Three Beginner Photography Composition Tips That Make a Big Impact

Let’s face it: photography can feel overwhelming when you’re just starting out. Between learning how to use your camera settings and figuring out editing software, it’s easy to forget that one of the most important elements of a great photo is how you compose it.

While gear and editing do play a role, composition is where the magic really begins. In fact, even with a basic smartphone camera, using a few smart techniques—like the three beginner photography composition tips discussed below—can turn an ordinary shot into something visually striking.

Use the Rule of Thirds

If there’s one tip nearly every photographer starts with, it’s the Rule of Thirds—and for good reason. This simple technique is one of the most reliable beginner photography composition tips out there. 

Imagine your photo divided into nine equal rectangles by two vertical and two horizontal lines. The idea is to place the subject or important elements of your photo along these lines or where they intersect.

Why does this work so well? Because it creates balance and guides the viewer’s eyes naturally through the image. Our brains are wired to find symmetry and order appealing, and the Rule of Thirds helps you achieve that without making your image feel too stiff or static. It adds a sense of harmony while keeping the composition interesting.

Let’s say you're shooting a portrait. Try placing the subject’s eyes along the upper third line rather than dead center, as shown above. It draws attention to the most expressive part of the face while also making the composition feel more dynamic. Or if you’re capturing a sunset, you can align the horizon along the lower third of the frame to emphasize the colorful sky, or vice versa if you want to show off interesting terrain in the foreground.

Many cameras and smartphones have a built-in grid overlay to help you apply this technique while shooting, so it’s an easy way to level up your framing skills in real time. The more you practice with the Rule of Thirds, the more intuitive it becomes, too—and soon, you’ll find yourself using it without even thinking.

Pay Attention to Leading Lines

One of the most effective beginner photography composition tips for creating depth and drawing attention to your subject is using leading lines. These are lines in your photo—whether natural or manmade—that guide the viewer’s eye toward a specific focal point. Think roads, rivers, fences, bridges, or even shadows. If it creates a line, you can use it!

Leading lines give your photos a sense of direction and flow. They help tell a visual story by taking the viewer on a journey from one part of the image to another. For example, a path through a forest can lead the eye straight to a person standing at the end. Or the architectural lines of a city building can emphasize the scale and shape of a scene.

There’s also an emotional impact depending on the type of lines you use. Diagonal lines can convey energy or tension. Horizontal lines can make an image feel peaceful and calm, while vertical lines evoke strength and power. By paying attention to how lines appear in your images, you can create a more deliberate composition that captures people’s attention and keeps it.

A good exercise is to walk around with your camera and consciously look for lines—sidewalk edges, tree rows, handrails—you name it. Once you spot them, think about where they lead and how you can frame your subject in that direction. Practicing this consistently will strengthen your eye and help you develop a more intentional photography style.

Simplify the Scene

When in doubt, simplify. One of the most underrated beginner photography composition tips is to reduce visual clutter. A busy background or too many competing elements can pull focus away from your subject and confuse the viewer. Simplicity, on the other hand, emphasizes what really matters in the frame.

The easiest way to simplify a photo is to isolate your subject. This might mean getting closer, changing your angle, or zooming in so that there’s less distraction around the edges. If you're using a camera with adjustable settings, a wide aperture (like f/2.8 or f/4) will create a shallow depth of field that blurs the background beautifully. Even smartphone cameras now offer portrait modes that can help you achieve this effect.

Another powerful method is using negative space—areas in the frame with little to no detail, like open sky, water, or a blank wall. Negative space helps the subject stand out and gives your composition room to breathe. For example, a lone bird perched on a branch against a defocused background becomes far more impactful when there's nothing else competing for attention.

As you develop your eye, start asking yourself what the story of the image is. What do you want the viewer to notice first? If an element doesn’t support that focus, it might be better left out of the frame. This kind of visual editing is just as important as what you do in post-processing—it starts at the moment you click the shutter.

Showcase Your Compositional Skills With a Canvas Print

Practicing these beginner photography composition tips is just the start. Rather than leaving your best work as a file on your phone or camera’s memory card, celebrate your improvement with beautiful canvas prints from Artbeat Studios.

Canvas is a classic medium for printing photos that gives your images a beautiful texture and depth. We offer two canvas options: giclee and metallic. Our giclee canvas is crafted on a 400gsm semi-gloss white poly-cotton blend, which is ideal for fine art and high-end photography. We use Epson SureColor S80600 printers with UltraChrome® 9-color eco-solvent inks to deliver true Giclée prints that last a lifetime.

For a unique visual effect, our Metallic Canvas Prints offer the same exceptional quality but with a semi-gloss metallic finish that adds a luminous, pearlescent shimmer to your image. This is a perfect option for enhancing landscape photos, portraits, or wedding shots with an eye-catching, iridescent touch.

You can complement your canvas with one of two wrap options—1.5-inch (our most popular) or a slimmer, trimmer .75-inch wrap. With white and black frame options, real wood bars to ensure drum-like tightness of the canvas, and an array of sizing options (including custom sizes!), you can’t go wrong with one of our beautiful canvas prints.

The combination of your improved skills and our artisan-crafted canvases can result in some truly beautiful photos. We’re excited to help you on your creative journey—and to earn your business, too!