Are photography rules holding you back? In this video, I break down 10 so-called “rules” that photographers are told to follow—but shouldn’t! (
If you’ve ever been told:
❌ Always shoot with the sun behind you
❌ Follow the rule of thirds every time
❌ Avoid blur at all costs
❌ Never shoot with a wide-angle lens for portraits…
Then this video is for you! 🚀
Great photography isn’t about blindly following rules—it’s about knowing when and why to break them for creative, impactful images. Whether you’re into portrait photography, landscape photography, product photography, or even fashion photography, these insights will help you think differently and take your photos to the next level.
🔎 Topics Covered:
✔️ Why backlighting creates stunning depth and drama
✔️ The power of breaking composition rules for visual impact
✔️ How to use motion blur for dynamic storytelling
✔️ Shooting at midday without harsh shadows
✔️ Mastering exposure your way—without relying on a meter
If you want to expand your creative vision, get better results, and understand when rules help vs. when they hold you back, hit play now! 🎥
📢 Let’s keep learning! Subscribe for more deep-dive photography insights, lighting techniques, and expert breakdowns.
📖 CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro – Why You Should Break Photography Rules!
0:11 Rule #1 – Stop Shooting with the Sun Behind You
2:09 Rule #2 – Ignore the Rule of Thirds Sometimes
3:48 Rule #3 – Blur Can Be Your Friend
5:00 Rule #4 – Do You Always Need to See the Eyes?
5:47 Rule #5 – The Myth of “Correct” Exposure
8:03 Rule #6 – Double Shadows Can Work!
10:40 Rule #7 – Wide-Angle Lenses for Portraits & Products?
12:59 Rule #8 – Yes, You CAN Shoot at Midday
15:25 Rule #9 – Are Prime Lenses Always Better?
17:37 Rule #10 – Handheld Shooting Below 1/30s? Yes!
21:20 Final Thoughts – Break the Rules, Get Better Photos!
21:30 Join VisualEducation.com for More Learning!
#PhotographyTips #PhotographyRules #LearnPhotography #CreativePhotography #PhotographyTechniques #PhotographyMyths #PhotographyComposition
Comments
28 responses to “10 Photography Rules You MUST Break for Better Shots!”
Love this channel! It's like the old photography channels were 10-15 years ago, but with better quality and most importantly WITHOUT all of that clickbaity, hyper-active, sensation driven, shock value, jumping on every new trend band wagon BS. And I consumed a lot of that stuff – this is really refreshing to see and I really enjoy it. Don't ever change!
Such a great content thank you so much
Couldn't agree more – not only adding creativity but modernising some of the older rules that once applied when cameras were very basic !
Hello I am ok with all your points but one, the correct exposure is not a myth unfortunatly but really a rule to follow (if it's for sure followed correctly). There is two separate things, the luminosity of the scene you are shooting and the exposure to the sensor of your camera. The first one is where you have to compose everything to the quantity of lighting you have decided to give. This is not the fault of anyone but you if you filled your scene in inapropriate levels. The second step is to expose your sensor, and here there is no other rules than the ingeeners of the camera rules : exposing at right with an optimised RAW at +1.33 IL. The histogram is not accurate (cause the histogram is not a instrument of measure) and dealing with the integrated instrument of your camera is also not a good deal cause it measures only the reflection of your subject on the sensor. It can be ok on landscapes pictures and many others (cause they are stacking their images with different exposures) but never in studio. Imagine having a couple just married coming to your studio to shoot with their costumes, you will have a suit in black for the guy and a white robe for the woman, you will choose to expose for which one ? Believe me there is no other solution than the flashmeter + optimisation + opened with the linear curve of your software (I'd love to have another way). If you are experienced enough to have something similar cause your eyes are so much more trained than mine, it's good for you (but it's not scientific). There is a lot of problems of contrast with your approach that never arrived with mine while I am following this rule (it's obvious cause you are letting many pixels not exposed) Also I never compose a highkey or lowkey with the settings of my cam, for me it's a big mistake and a lack of discernement of the DA before you press any boutton. Unfortunatly, a sensor exist like it is, the constructors can't do anything else cause it's a all-round cameras, they need to sell a lot. A sensor has to be filled at 100% not 99%.For me it's more a myth to do anything you want, whatever will works. For me I never count on my camera's gadgets or retouching, it's a sign of weakness.
I love breaking all those “rules “.
Number 5 Exposure, your comment conflicts with some advice you have given when people submit images to you and you say that they are underexposed.
Thanks great advice
Great presentation, loved it, you always nail-it. This information will be used wisely by me. Thank you, very much Mr. Taylor sir.
Rule 5 pretty much sums up why exposure meters are a scam, just look at the photo and adjust the flash!!
On blur, I recently did a series of shots where people walking through the image were blurred, I liked a couple of the final images.
I have heard these "rules" should be used a guidelines and starting points not end points. To me, the basic question is what do I want artistically for the image.
On using primes vs zooms, I prefer primes because they make me think a little more about what I'm doing – this one is about me personally.
on wide angle lenses for people. a lot of time i use a slightly wide angle to make my models seem a little bit taller. great since many of my models are only 5' tall. I really like what your friend did with her shots though. i really like the even wider angle and purposeful exaggeration. The other thing i find is that with the wide angle, you have to get in closer and that makes for easier communication if you're in a noisy environment.
There are no rules.
A lot of these rules are from the film era I have heard them all in my 50 years of photographic career. I do appreciate your videos because they are educational for younger photographers. On the other hand refreshing one’s knowledge is not a bad ideal either.
Great suggestions
Yeah great instructor
When you’re dragging a Bron Para into the sea, you are serious business. 🎉
Karl Taylor may be the best photographer or purveyor of light, I've seen 🤷🏿
"Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men" Douglas Bader
As always, very clear, compact, highly interesting and inspiring photo educational video. Furthermore your diction is really pro and powerful, that of a motivating instructor and leader, an empathic natural alpha male in photography.
Cool lesson! Thank you
Break every rule you ever heared of.
I think some of those rules come from the film era. With digital, you can get creative just by trial and error, but with film, you probably need to know what you are doing and have experience of what works and what doesn't. Remember the days when you had no tether? Probably had to use polaroid backs.
Love this channel. Great content for my hobby and may needed one day. Thank you for the videos.
U r a great human being sir… go ahead .. and I love u
Absolutely impressed with you!
Information that is always good to reiterate even if you've heard it 10 times.
Thanks Karl for sharing!
Hell yea dude. You’re easily my biggest inspiration to get better.