5 Ways to Make Your Subject the Star of the Shot

While writing this blog post I looked out my window and saw this tomato branch.  I thought it was a good example of some of the things I talk about in this post..

Oh, and I took it with my phone camera :) 

As photographers, our go-to method for making a subject pop is often the blurred background—also known as bokeh. This is usually achieved with a wide-open aperture (a smaller f-number) that creates a shallow depth of field.

While that’s super effective, it’s not always possible—or even desirable. You might be shooting in bright light where a wide aperture doesn’t work well, or maybe you want the entire scene in focus.

So how can you make your subject stand out without the coveted (and pricey) f/2.8 lens?
Here are five creative ways to create a strong focal point—no matter what kind of camera you’re using, even your phone!

1. Find a distant background
Look for scenes where the background is far away from your subject—like a horse standing in an open field with trees off in the distance. Not only does this often create natural background blur, but your subject will likely be the largest element in the frame, naturally drawing the viewer’s attention.

2. Fill the frame
Give your subject real estate! The more space it takes up in the image, the more dominant and important it feels to the viewer.

3. Use strong composition
Try classic compositional tools like the rule of thirds, leading lines, or framing to guide the viewer’s eye directly to your subject.

4. Play with color
Use color to your advantage. Look for complementary or harmonious color combinations—or contrast your subject’s color with the background to make it pop.

5. Light it up
Lighting can make or break a photo. Aim to have your subject be the brightest (or most dramatically lit) part of the image so it naturally draws the eye.