Backgrounds can be very tricky when trying to take great photos.
On one hand they can add a lot to a photo.
They create depth, space, and emotion.
Backgrounds can even help tell a story.
But a background can also hurt a good shot.
They can distract or overwhelm subjects in the picture.
Always think before taking the shot.
Is there anything or anyone behind your subject that could be distracting? Does anything behind them create weird illusions? For example, a tree branch behind your subject that looks like it's sticking out of their head.
It may sound silly, but simple mistakes like these happen quite often.
And these situations can easily be avoided by double checking your background before taking the picture.
If there is something in the background that could hurt the shot, ask your subject to take a step or two to the right or left.
If this isn't an option, like in candid shots, you can try moving yourself to a different angle.
Getting down low and using the sky above as a background is a great technique.
Blue the background using depth of field.
Learning how to do this with your camera is invaluable.
It's one of the quickest ways to eliminate bad backgrounds.
You can also trying zooming in or getting closer to your subject.
By filling the shot with the subject you essentially get rid of the background all together.
This can also create a more interesting and compelling shot anyway.
If all else fails, you can change or adjust the background in post processing using Photoshop or other editing software.
For example, you can manually blur the background, use the clone stamp tool to remove unwanted people or objects, or change colors that just don't look right.
I hope that by combining these tips, and being more aware of your backgrounds, you will take photos with better backgrounds!