Showing prospective clients before and after photos of past organizing projects has been a popular strategy for a long time, although not all professional organizers agree with it. These days, photography plays an even bigger role in marketing, whether the pictures are used to enhance a blog post or added to a Pinterest board.

Because most mobile phones have built-in cameras, more people are taking photos than ever before. But just as owning a label maker doesn’t make one a professional organizer, owning a digital camera (even an expensive one) doesn’t mean you can take good photographs.

As a professional, everything you post online should be a good representation of you and your business brand. If you plan to use your own photographs on your blog or social media profiles, you want them to be as awesome as you are, don’t you?

If you’re looking for some pointers to help you take your photos to the next level, you’ll find Capture the Magic: Train Your Eye, Improve Your Photographic Composition to be an excellent resource. Author Jack Dykinga, a professional photographer with decades of experience, clearly explains the factors that make the difference between a good photograph and a really great one, including lighting, framing, and many others.

Beautiful photos appear throughout the book, illustrating the concepts being described. In some cases, a series of photos of the same subject are used to demonstrate the powerful transformation that can be made by shooting at a different time of day, during different weather conditions, or from a different vantage point or camera angle. You’re sure to enjoy looking at the photos, even if you’re not particularly interested in learning how to become a better photographer!

Although Dykinga occasionally mentions focal lengths, depth of field, f-stops, and other technical terms in a way that assumes you’re already familiar with them, I believe his book will help you improve your photography skills, even without a previous understanding of such terminology. On the other hand, there are plenty of other basic photography books on the market should you find yourself wanting to learn more.

I received a free copy of Capture the Magic through the O’Reilly Reader Review Program. All opinions expressed are my own. Make a purchase through my link, and Amazon will pay me a small commission. The book is also available from O’Reilly Media.