Photography composition for beginners can feel like a maze; so many rules, tools, and tutorials yelling at you to do more. Add more detail. More layers. More meaning. But what if the real magic happens when you do less?
I overcomplicate everything. It’s kinda my thing. Mid-sentence, a new idea will hit and completely hijack the conversation. It’s chaotic. Spirited. Occasionally helpful.
And when it comes to making photos, I’ve often carried that same energy – trying to squeeze every single feeling, object, and metaphor into the frame. I’d convince myself that if I didn’t include everything, no one would understand what I was trying to say. Worse: no one would care.
But the truth? The most powerful photos, especially when you’re still learning photography composition, often have less, not more.
Clean lines. Empty space. A single subject. These minimalist compositions demand your attention, quietly. They make you stop. Wonder. Lean in. And if you’re paying attention, they teach you something too.
Some of my favourite photographers work this way. Their frames breathe. There’s room for mystery. And you’ve probably seen this yourself, the kinds of iconic images that stay with you for years often share one thing in common: they’re simple.
So, how do you apply this to your own photography composition as a beginner?
It starts with intention. Think back to our recent post on taking fewer photos. Slow down.
Ask better questions:
- What am I trying to say?
- What belongs in this frame?
- What’s just noise?
Once you’ve answered that, it gets a whole lot easier to remove the clutter.
Take the photo at the top, for example. I made it of the top of an apartment block near home, surrounded by the usual chaos of suburban development. Concrete, cranes, mirrored glass, machine noise. But in all that mess, I found this quiet frame. Cropped in tight. Stripped of distractions. And far more interesting for it.
Outside that photo? Absolute sensory overload. Inside it? A moment of stillness.
That’s the trick with photography composition for beginners – it’s not about adding. It’s about choosing. Editing. Leaving things out on purpose.
So here’s your Loop homework for the week:
Make one photo that says more by showing less. Something clean, considered, and deliberate. See what happens when you let the subject breathe.
And, if you share it to Instagram, be sure to tag us so we can re-post our favourites.