The memories that can be made while learning new things are priceless, so why not snap a photo every now and then in order to make sure you never lose these precious moments. With these five tips, you can be sure that every photo you take is one that you will want to keep.

Tip #1:

“The first thing you need to know is that you don’t need any fancy equipment to get started. I usually shoot on my smartphone camera because it’s always with me. I rarely ever use my expensive digital slr camera, as it’s better to start experimenting with whatever you have than worrying about having the best picture quality.” — senior Emma Li

Tip #2:

“When I take photos, it’s mostly about lighting and angles. Find a good time in the day and make sure the light source is in front of you, not to the side or behind. If you do this, you won’t have to edit as much and the authenticity of the photo is enhanced.” — junior Irene Lee

Tip #3:

“Keep the camera straight and experiment with angles! Make sure that all horizontal areas in the shot such as tables, the horizon, fences, etc. are parallel to the ground. I would advise turning on the “grid” setting on your camera or phone, whichever you decide to use.” — junior Vera Vlasova

Tip #4:

“Focus on capturing the moment. Think about your intent with what exactly you want to portray with your photograph, and focus on what feels most important. For example, I find it more valuable to capture my friend laughing at a joke I told them, rather than telling them to say ‘cheese’ before taking the picture.” — junior Vera Vlasova

Tip #5:

“Just have fun with it! Take pictures of small things and moments that you like regardless of whether or not they seem insignificant. My camera roll is full of random things I’ve seen, and those are some of my favorite photos because they are unfiltered memories.” — senior Emma Li

Now that you’re armed with these wonderful tips, from here on out you can always make sure that the photos you take no longer feel mediocre and half-baked. As the quarantine continues to stretch out, we are sure that there are plenty of small moments and memories that could be cherished in the future, so go ahead and capture the story of your quarantine!