What's The Recipe For This Great Photo?

TIP: When photographing people at the beach or pool, utilize soft morning or evening light. Position subjects against the water for pleasing backgrounds. Encourage natural, relaxed poses. Capture candid moments of joy and relaxation. Pay attention to colorful swimwear and accessories for vibrant compositions.

Camera Settings
• aperture: 4.0 • exposure time: 1/1600 • focal length: 185.0 • ISO: 100

Camera And Gear
High-end camera gear can be beneficial, but it's not essential. Here is equipment compatible with Canon EOS 7D Mark II, that was used for the original photo:

From RAW to JPEG
Post-processing is indispensable for transforming raw pixels into captivating, impactful photographs, enriching their storytelling and aesthetic allure. Tools like darktable (open-source) or Lightroom (commercial) facilitate adjustments in brightness, contrast, and color, which enhances visual appeal, corrects imperfections, and enables creative expression while optimizing photos for various outputs such as prints or social media. Post-processing isn't a dark art for pro artists or geeks; it's a vital requirement for every image, regardless of its subject or content.