoot when the subject enters the focus
area.
This technique will save you a lot of struggle.
Chasing buzzing insects can be really a lot of blood,
sweat and tears.

16. Background
The background in Macro photography
must NOT interfere with the main point of
interest.
The attention must be on the subject
alone.
A lot of times savvy photographers create
DIY backgrounds with coloured cards,
clothes or whatever they find useful.
4

18. Crop Tight
Crop tight on the subject, especially for
online viewing. You will create a sense of
magnification.
This tip is really useful when you want to
highlight patterns in the subject.
5

20. Be Patient
Macro photography is not easy and its
definitely not a quick job.
You patience is going to be a great ally in
the search of the great shot!
6

21. Flash
It is almost essential to have an external
flash with you when you are shooting macro
photography.
Especially when you need to brighten up
the subject to make it stand out from the
background.
7

23. Time to Wake Up!
The best light situation you can choose to
shoot macro photography is early in the
morning.
Not just because the light is invariably at its
best, but because of the low wind.
The wind can blur all the small “fragile”
details in macro photography, making it
impossible to shoot good pics.
8

24. Dislike umbrellas
After rain can be an excellent time to shoot
Macro photography.
Everything is dripping of water droplets
which are perfect subjects for you.
9

26. Shoot a lot!
Especially if you have to capture moving
insects, or if you have a very precise and
small point of focus.
Shooting a lot allows you to choose later
which picture is the best.
This can require a lot of memory and a
spare battery!
Sometimes you don’t come up with the shot
you had in your mind, but with some nice
images anyway!
10

27. Self-Timer
With so small subjects and frames every
shake can be fatal for the image.
To make up for this you can use a remote
shutter, or set a self timer and let your
camera shoot on its own.
This will prevent any camera shake
produced by pressing the button.
11

28. Colours
You will notice that at such a short distance
the colours really stand out.
The major reason for such vivid colours is
the small amount of air between the subject
and the lens.
12

30. Use a “Third Hand”
A third hand is an essential accessory in
macro photography.
It is a device that will help you support or
position subjects just where you want them.
13
It also provides
endless possibilities
of positioning
backgrounds.

31. And this is it for this presentation!
On our website this is one of the many FREE resources we offer
to all our visitors in order to improve their photography level.
Plus a ton of articles, interviews, profiles and content that you
will love.
Visit our website at: www.dreamsdiary.co
If you wish to download this guide, it’s FREE and you can do it
just by clicking the button below.
DOWNLOAD PDF VERSION