{"id":15499,"date":"2025-03-17T14:58:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T14:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/?p=15499"},"modified":"2026-02-06T20:48:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T20:48:13","slug":"wefco-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wefco-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"In-Depth Guide to Using WEFCo for Better Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div id=\"intro\" class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WEFCo is an approach to photography that emphasises getting the best results in-camera, and stands for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#white-balance\"><strong>W<\/strong>hite balance<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#exposure\"><strong>E<\/strong>xposure<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#focus\"><strong>F<\/strong>ocus<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#composition\"><strong>Co<\/strong>mposition<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"193\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/w-e-f-co.png\" alt=\"Graphic showing the words White balance, Exposure, Focus and Composition with the W E F Co emphasised.\" class=\"wp-image-15515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/w-e-f-co.png 1201w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/w-e-f-co-300x48.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/w-e-f-co-768x123.png.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/w-e-f-co-370x59.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/w-e-f-co-270x43.png.webp 270w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/w-e-f-co-570x92.png.webp 570w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/w-e-f-co-740x119.png.webp 740w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/w-e-f-co-150x24.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WEFCo applies to professional and personal projects, and following this sequence will dramatically increase the quality of your photo and video output, saving you a lot of time in post-production\/ editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this blog post, we&#8217;ll explore &#8216;WEFCo&#8217; and how to apply its principles to enhance the quality of your photography and videography.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"white-balance\" class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">White balance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u2018W\u2019 in WEFCo stands for white balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The spectrum of visible light ranges from violet to red. When all primary colours of light (red, blue and green) come together in equal amounts, you get white. Typically, white balance is adjusted (or \u2018corrected\u2019) in-camera before shooting to help scenes and subjects to appear more \u2018natural\u2019 and \u2018real\u2019, so that white objects appear white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Striving for true-to-life accuracy gives you a strong starting point for your content, particularly if your camera is outputting 8-bit colour and your turnover time doesn\u2019t permit heavy colour grading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phones and cameras have automatic white balancing as part of their image processing pipelines, so why not rely on that feature and call it a day? Take a look at these photos:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WEFCo-WhiteBalance-Blue.png\" alt=\"Man sat on a numbered cone taking off shoe - blue\" style=\"\"><\/td><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WEFCo-WhiteBalance-Good.png\" alt=\"Man sat on a numbered cone taking off shoe - balanced\" style=\"\"><\/td><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WEFCo-WhiteBalance-Warm.png\" alt=\"Man sat on a numbered cone taking off shoe - yellow\" style=\"\"><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The only difference between these images is white balance, but the <em>feel <\/em>of each image is significantly different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adjusting white balance gives you creative control over the \u2018temperature\u2019 of your projects from cool and clinical (left) through to warm and inviting (right).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leaving your camera to automatically adjust white balance is great if you don\u2019t have time to set up your shots, but you\u2019ll run into unwanted colour shifts when panning in video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Auto-white balance complicates matching colours across multiple cameras, so strive for accurate in-camera white balance before capturing your shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tips for Mastering White Balance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reference Shots<\/strong> \u2013 Capture a photo or short video clip of a white object and use it to set your white balance in-camera before you start creating.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>White Paper Trick<\/strong> \u2013 Crumple, then flatten a white piece of paper. Take the flattened-out paper to where your subject will be and take a photo or short video clip of the paper to get a good reference point for your white balance for that scene.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shifting Light Conditions<\/strong> \u2013 Natural light changes throughout the day. Blue hour, golden hour and noonday have very different tones. Take reference shots and update your white balance every hour where possible. Place a white object in your scene where appropriate and use this as a reference for optimal results.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mixed Lighting Challenges<\/strong> \u2013 Different light sources blending together can create unexpected colour shifts, making white balance trickier to manage. Take an additional reference shot using only your key light as insurance.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fix it in Post<\/strong> \u2013 Use vectorscopes and the white balance pipette tool in your editing software to achieve an accurate white balance. You can copy and paste the corrected settings onto other photos or video clips to save time. Do this before applying artistic grading for greater consistency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"exposure\" class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Exposure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u2018E\u2019 of WEFCo is exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exposure in photography and videography is all about light and our camera\u2019s sensor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s look at the effects of exposure on the three photos below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WEFCo-Exposure-Skull-Under.png\" alt=\"A dark image of a skull\" style=\"\"><\/td><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WEFCo-Exposure-Skull-Correct.png\" alt=\"An image of a skull\" style=\"\"><\/td><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WEFCo-Exposure-Skull-Over.png\" alt=\"An over-exposed image of a skull\" style=\"\"><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The photo on the left is overly dark, or underexposed. Detail is missing in the blacks and shadows. Notice how the shape of the cloth under the skull differs from the other images?