We all know the legendary saying that a photo is worht a thousand words. Well, even though women weren’t among the first photographers in the world, the images they create are a proof of their professionalism and ability to spot beauty anywhere.

And while it’s certain that anything in the world can be beautiful, those who lack photography skills as much as me know the struggle of trying to capture what we see as beautiful on camera… sort of like this:

Here are some tips on how to take (at least) better photos, coming straight from some of the most awesome female photographers out there.

Maria Bentley is a worldwide known wedding photographer that travels the world along with her husband, Nick. She is the lucky winner of VH1’s The Shot, which is kind of like America’s Next Top Model for photographers. Her no. #1 tip? Don’t complicate things too much.

“Try not to get caught up in the rules too much—it can stifle you. Learn the rules to break them! Sometimes if you over-complicate it, you can miss something really beautiful that was there for a split second… I think the best images are made with feeling and heart, and without over-complication. Approach it organically, and always try to enjoy the process.”

Anna Larina is a music photographer specialized in shooting live shows and musician portraits in L.A. It’s been over 10 years since this is her full time job and this is one of her best pieces of advice:

“Can you find this same photo on google images? If yes, don’t take it—turn around.
It’s cool to document famous places and everything when you visit, but… I think photography should be about documenting the undocumented, creating something new.”

Emily O’Brien is a skilled photographer specialized in capturing the beauty of babies, families and nature. If she could offer one tip to others, it would be this:

“If you want to be good at something, be passionate and curious about it. Go find all the technical information you can, and then put it into practice to develop your own style. I am constantly looking to expand my education and trying out new techniques in my downtime. The last thing I ever want to produce is the same work I was producing 10 years ago.”