The Most Valuable Photography Skill
In this blog, I will share with you what I feel is the most valuable photography skill.
Do you remember in the early days of Instagram, the biggest accounts were those that went to the most remote locations and captured the most insane photos? Crazy drone shots, shooting from skyscrapers, and POVs of skydiving in some remote location. These images were popular because they were new, fresh, and not something that the masses had seen before.
Today, however, the landscape is a little different. People are tired of these larger-than-life shots and instead want something calm, familiar, and relatable. My most popular photos are simple scenes that people can relate to and visit themselves. A dog sitting in a window in Portugal is more relatable than the view from Everest.
A series of photos from a sunny day in Brighton appeal to more people than some crazy abstract from a Tokyo skyscraper.
These days, the most valuable photography skill is to spot simple yet photogenic scenes and shoot them in a way that would make the mundane look interesting.
Getting more likes on social media isn’t what makes this skill valuable. Instead, it’s being able to photograph anything and anywhere without relying on exotic travel or adventure.
Angle / Perspective
One of the biggest levers you can pull to photograph something mundane is to play with the angle and perspective. Sometimes photographing at your height level is the best. Other times, moving the camera to be at eye level with your subject will create a more unique look. You might also want to try higher and lower angles. Initially, try as many different perspectives as you can, and that will allow you to develop a gut feeling for what works.
Shooting Into a Corner
When you’re faced with any object, room, or space, try to shoot into the corner. By that I mean avoid shooting it dead on. By shooting into the corner, you add depth, and with the right lighting, you emphasise the three-dimensional aspect that can often get lost in photos. This also makes the viewer feel like they could be standing there.
Composition / Minimalism
Of course, good composition is essential, and while I won’t go into details now, for that, please watch my composition video here. I would like to emphasise the importance of minimalism. When shooting mundane things, keeping your composition minimal is key. While not every photo would require it, I often found that focusing on what you can remove from your frame is more important than what you can add.
Light / Contrast
If you’ve watched my videos or read my blogs, you’d be sick of me saying this, but light and contrast matter. Shooting in good light is a cheat code for making boring things look better. Knowing how to position you and your subject against the light will make all the difference. I’ve already made a detailed video you can watch here on this topic.
Colour
Having bright and vibrant colours can really make the photo pop and add life into what might be a pretty uninspiring subject.
Layers
Layering is a great way to add more dimensions to your shot and make the viewer feel like they are there with you. The most common layering technique is to shoot through something, also known as adding a foreground element, which is something between the lens and the subject.
Texture
While I mentioned earlier that keeping things minimal is important, if you do come across nice textures or patterns, that can definitely help elevate a boring scene.
Instead of telling you how these will change your life, I would rather be practical and answer the most common questions that people tend to have when buying presets.
What are presets?
They are editing settings that are saved in a file and can be applied to any image.
Why do people buy presets?
Sometimes because they like the work of the photographer and want that style for their own photos. Mostly because they would like to see how other people edit and learn by reverse engineering the presets. Other times it’s just to support their favourite photographers, thank you!
What’s the overall style of these presets?
- Filmic
- Warm
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
Do I actually use these?
Yes. This is the same pack I use right now for all my editing. This isn’t a pack made just to sell.
Do these presets get updated?
Yes, as my style changes, these presets will also be updated. Any time a new update is available, you will get a free update via email. Of course you also keep all the old presets in case you prefer the older looks. Only presets purchased from 2025 onwards will receive the updates.
What file types are these presets for?
- All RAW files
- JPEGs & TIFFs (not recommended)
What camera brands are these presets for?
These were designed around Fujifilm, Sony, and Leica sensors. With that said, they will work with all camera brands. While there might be differences due to individual camera colour science, the overall feel of the preset will carry over.
Will these work with JPEG files?
Yes, but you will need to reduce the intensity and make further edits. I strongly recommend editing RAW files.
Are these one click edits?
95% No. You would need to do some basic adjustments as each image is different. These adjustments can include exposure, colour balance etc. In 5% of cases you can just apply and leave it alone.
Do I need to know how to edit?
You need to have a basic understanding of adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, etc. A more comprehensive editing skillset will let you get the most out of them.
How many presets are included?
10 in the main pack and 24 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits and is kept small to reduce wasted time scrolling through presets. The extras pack is everything I don’t use often.
What software do I need?
These presets will work with any of the following:
- Photoshop (adobe camera raw)
- Lightroom Classic
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Mobile
Will these presets work with free versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed for the full paid versions.
Will these presets work with very old versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed on and for the latest software.
What file type do I get?
XMP
What else do I get?
- Comprehensive PDF guide
Can I modify these and turn them into my own?
Yes! In fact I encourage you to modify them and play around. Use these to help you get your own style.
I have more questions…. What do I do?
Make a cup of tea and drop me an email on hello@snapsbyfox.com
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying these presets is the most direct way you can support my work.
Thank you!