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The image on the right is overexposed and detail is missing from the whites and highlights. The texture and fine detail of the shape of the skull along the lit edge is gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The correctly exposed image in the middle preserves textures and tones across the image and is more neutral and natural. This encourages the viewer to focus more on the subject \u2013 the skull.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One stylistic opportunity of exposure is that you gain some control over the time of day. The overall feel of the image is on the left is of night. The right image, being blown out, gives the impression of exceedingly bright, noon-day sunlight. Be sure to use exposure to your advantage when planning and creating content for your clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are 3 factors that contribute to the exposure of your image:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#shutter-speed\"><strong>Shutter speed<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#iso\"><strong>ISO<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#aperture\"><strong>Aperture<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These factors are intrinsically linked, and each has an impact on the look and feel of your content that you\u2019ll want to consider when creating. They are known as the Exposure Triangle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/wefco-exposure-triangle.png\" alt=\"Graphic representing the Exposure Triangle\" class=\"wp-image-15534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/wefco-exposure-triangle.png 1201w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/wefco-exposure-triangle-300x200.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/wefco-exposure-triangle-768x512.png.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/wefco-exposure-triangle-400x267.png.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/wefco-exposure-triangle-800x534.png.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/wefco-exposure-triangle-832x555.png.webp 832w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/wefco-exposure-triangle-150x100.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"shutter-speed\" class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shutter Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Shutter-speed.png\" alt=\"The two images of cheetah side by side showing a representation of how shutter speed alters images.\" class=\"wp-image-15517\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Shutter-speed.png 1201w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Shutter-speed-300x200.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Shutter-speed-768x512.png.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Shutter-speed-370x247.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Shutter-speed-270x180.png.webp 270w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Shutter-speed-570x380.png.webp 570w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Shutter-speed-740x494.png.webp 740w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Shutter-speed-150x100.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shutter speed is how long light is exposed to the camera sensor for and is usually measured in fractions of a second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding and using shutter speed for deliberate effect can be tricky, so here\u2019s a useful analogy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-verse\"><strong>Imagine you have a tap and a cup. If you turn the tap to full for 3 seconds, you\u2019ll have more water in your cup than if you turned the tap on full for 1 second, or \u00bc of a second, or 1\/125 of a second.<\/strong><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same principle applies to light. Having your shutter open for longer lets in more light. So, if you\u2019re in a dark environment and need more light to nail a proper exposure; open up the shutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s a noteworthy component to shutter speed: along with controlling how much light comes into your camera &#8211; shutter speed has a relationship with motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your shutter is open for 5 seconds your camera sensor will capture all the light \u2013 and all movement that occurs &#8211; in those 5 seconds. In other words, if something in-frame moves while your shutter is open, that moving object will appear blurry in the final image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blur is desirable for creative effect in light painting, car light trails and moving water, but you\u2019ll generally want to freeze motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a reference guide to help you find the optimal shutter-speed for a range of situations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Shutter Speed General Guide<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Astrophotography \u2013 Up to 30\u201d<em>*<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Light painting \u2013 15\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Car light trails \u2013 10\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>City at night \u2013 5\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smooth water \u2013 1\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Landscape \u2013 1\/20<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Portrait \u2013 1\/50<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Walking \u2013 1\/125<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Running \u2013 1\/250<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bird flight \u2013 1\/1000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Motor racing \u2013 1\/2000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>* Use the 500 rule to work out your shutter speed in relation to your focal length to avoid star trails<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Video is a different story when it comes to shutter speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For interviews and normal speed b-roll footage you\u2019ll want