While working with photographers, marketers, and business owners, I’ve seen countless images of the clients that miss the mark. And it’s my job to fix them with professional retouching and editing.
Note that bad photography isn’t just about blurry images or poor quality; it’s often about overlooked details that ruin an otherwise great shot.
For example:
- Have you ever taken a family picture where someone’s face is lost in harsh shadows or red-eye?
- Or seen product images that look flat and dull because of poor lighting?
These are some classic examples of bad photography that can be avoided with a little know-how. Let’s walk through a few more real-world examples of bad photography that are widely made, why they happen, and how to avoid or correct them.
1. Poor Lighting
Credit: Sergey Bidun
Poor lighting is one of the most common problems in photography. Dark photos full of shadows often result from insufficient or misdirected light, making images grainy and underexposed.
Sergey Bidun, a portrait photography expert, explains, “Good quality light makes a portrait great, while poor lighting leads to dull colors and bad results.”
What Bad Lighting Looks Like:
In an example of bad lighting, a subject is photographed with light coming from behind, causing:
- Dark shadows under the eyes
- A poorly lit face with no clear highlight and shadow distinction
How To Avoid:
- Find the Light Source: Always locate where the light is coming from.
- Position the Light at a 45-Degree Angle: Direct light toward the subject’s face to create soft, flattering shadows.
- Use Reflective Surfaces or Soft Lighting Gear: Brighten the scene naturally or with equipment like diffusers or ring lights.
Image Retouching Lab (IRL) adjusts the lighting, fix exposure issues, and balances the highlights and shadows to make your photo pop. If your photos look dull or grainy, our retouching can bring out all their details and color.
2. Motion Blur
Credit: Trent and Jessie
Motion blur happens when movement in a scene creates a blurry photo instead of a crisp, clear image.
This often occurs with a shutter speed too slow to freeze the action.
Imagine a wedding reception where everyone is dancing, but instead of sharp details, you capture a scene where it’s hard to tell where the action is happening.
What Causes Unintentional Motion Blur:
Slow Shutter Speed: The camera’s sensor stays exposed too long, capturing all movement.
Camera Shake: Even slight hand movements can blur photos when shutter speed is too low.
When Motion Blur Is Your Creative Tool:
Jessie, the wedding photographer, says, “When used intentionally, motion blur adds life and emotion, creating a sense of movement and spontaneity that perfectly sharp images cannot replicate.”
How To Avoid:
- Use a Faster Shutter Speed: For action shots, aim for at least 1/500th of a second.
- Stabilize the Camera: Use a tripod or steady your hands.
- Enable Image Stabilization: This setting helps reduce blur in low light.
- Switch to Sports or Action Mode: These presets automatically optimize shutter speed.
To Intentionally Use Motion Blur:
- Slow the shutter speed to around 1/30th of a second for dynamic movement.
- Use panning by following a moving subject to keep it sharp while blurring the background.
- Combine slow shutter speed with flash to freeze the subject and create dreamy background blur, adding depth and energy.
We use special tools to reduce blur and sharpen key parts of the photo, especially in fast-moving scenes. Why settle for blurry pictures when we can make them clear and crisp?
3. Over-Editing
Credit: Hold my lens cap
Over-editing can make portraits look unnatural, with wax-like skin and overly bright, unrealistic eyes.
This is one of the common mistakes that happen during post-production when beginners rely too much on editing tools to create flawlessness, stripping away the natural charm and personality of the subject.
Elisa, the professional portrait photographer, highlights “Skin texture and fine lines give portraits life and character. Over-blurring erases personality and turns people into plastic versions of themselves.”
How To Avoid:
Preserve Skin Texture
- Use frequency separation to smooth skin gently.
- Focus on small areas instead of blurring the entire face.
- Retain natural lines on the forehead, around the eyes, and nose for authenticity.
Keep Eyes Natural
- Highlight the eyes to enhance their impact but avoid extreme brightness or saturation.
- Maintain fine details like veins and shading for depth and realism.
Maintain Realistic Skin Tones
- Use targeted adjustments instead of applying presets to the whole image.
- Ensure midtones stay natural, unless intentional color grading (like firelight) justifies changes.
