In the words of Henri Cartier-Bresson, “To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition that a special moment has arrived along with a certain potentiality for it to be that way. It’s an awareness of the possibilities and then seizing on one.” This quote perfectly describes what this photographer set out to do in his life.

The beauty of photography is that everyone has the potential to make stunning art. So we asked photographer Eugene Bernshtam for some tips on making your photos stand out, and he gave us some great advice.

Don’t be in a hurry to take photos

Take time to think about what you will shoot over the next few days or weeks, then go out there and do it. Think of your images as art, not snapshots.

Learn composition

Get a book on photography. Learn about shutter speed, aperture, exposure, lighting, and how to take portraits. The more you know, the better your photos will be.

Look at other people’s work

Try visiting Flickr or 500px so you can see what other photographers are doing with their cameras. Look at all types of photography, not just what you like. The more images you see, the better you will notice a good one when you come across it.

Learn the art of photo editing

When you take your images home or back to your studio, spend time editing them. Again, look at the colors and lighting and see how you can make each image stand out from the rest of your work.

Take a course in photography

Make sure that every photo you take is good by learning how to do it properly. You can learn this through self-study, taking a course in photography, or by looking at books.

Don’t be afraid to experiment

Play around with different angles, lighting, and shutter speeds until you find something new and interesting. Try using bright colors in your images instead of the same old dull tones everyone else uses. Have fun!

Take photos of strangers

Many people are afraid to ask strangers for permission to take their photographs, but you can learn about different cultures by taking photos of unusual people in the street.

Take your camera everywhere with you

When shooting images on digital platforms, take as many photographs as possible because even if they don’t turn out great, you will only have to delete them once.

How-tos on photography are not enough

To be a good photographer, you must dedicate your life to the art of taking photos, experiment with different techniques and styles until you find something that works for you. Spending time reading how-to books will help you understand what makes an image special, but only by testing out the different techniques yourself will you learn how to take a good photo.

Develop your own style

Don’t be afraid to try something new even if your friends and family members don’t like it. If you like what you do, that is all that matters, as long as it makes you happy. By taking the time to think about your next shot, trying out new techniques, and learning from others, you will get better every day.