to set your shutter speed to double that of your frame rate to get natural looking motion blur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re shooting in 25 frames per second, like PAL countries do, your shutter speed will be 1\/50. If you\u2019re shooting in 24 fps then set your shutter to 1\/48 \u2013 but beware of artificial lighting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bulbs, Christmas tree lights, LED strips, TV or computer screens and other sources of artificial light pulse, move or \u2018band\u2019 in line with the way they are powered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NTSC countries operate at 60 Hz, so putting your shutter speed at 1\/60 gets rid of this strange behaviour. PAL is 50 Hz, so you\u2019ll not need to adjust from 1\/50 if you\u2019re shooting in 25 fps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Things get tricky when it comes to b-roll, which is often shot at a higher frame rate: 60 fps or 120 fps. You\u2019ll have to make a decision on preserving natural motion blur vs eliminating distracting flickering.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"iso\" class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ISO<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ISO.png\" alt=\"Side by side of a beautiful evening sky demonstrating how ISO values add grain to an image.\" class=\"wp-image-15518\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ISO.png 1201w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/ISO-300x200.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/ISO-768x512.png.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/ISO-370x247.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/ISO-270x180.png.webp 270w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/ISO-570x380.png.webp 570w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/ISO-740x494.png.webp 740w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/ISO-150x100.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ISO can be a challenging concept to grasp initially. Imagine that your image requires three seconds\u2019 worth of light to achieve proper exposure, but only one second\u2019s worth is available. ISO allows you to make up for this shortfall by electronically stretching out your one second of light to the required level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ISO is how sensitive you make sensor to light. By controlling how much power is put through your sensor, you can amplify small amounts of light to get closer to the effect of having a more well-lit scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most mobile phones and digital cameras have what is called a base ISO. The base ISO is the value your sensor is optimised for and has the best signal to noise ratio. If you push your ISO further than this, you\u2019ll begin to introduce grain, artefacts and digital noise to your image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is always optimal to get the right amount of light at your source, but don\u2019t be afraid to use ISO to fill in the gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Higher ISO values have a significantly greater impact in videography than in photography. While AI-driven tools have made remarkable strides in restoring grainy photos, noise reduction solutions for video remain less effective, producing results that leave much to be desired.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"aperture\" class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aperture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1201\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Aperture.png\" alt=\"Graphic depicting how lower aperture values are indicative of a wider open lens element.\" class=\"wp-image-15519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Aperture.png 1201w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Aperture-300x200.png.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Aperture-768x512.png.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Aperture-370x247.png.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Aperture-270x180.png.webp 270w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Aperture-570x380.png.webp 570w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Aperture-740x494.png.webp 740w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/Aperture-150x100.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aperture is how we control the flow of light through our lens and onto our camera\u2019s sensor. Revisiting our analogy, think of aperture as how widely opened up or closed up a tap is. A fully open aperture lets in light in the same way that a fully open tap allows the maximum amount of water to flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aperture is measured in \u2018f stops\u2019. The closer to 0 your f value is, the more opened up your lens is and the more light is getting let in. For example; f1.2 lets in far more light than f8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need more light in your image, you can correct your exposure by opening up the aperture. If you\u2019re overexposed you\u2019ll be able to close up the aperture a few stops to get the amount of light coming into your camera under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As with shutter speed and ISO, aperture has a secondary effect: your focus plane. We\u2019ll talk more about focus in the next section, but a smaller focus plane means the foreground and background are blurrier. A larger focus plane means more of a scene is in focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Focus planes are not a perfectly straight line from left to right, they have a slight curve to them that follows the shape of your lens. If you are trying to capture a team at an awards ceremony, and your aperture is set quite low, you\u2019ll find that people in the middle of your shot are in focus, and those on the outer edges are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this situation you\u2019ll need to bring your aperture down, which deepens your focus plane. This will let in less light, but it\u2019ll get your group into the focus plane.