Our team makes sure to keep natural details, like skin texture and natural colors, while enhancing the photo just enough. No more fake-looking skin or eyes – we make edits that look real and beautiful.
4. Cluttered Backgrounds
Credit: Kaleel Zibe
The photographer and photo safari guide Kaleel Zibe says “If there’s one thing that kills a photo immediately, it’s having a cluttered background. The eye likes things simple. Try to simplify the photograph into its most basic elements.”
Visual clutter creates competition for the viewer’s attention. The brain naturally prioritizes simplicity, and when a photo is filled with unrelated elements, the subject loses impact. A clear, uncomplicated background allows the viewer’s eye to lock onto the main subject without distraction.
For example, compare two cheetah photos: one cluttered with branches and one set against a blurred savanna. The simpler background creates a clear, striking focus, making the image more impactful.
How To Avoid:
Change Position – Shift your angle to frame the subject against a clean backdrop.
Blur the Background – Use a wide aperture (shallow depth of field) or a long lens to isolate the subject.
Crop in Editing – Remove distractions if reframing isn’t possible.
We are experts at cleaning up backgrounds to make your photo look clean and professional. Whether it’s for product photography or personal portraits, we’ll make sure the focus stays where it should.
5. Bad Composition
A photo where the subject’s head is cropped at the top or awkward elements intrude on the frame’s edges.
Why This Happens
Focusing too much on the subject without considering the entire frame or over-relying on rules like the rule of thirds can lead to awkward compositions.
How To Avoid:
Expert photographers emphasize that composition goes beyond rigid rules. Consider these actionable steps to improve your composition:
Get Your Position Right
“The position of your subject and your position as the photographer are crucial,” says photography educator Jamie Windsor. Instead of always shooting at eye level, experiment with different perspectives—move higher, crouch lower, or shift sideways. Take a moment to evaluate everything in your frame.
Also, there are few other things to keep in mind:
Think Conceptually: Every choice in composition tells a story.
Watch the Edges: Distracting elements at the edge of the frame weaken the composition.
Simplify: Avoid clutter.
Use Post-Production Wisely: Cropping and retouching are valuable tools.
With expert cropping, repositioning, and retouching, Image Retouching Lab (IRL) can fix awkward shots and make them look balanced and appealing. We use composition techniques to tell a better visual story.
6. Overexposure
Credit: Simon d’Entremont
In this photo , the sky looks washed out and lacks detail due to excessive light hitting the camera sensor.
Why This Happens:
Overexposure occurs when too much light enters the camera sensor, causing bright areas (like skies or reflections) to become pure white, losing all detail.
One powerful solution Simon d’Entremont the nature photographer shares is the “Expose to the Right” (ETTR) technique. In this method you push the histogram as far right as possible without clipping the highlights.
The expert explains, “Digital camera sensors record brighter tones with more capacity for data than darker ones, making ETTR a way to capture richer details and reduce noise in shadow areas.”
How To Avoid:
Adjust Camera Settings: Lower ISO, narrow aperture, or increase shutter speed to reduce brightness.
Check the Histogram: Keep highlights from hitting the right edge to avoid clipping.
Use Exposure Compensation: Reduce brightness by adjusting exposure in priority modes.
Apply ETTR: Shift the histogram right without clipping for better detail and reduced noise, then fine-tune in editing.
Enable Highlight Alerts: Spot overexposed areas instantly and adjust settings accordingly
We adjust the brightness to bring back the details and make the image look lively again. We balance the light, shadows, and colors to give your photo a natural and vibrant feel.
7. Red-Eye Effect
Credit: Mike Paterson
The red-eye effect is distracting and diminishes the quality of portraits and event photos, making subjects appear unnatural or eerie.
Red-eye happens when a camera flash reflects off the retina, producing a red glow. It’s common in low-light settings, where dilated pupils allow more light to enter the eye.
Although many cameras have red-eye reduction modes, these often lead to “subjects blinking or having half-closed eyes because of the pre-flash,” according to the expert photographer Mike Paterson.
How To Avoid:
Improve Lighting: Turn on room lights or place light sources in front of the subject to shrink pupils.
