Beginner photographer advices are quite interesting as it gives newcomers insights on what photography brings. Some of these tips are a mix of technical advices or snippets of other photographer's experiences.
New photographers benefit greatly from reading these advices. It removes the need for them to experience things first hand before they determine the right or wrong.
At the same time, these beginner photography tips are a way for seasoned photographers to share their knowledge.
That being said, here are the best advices for beginner photographers out there that we have seen.
Use the gear you have until it holds you back
Starting out with photography is an overwhelming experience. There are hundreds of camera models to choose from. Also, the lens selection is overwhelming.
It is inevitable to go window shopping and think, "I may use this next time" or "I definitely need this." But that is not the case.
Use your gear to its limits. For example, you have a Canon EOS T3i, which is a couple of years old now. It is easy to think that the latest Canon DSLR will outshine your T3i.
But once you discover the capabilities of your camera, you will see that the T3i is more than enough for your needs.
Once you notice that the camera is limiting you, then that is the time for you to go out and shop.
In essence, you can take photos with an ancient gear. Top of the line models, will not provide the best images too. It is YOU who can make the difference.
Ask yourself why you are doing photography
It is easy to go ahead and search about the most advance techniques on Google. With one click, there are thousands of videos and other resources available.
But before you go ahead and do that, take the chance to ask yourself these questions.
- Why do you do photography?
- What do you want to shoot?
- What do you want to convey?
- Why should your audience look at your photograph?
- Why do you want to showcase your photographs?
These questions sound simple. But it helps you focus on what you need to work on.
Do you want your audience to feel emotional after seeing your images? Do you want to win contests? Are you going to do this professionally?
Answer these questions and it will direct you to a blossoming career.
Do not be afraid to fail
Just like any other hobby, failure is part of the learning process. There are times when you are out and you miss the shot. But that is okay.
As a beginner photographer, the best part is you are enjoying the whole photography process. You are out there fiddling with your settings until you take the shot.
If you fail, you can try again. However, you gain knowledge. Then you can go out with your head up high knowing that you learned a valuable lesson.
Try shooting in RAW + JPEG
Shooting in RAW is kind of intimidating for some. And for beginners, it is.
RAW files are larger due to the amount of data it has compared to JPEG images. It is like having all the ingredients to the recipe but you still have to cook it.
Yet once you are done cooking, it will perfectly match your taste.
Taking RAW + JPEG photos take up a lot of space. You should be prepared to have a large capacity card and storage on your computer.
It is also okay to leave the RAW files for now. Once your skill progresses, you can go back to them and practice your editing skills.
Do not always take photos, MAKE them
Take time to plan what kind of photo you want. It also helps to close your eyes and visualize the shot you wanted to take.
Once you have the perfect image in mind, carefully plan everything. Check the time of the day, your camera's settings, the lights, everything.
Otherwise, if you go out and shoot randomly, you will get disappointed.
Why? Because the image on your head looks perfect and you cannot execute it well.
That does not mean it is the end of the world though. As mentioned earlier, accept the failure, then learn from it.
Manual Mode is not everything
There is often the fear of being ridiculed if you do not take photos in manual mode. Though it offers the full control of your cameras, sometimes it is not the best mode.
Do not limit yourself and explore other camera modes such as Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, or even Program mode.
Sometimes it is beneficial to not listen to what other people says. In the end, what matters is you are able to take the image that you want to.
Just enjoy taking photos without worrying about shutter speed, aperture, or ISO. Be in the moment and focus on composition, lighting and your subject.
Always remember that there is a time and place for every camera mode.
Go out and have fun!
These are six of the best beginner photography advices we have seen. Sure, there are a lot more out there that you will read and explore.
Photography is all about having fun and enjoying the process. Remove "fun" in the equation and photography will bore you immediately.
Lastly, continue to read other beginner photography tips online or even videos. It helps a lot in your learning process.