Grammar and Usage: 'Make a Photo' vs. 'Take a Photo'
The debate over whether to use “make a photo” or “take a photo” is a common topic among photography enthusiasts and grammar aficionados alike. Both phrases are grammatically correct, but their usage depends on the context and the intended meaning.
Which is More Grammatically Correct?
The more grammatically correct phrase is“take a photo”.
We do not make photographswe take them. However, if you are a photographer and an artist, you might use the phrase “make a photograph” if it is treated with colors or tints used in a collage or added to another art form.
Common Usage and Context
You use the verb “take a photo” when you are hitting the button or touching the icon of the camera on your mobile device. Conversely, you would use “make a photo” when you process an old-style photograph through two baths in a dark room with an enlarger set and a film negative. Grammatically, both are correct as they are verb-object constructions.
Common Usage Trends
“Take a photo” is more commonly heard, although the advent of digital cameras, computers, photo manipulation programs, and other technologies has made it not uncommon to hear phrases like “Take a photo, make it better.”
Contextual Usage in Photography
If you produce or edit a photo, you can use “make a photo”. If you accept or use a photo, you can use “take a photo”. The choice will depend on the context and the intended action.
Example Sentences
Example 1: “To produce or edit a photo, you might say ‘make a photo.’
Example 2: “To accept or use a photo, you might say ‘take a photo.’
A British English perspective on using the term is that pressing the shutter release on your camera is generally understood to be the action of “taking a photo.” On the other hand, “making a photo” can refer to the process of producing a photograph to a specific brief, such as “I want to make a photo that captures the bond between a mother and her new-born baby.” It can also refer to an element that makes a particular photograph successful, such as “It’s the smile on the mother’s face that really makes this photo.”
Conclusion
Both “take a photo” and “make a photo” are correct in terms of English grammar. The choice between the two depends on the context and the specific action you are referring to. Regardless of the term you use, what matters most is clarity and communication with your audience.