© Shutterstock

Find a nice foreground - Look for a foreground first and use it to add depth to your sunset photo.

© Shutterstock

Take off your sunglasses - Sounds basic, but we all do it. Obviously, the images in your LCD screen will look darker, so you won't be taking accurate photos.

© Shutterstock

Look for sunset colors reflected on objects - Sometimes the best sunset colors are captured through reflections. Look for windows, car windshields, buildings, etc.

© Shutterstock

Silhouettes in the foreground - You can play with these. Try it with people, objects, or whatever you like. 

© Shutterstock

Ditch lens filters - Including polarizers and UV. These will have an impact on the contrast and saturation of your sunset photos.

© Shutterstock

Try panoramas - These are particularly helpful if you want to capture different sky colors and add contrasting elements.

© Shutterstock

Wait for the right clouds - Clouds can really make or break a good sunset photo. A partly clouded day will be more interesting to shoot.

© Shutterstock

Look out for birds - Including flying birds in a sunset photo can make it more interesting. 

© Shutterstock

Use flash if you're shooting a portrait - It's important to use flash if you're shooting a portrait with the sunset in the background. Otherwise the subject will be too dark. 

© Shutterstock

Don't use auto white balance - We've all been guilty of this. Try shade instead. This will give your sunset pictures a warmer, golden tone.

© Shutterstock

Pay attention to reflections - Sometimes a great sunset photo is about getting the right reflections, such as the sun reflecting on water.

© iStock

Wait, don't go anywhere - Colors change around 25 minutes after sunset. It's almost as there were two sunsets, so don't miss the second one!

© Shutterstock

Turn around - Sometimes, the best sunset photo is not in front of us, but behind us. The landscape opposite the sunset can be actually more interesting.

© Shutterstock

Beware of the horizon line in the middle of the photo - The bottom or top third of the photo are the best options, depending on whether you want to include more sky or highlight other elements.

© Shutterstock

Use a telephoto lens to make the sun look larger - The opposite is also true, so a wide-angle lens will make the sun look smaller. 

© Shutterstock

Underexpose - Underexpose your photos slightly. This will make the sunset colors more rich and dramatic. 

© Shutterstock

Clean your lens and sensor - This might sound like a no-brainer, but we're all guilty of it. Dust spots can be visible and can potentially ruin a good photo.

© iStock

Horizon line when shooting portraits - Avoid having the horizon line at the level of the person's neck. Instead, aim for the chest or waist. 

© iStock

Uneven horizon line - To avoid this, use a tripod with a bubble level. Though many cameras now have electronic levels. 

© iStock

Stop down the aperture - A low aperture will make the sun's rays look clearer and give it a starburst effect.

© Shutterstock

Sunrise/sunset app - Download a sunrise/sunset app and you'll never miss a sunset again!

© iStock

Don't use the sunset mode on your camera - This is an automatic mode, which will not allow you to have creative control over aperture and shutter speed for instance.

© Shutterstock

Don't focus on the clouds - The focus point works best around one-third of the way up on the photo. 

© Shutterstock

LCD appear darker - Your image may look darker on your camera's LCD. Until you've seen it on a computer screen, it's safer to trust the histogram.

© Shutterstock

Try shooting in HDR - Shooting in High Dynamic Range (HDR) will affect the ratio of light to dark in your pictures. This feature can even be found in smartphones.

© Shutterstock

Use a graduated neutral density filter - This will darken the sky and allow the landscape to have enough light. It will give your pictures a more dramatic effect too!

© iStock

Shoot RAW - If you want to get the most of all the editing tools you have at your disposal, RAW is the format you want to be shooting your sunsets.

© Shutterstock

Use the landscape picture style (if you don't shoot RAW) - If you shoot in JPEG, don't forget to change your picture style/mode to landscape. 

© Shutterstock

Shoot in aperture priority - When capturing a sunset, shoot in aperture priority with exposure compensation. You can then switch to manual mode and play around with all those amazing colors after the sun sets.

© Shutterstock

Rainy days -

Some of the best sunset photos are taken in the evenings of rainy days. If the sky starts to open up, it's your cue to go out and take some pictures.

See also: Photography tips from Annie Leibovitz

© Shutterstock