Create a shot list
A shot list is a written plan for the images you want to capture. It should include different types of shots.
Scout your location
Check your location ahead of time to see what lighting is available and what backgrounds or obstacles you might encounter.
Gather your gear
You don’t need fancy equipment. A smartphone or digital camera, natural light, and a steady hand can go a long way. Consider:
Camera (DSLR, mirrorless, or phone)
Tripod (helps with stability)
Reflector (used to bounce light onto your subject)
Fully charged battery and extra memory card
Lighting affects mood and color.
Natural light: Light that comes from the sun.
Hard light: Strong, direct light that creates harsh shadows. Spotlights are an example.
Soft light: Diffused light that avoids casting hard shadows.
Tips for beginners:
Avoid mixing light sources (like sunlight and overhead bulbs), which can create unnatural color tones.
Use a white surface (poster board or wall) to reflect light back onto your subject and fill in shadows.
Composition is how the elements in a photo are arranged. It affects how the viewer looks at your image.
Rule of Thirds: Imagine dividing your image into a 3x3 grid. Place your subject at one of the intersections rather than in the center.
Leading lines: Use roads and lines to guide the viewer’s eye toward your subject.
Framing: Use natural elements (windows, doors) to "frame" your subject within the photo.
Negative space: The empty space around your subject. It can help create simplicity and draw attention.
Clean your frame: Look at all corners of your shot and remove distractions
Focus: Make sure your subject is sharp and clear. Tap on your subject if you're using a phone. On a camera, use autofocus or manual focus for precision.
Exposure: This controls how bright or dark your photo is. Exposure is affected by:
ISO: How sensitive your camera is to light.
Low ISO (100–200) = less light, cleaner image
High ISO (800+) = brighter image, but can look grainy
Shutter Speed: How long the camera’s sensor is exposed to light.
Fast shutter (like 1/500) freezes motion
Slow shutter (like 1/30) captures motion blur or low light
Aperture (f-stop): The size of the lens opening.
Low f-number (f/1.8) = shallow depth of field (blurry background)
High f-number (f/11) = more in focus (great for landscapes)
Shoot in RAW (if your camera allows): This format keeps more image data than JPEG, giving you more flexibility during editing.
File naming tip
Use clear names like yourlastname_project_001.jpg to keep track of your files.
Back up your work
Save your photos in multiple places (cloud, hard drive, USB drive) to prevent losing them.
Export for your audience
For print: Use high resolution (300 DPI), JPEG or TIFF
For web/slides: Use medium resolution (72 DPI), JPEG, and resize to smaller dimensions like 1200px wide
Free Tools Editing Tools
Lightroom Mobile
Campus Resources
Art & Music Library — photography books and inspiration materials
What is Copyright? 
Copyright is the legal protection (specific rights) authors/creators can benefit from for their works of creation that are eligible for protection.
For consumers of others' created content, Copyright is a form of Intellectual Property that determines how others' content can be used. For example, content cannot be reproduced or used for commercial purposes without clear permission. Copyright enables innovation in artistic and scientific fields. The rights-holder can gain financially for her/his work because consumers cannot use their work without seeking permission. It is the expression of an idea in tangible form - paper, film, or silicon chip - that can be copyrighted.
Copyright laws may be a little different in different countries. In USA, domestic works need to be registered so that rightsholders can sue for infringement, when required.
Copyright of literary, musical, dramatic, and artistic works protection has a lifetime: typically, it lasts for the entire lifetime of creators plus 70 years. It's popularly known as the 'life plus 70' rule.
Resources:
Copyright Clearance Center A one stop resource for fundamental information about Copyright.
U.S. Copyright Office The organization, under the Library of Congress, that oversees copyright protection of authors and administers the country's Copyright Laws for public good.
What is Public Domain?
Public Domain refers to all creative works that are not protected by Copyright.
These works can be used and re-used and transformed according to the wishes of content users. There is no need for seeking permission.
No one owns works in Public Domain.
For example, creative works by authors whose term of copyright lies beyond the 'life plus 70' rule belongs to Public Domain. Shakespeare's works are in Public Domain.
Copyright terms info from the Copyright Information Center A comprehensive chart on what counts as belonging to Public Domain, as of 2017.
Where to find Images in the Public Domain:
All governmental websites with information for public consumption are in Public Domain.
Search free images from the Digital Public Library of America collection.
Search over 1,800 Federal and District of Columbia websites for government images.
What is Creative Commons?
Creative Commons (CC) licenses (https://creativecommons.org/) comprise six Copyright licenses that rightsholders can assign to their creations for others to use. The licenses permit reuse, transformation, sharing, and attributions.
Please find an infographic below that discusses the six CC licenses.
CC for Use of Images Infographic An infographic that discusses the range of Creative Commons licenses that users should know about using images from the internet.
If you're using your own photos/images, like for a course blog, you should consider what type of license you'd like to attach to YOUR work.
Where to find Images published for reuse:
All governmental websites with information for public consumption are in Public Domain.
Google Image Search at https://images.google.com/ (filter by Usage Rights)
Use Flickr's advanced search to find photos and images which are available copyright free or through a Creative Commons license that allows for reuse.
High quality free images and photos you can download and use for any project. No attribution required.
A portal to +20 million digital items from +1,500 European archives, libraries, museums from 32 countries. In mutliple languages, the portal includes links to texts (books, newspapers, etc.), images (works of arts, maps, etc.), video (film, TV broadcasts, etc.), and sound (music, radio broadcasts).
Metropolitan Museum of Art Public Domain Artworks Access by selecting the "Public Domain Artworks" filter in the left-hand column.
DPLA Images