Getting started with macro photography, especially with insects, can be overwhelming. Mistakes with composition, focus, and lighting are common, but understanding these issues early on can significantly improve your results.
Coming to you from Emilie Talpin Photography, this insightful video breaks down five common mistakes people make when starting with macro photography. Talpin focuses on insect photography, sharing her experiences and what she learned from early missteps. One of the most important takeaways is the angle at which you shoot. Many beginners shoot from above, which compresses the subject and leads to unflattering results. Talpin emphasizes the importance of getting down to eye level with your subject to achieve a more natural and engaging image.
Another key issue Talpin highlights is neglecting the background. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding an interesting insect and forget to consider the environment. A distracting background can ruin an otherwise excellent shot, even if the subject is perfect. Talpin advises taking time to examine the viewfinder, ensuring that branches or other distractions don’t interfere with the subject. By composing an image with a simple, clean background, the focus stays on the insect, resulting in a more professional-looking photo. She demonstrates this by showing examples where the background either elevates or detracts from the final image.
Focus is another essential element. According to Talpin, many macro photographers make the mistake of not nailing the focus, particularly on the subject’s eye. She provides practical tips like using focus peaking or magnification to ensure sharpness where it matters most. Talpin also stresses the importance of manual focus and the need for practice. Even after years of shooting, she still moves back and forth while focusing, adjusting until the moment feels right. Her message is clear: mastery of macro photography requires patience, and the vast majority of photos taken early on will likely not make the cut.
Depth of field presents a unique challenge in macro photography, as it can be very shallow when shooting up close. Talpin dispels the fear of diffraction, which occurs at smaller apertures. While many photographers are hesitant to shoot beyond f/16, Talpin confidently recommends going as high as f/22 if needed. Her examples prove that maintaining proper depth of field is far more critical than worrying about minor diffraction effects. If you want most of your insect in focus, you’ll need a smaller aperture. For beginners, sticking with f/18 to f/22 will give you the best results. That's just the start, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Talpin.
If you would like to continue learning about macro photography, be sure to check out "Mastering Macro Photography: The Complete Shooting and Editing Tutorial With Andres Moline!"