Avoid Direct Eye Contact: Take candid shots or ask subjects to look slightly away from the camera.
Use External Flash: Position the flash higher or farther from the lens to reduce reflection.
Edit the Eyes: Red-eye can be easily corrected with photo editing tools for a polished final result.
We fix this quickly and make your eyes look natural again. We’ll make sure your portraits look perfect, with no red-eye ruining the moment.
8. Crooked Horizons
Credit: B&H Photo Video Pro Audio
Crooked horizons often occur due to improper camera alignment or not paying attention to horizontal lines while framing. It can also result from terrain angles or camera distortion.
As the photographer Matt Zefi notes, “An unlevel horizon is distracting and can ruin an otherwise beautifully composed shot.” This makes the image feel unbalanced and lowers its professional appeal.
How To Avoid:
Use the Grid Display: Most cameras have a grid to help align the horizon with horizontal lines.
Use the Level Feature: Many cameras include an internal level tool to ensure the camera stays level.
Adjust in Editing: If the horizon is still crooked, straighten it in post-processing using editing software.
We can straighten the horizon with our expert adjustments. Image Retouching Lab (IRL) corrects this easily and refines the whole image to give it a more professional look.
9. Lens Flare
Credit: Adorama
David Bergman, professional photographer, explains, “Lens flare is caused when light skims across the front of the glass at just the wrong angle. It often happens when shooting directly into the sun or using a flash positioned towards the camera.”
Lens flare occurs when light enters the lens at certain angles, causing unwanted reflections that lower contrast and obscure details.
It can distract from the subject, reduce image quality, and appear unprofessional in portraits, corporate headshots, or product photography.
How To Avoid:
Adjust Light Angles: Direct light to illuminate the subject while keeping it out of the lens’s path.
Use a Lens Hood: Block stray light with a lens hood to reduce flare and improve contrast.
Softbox or Grid: Shape and control light with a grid or softbox.
Cinefoil or Gobo: Shield direct light with cinefoil or cardboard.
Creative Uses of Lens Flare:
Though often unwanted, flare can enhance mood or drama. Bergman suggests, “Flare isn’t always bad; it depends on the story.” Adding colored gels, he uses blue flares for artistic effects in portraits.
We remove the glare and keep the sharpness and contrast of your photo. If you want to use lens flare creatively, we can adjust it to match your style.
10. Lack of Focus on Subject
Credit: Pat Kay
Less focus or or no focus on the subject weakens the story and emotional connection in your photo, making it feel unintentional.
Common causes include incorrect autofocus settings, poor focus point positioning, or cluttered compositions.
Pat Kay explains, “It’s your job as a photographer to deliberately choose every single element in your composition. The faster you realize that, the faster you’ll improve. Simplify, simplify, simplify.”
How To Avoid:
Use Single-Point Autofocus: Focus directly on the subject’s key feature, like the eyes.
Simplify the Composition: Remove distractions to emphasize what matters.
Create a Strong Focal Point: Apply depth of field, framing, or contrast to draw attention.
Check Focus Settings: Ensure sharpness is prioritized on the subject, not the background.
We sharpen and enhance the focus so your subject stands out clearly. Every detail matters, and we make sure your photo tells the story you want.
3 Common Reasons These Mistakes Often Occur
Have you ever wondered why some photos just don’t look right, even with good equipment? Most bad photography comes from simple errors like:
- Not adjusting camera settings for the environment.
- Relying too heavily on post-processing to fix problems.
- Ignoring composition and lighting basics in the rush to capture a moment.
4 Simple Tips to Avoid Bad Photography
- Plan Your Shot: Think about the background, lighting, and subject position.
- Know Your Camera: Master basic settings like ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.
- Don’t Rush: Take a moment to check the framing before you snap.
- Edit Wisely: Make subtle adjustments that enhance, not overpower.
Final Remarks
Bad photos don’t have to stay bad. By recognizing common mistakes and applying simple fixes, you can dramatically improve your photography.
Need expert help? Image Retouching Lab (IRL) turns problematic photos into polished, professional images. Contact us today and see the difference yourself!