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"focus\" class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Focus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/WEFCo-Focus-Sharp-300x300.png.webp\" alt=\"Portrait shot of a meerkat in perfect focus\" style=\"\"><\/td><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/WEFCo-Focus-Blur-300x300.png.webp\" alt=\"Portrait shot of a meerkat completely out of focus\" style=\"\"><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u2018F\u2019 of WEFCo stands for focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the most straightforward aspect of WEFCo: you\u2019ll always want your subject, or a particular detail of your subject, to be in focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Too much of a busy scene in focus will result in an image that distracts from your subject, and too much separation leaves your subject isolated and without context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Including or excluding background elements is a stylistic choice that should be informed by your vision for storytelling: what do you want to direct your viewers&#8217; attention to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re making photos to showcase the stunning landscapes then you\u2019ll want as much in focus as possible, which you\u2019ll achieve through using higher aperture settings and focus stacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Showcasing a piece of jewellery being worn by a model is best done with a greater amount of the background, and any other superfluous elements, out of focus. This draws attention away from distractions and onto the subject you want your audience to look at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-scaled.jpeg.webp\" alt=\"Product shot of a Brightin Star AF50mm F1.4 APS-C Autofocus Lens demonstrating the use of shallow focus plane.\" class=\"wp-image-15511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-scaled.jpeg.webp 2560w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-300x300.jpeg.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-1600x1600.jpeg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-150x150.jpeg.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-768x768.jpeg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-1536x1536.jpeg.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-2048x2048.jpeg.webp 2048w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-370x370.jpeg.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-270x270.jpeg.webp 270w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-570x570.jpeg.webp 570w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-740x740.jpeg.webp 740w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/20240914-_DSC0744-96x96.jpeg.webp 96w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"composition\" class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Composition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/WEFCo-Composition-TooBusy.png\" alt=\"Busy image of a clock tower at Chatsworth House\" style=\"\"><\/td><td><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WEFCo-Composition-Good.png\" alt=\"Stylish black and white photo of a clock tower at Chatsworth House\" style=\"\"><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u2018Co\u2019 of WEFCo is composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Composition is the most important element in photography and videography, the most difficult to get right, and the component that makes your work stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve got an accurate white balance, perfect exposure, and your subject is in focus; you\u2019re on the way to a well composed image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Try these techniques if you\u2019re struggling for inspiration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Leading Lines<\/strong>: Use natural lines to guide your viewer\u2019s eye towards your subject.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Framing Guides<\/strong>: Position key elements along grid lines (Rule of Thirds) or intersections (Golden Ratio) to create balance.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Symmetry<\/strong>: Mirroring elements within your frame creates a sense of harmony.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Frame Within A Frame<\/strong>: Create a secondary frame around your subject to add depth and focus.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Break The Pattern<\/strong>: Using your subject to disrupt a repetitive pattern draws attention and creates visual interest.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fill The Frame<\/strong>: Get close to your subject to eliminate distractions and emphasise finer details.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Negative Space<\/strong>: Use the empty space around your subject to create a sense of simplicity and focus.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Rule Of Space<\/strong>: Leave space in the direction that your subject is facing or moving in to create a sense of motion and context.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get Low<\/strong>: Change your perspective by shooting from a low angle to add drama and scale.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get High<\/strong>: Capture your scene from a high vantage point to provide an expansive view.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Juxtaposition<\/strong>: Place contrasting elements side by side to highlight differences and create visual tension.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reflections<\/strong>: Incorporate reflections from surfaces like water, glass or mirrors to add depth and create intriguing visual effects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every principle of WEFCo we\u2019ve covered in this article culminates in composition. The image gallery below demonstrates the importance of composition as each of these examples<em> does not<\/em> have perfect white balance, exposure and\/or focus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magnumphotos.com\/arts-culture\/society-arts-culture\/alex-webb-city-of-hundred-names\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1060\" height=\"704\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/alex-webb-turkey-istanbul.jpg\" alt=\"Outside of the Blue Mosque during Ramadan. Istanbul, Turkey. 2001.\u00a0\u00a9 Alex Webb | Magnum Photos\" class=\"wp-image-15521\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/alex-webb-turkey-istanbul.jpg 1060w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/alex-webb-turkey-istanbul-300x199.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/alex-webb-turkey-istanbul-768x510.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/alex-webb-turkey-istanbul-370x246.jpg.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/alex-webb-turkey-istanbul-270x179.jpg.webp 270w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/alex-webb-turkey-istanbul-570x379.jpg.webp 570w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/alex-webb-turkey-istanbul-740x491.jpg.webp 740w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/alex-webb-turkey-istanbul-150x100.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1060px) 100vw, 1060px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Outside of the Blue Mosque during Ramadan. Istanbul, Turkey. 2001.