12 | Why Do My Photos Feel Flat? 3 Easy Ways to Fix Composition Without Buying Anything New

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Photography often falls flat not because of equipment limitations, but due to composition choices that lack depth and visual interest. We're exploring three simple, no-cost techniques to transform ordinary photos into captivating images with professional-level depth and storytelling ability.

• Use foreground elements like grass, branches, or architectural features to instantly create depth and transform flat images into three-dimensional scenes
• Change your perspective by getting low, standing higher, or finding unusual angles to make ordinary moments look extraordinary
• Create frames within frames using doorways, windows, arches, or even people's arms to guide viewers' eyes directly to your subject
• Try photographing the same subject three different ways: with foreground layering, from a new angle, and using natural framing
• These techniques work for all photography genres and require no additional equipment purchases

Tag Brittany on Instagram with your attempts at these three composition techniques so she can see what you've created!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey mama, whether or not you're trying out your
camera for the very first time,or you've been doing this a
while and just looking for somecreative inspiration, I've got
all that and more.
I'm here to help you see yourworld differently, challenge you
creatively and find yourpassion for photography.
Welcome back to the BetterPhotos Podcast.

(00:21):
So today is going to be a crazyepisode.
I am trying out this AI podcastcreation, so me and my AI
co-host are going to do thisepisode together.
I know it's very crazy.

(00:42):
So the app that I'm using isgalaxy AI and basically they've
rolled in all of these um AIplatforms together image
creation, video podcasting.
Basically they want to be thehub for everything and um.

(01:03):
So I am trying one of thosethings out today.
Okay, let's get ready.
Hey friends, welcome back tothe Better Photos podcast.
I'm Brittany, your photographerbestie, and today we're
tackling something a lot of youhave told me that you struggle
with.
You're taking photos, editingthem, maybe even using presets,

(01:26):
and they still feel a littlelike they're missing something.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yep, it's that feeling when you look at your
image and think why doesn't thispop?
Why does this feel kind ofboring?
Don't worry, it's not your gear, it's likely just a composition
tweak away.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
Today we're giving you three easy ways to fix your
composition and add more depth,interest and storytelling to
your images without buyinganything new.

Speaker 2 (01:52):
Let's kick it off with the first tip Use your
foreground.
If your photo feels flat,chances are everything is
happening on one plane.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
Totally.
Adding a foreground elementinstantly creates depth.
I love shooting throughsomething like tall grass, a
tree branch or even like a cribrail when I'm doing a newborn
session or a mobile.
It brings your subject intofocus while also pulling the
viewer into the scene.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
And it can be as simple as taking one step to the
side and putting somethingbetween you and your subject.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
You don't need anything fancy, it's like your
photo goes from 2D to 3D withone little shift.
So take a look at your cameraroll and look for a photo that
could use a little layering.
Picture it with something infront.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
Most people shoot straight on eye level and while
that works sometimes, it's notalways the most dynamic.
This is such a game changer.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
Get low and shoot up, especially with kids, or stand
on a chair.
I like to bring my ladder tolike every session so I can get
a different point of view andshoot down on a family or a baby
.
Different angles can turn anordinary moment into something
storytelling worthy.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
A slight shift in your POV can clean up your image
without needing to edit outanything, and you start to see
light differently too.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
So the next time you're at a session, challenge
yourself to shoot each setupfrom three different angles.
Maybe you're getting.
I like to think of like theperspective of an ant, of
something, like peering behindsomething and from like a bird's
eye view.

Speaker 2 (03:38):
The third tip is one of my favorites frame within a
frame.
This adds instant visualinterest and guides your viewer
straight to the subject.

Speaker 1 (03:47):
Think doorways windows even a parent's arms
around their child.
These natural frames tell youreye exactly where to go.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
You don't have to overthink it At your next
session.
Look for shapes, an arch, ahallway, even the negative space
between two people.
You're creating a story just byshowing where your subject
exists within their environment,and it adds emotion too, like
framing a newborn in theirbassinet while mom is like
watching them.

Speaker 1 (04:15):
It gives the viewer context and connection.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
All right.
To recap, if your photos feelflat, try adding depth with a
foreground.
Change your perspective andframe your subject within
something.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
Your challenge this week is to try all three.
So grab your camera, your phoneand photograph the same subject
three times Once usingforeground, once with a new
angle and once using a frame and, if you try this challenge, tag
Brittany on Instagram so shecan see what you created.
Thanks for hanging out with ustoday.

(04:49):
Don't forget to hit, follow andshare this episode with a
friend who's trying to level uptheir photos, and we'll see you
next time for more tips to helpyou make better photos.
All right, bye, friends, bye.