&nbsp;<em>\u00a9 Alex Webb | Magnum Photos<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.solldn.com\/artists\/sebastiao-salgado\/colony-of-chinstrap-and-macaroni-penguins-with-mount-michael-an-active-volcano-behind-saunders-island-south-sandwich-island\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"878\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-penguins.jpg\" alt=\"Sebasti\u00e3o Salgado Genesis - Penguins\" class=\"wp-image-15523\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-penguins.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-penguins-300x220.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-penguins-768x562.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-penguins-370x271.jpg.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-penguins-270x198.jpg.webp 270w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-penguins-570x417.jpg.webp 570w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-penguins-740x541.jpg.webp 740w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-penguins-80x60.jpg.webp 80w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/sebastiao-salgado-genesis-penguins-150x110.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sebasti\u00e3o Salgado Genesis &#8211; Penguins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magnumphotos.com\/lon38356\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1044\" height=\"704\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-dream-life-man-in-white-clothes.jpg\" alt=\"Trent Parke\u00a0\u2018White Man\u2019\u00a02001 from the series\u00a0\u2018Minutes To Midnight\u2019\" class=\"wp-image-15520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-dream-life-man-in-white-clothes.jpg 1044w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-dream-life-man-in-white-clothes-300x202.jpg.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-dream-life-man-in-white-clothes-768x518.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-dream-life-man-in-white-clothes-370x250.jpg.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-dream-life-man-in-white-clothes-270x182.jpg.webp 270w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-dream-life-man-in-white-clothes-570x384.jpg.webp 570w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-dream-life-man-in-white-clothes-740x499.jpg.webp 740w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-dream-life-man-in-white-clothes-150x101.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1044px) 100vw, 1044px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9 Trent Parke&nbsp;<em>\u2018White Man\u2019&nbsp;<\/em>2001 from the series&nbsp;<em>\u2018Minutes To Midnight\u2019<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.magnumphotos.com\/theory-and-practice\/trent-parke-the-camera-is-god\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-1200x1600.jpg.webp\" alt=\"No.376 .Portrait of a boy on a street corner. Adelaide. Australia. 2013.\u00a0\u00a9 Trent Parke | Magnum Photos\" class=\"wp-image-15522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-1200x1600.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-225x300.jpg.webp 225w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-768x1024.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-1152x1536.jpg.webp 1152w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-370x493.jpg.webp 370w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-270x360.jpg.webp 270w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-570x760.jpg.webp 570w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-740x987.jpg.webp 740w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-640x853.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376-150x200.jpg.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/trent-parke-no376.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">No.376 .Portrait of a boy on a street corner. Adelaide. Australia. 2013.&nbsp;<em>\u00a9 Trent Parke | Magnum Photos<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What they share is distinct character born of exceptional composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While it is possible to achieve great photo and video through composition alone, the white balance, exposure and focus all play an important role in storytelling and achieving excellent imagery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The process of WEFCo should always be followed, even if the creative decisions you make veer away from what is real, accurate or technically correct. Being aware of each component of your images will only make you a better, more deliberate videographer and photographer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"final-thoughts\" class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve covered the core aspects of photography and videography, but there\u2019s a lot more to producing visual content: colour spaces, codecs, containers, chroma subsampling, bitrates, b-roll, NLEs, grading, saturation, contrast, bokeh, LoCA and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We didn\u2019t even mention audio \u2013 which has an enormous impact on the perceived quality of your video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leave a comment below if you have any questions and if you\u2019d like more content like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Learn how to optimise your new images with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/image-optimisation-web-guide\/\">ultimate guide to image optimisation.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class='code-block code-block-4' style='margin: 8px 0; clear: both;'>\n<hr>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/wordpress-hosting\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Blog-Ad-WordPress-1200x625-1.png\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Managed WordPress Hosting\"><\/a><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"WEFCo is an approach to photography that emphasises getting the best results in-camera, and stands for: WEFCo applies&hellip;","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":15536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[296],"class_list":["post-15499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business-tips","tag-photography","cs-entry"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/wefco-for-better-photography-title-scaled.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Joseph Simpson","author_link":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/author\/joseph20i\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15499"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15499\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17391,"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15499\/revisions\/17391"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.20i.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}