3 Tips for New Photographers

Photography can be a fantastic creative outlet for hobbyists and professionals. When you first get started, it can be daunting to make sure you get everything right. Know that as an artistic medium, that there is no right and wrong when learning how to shoot photographs. Learn what you can as you expose yourself to more situations and consider the following tips to grow as a new shooter. 

1. Equipment Is Not Everything

While there are certain tools available that will be extremely useful like a check stub maker or camera harness, the key to growing as a photographer is in learning to work with the equipment that you already have. There are certain groups of photographers who look at themselves as "gearheads," but when first starting out, the basics are good enough. Something like a versatile DSLR or mirrorless body, one or two lenses, an SD card, a tripod, and a bag to carry it all will be just fine while you learn the core concepts of photography. Do not let yourself get overwhelmed or intimidated by someone's kit because it only takes money to buy new gear, not skill. You can have the nicest camera in the world and still shoot horrible photographs because you do not know how to use it.  

2. Learn Basic Concepts

Learning foundational concepts of photography will give you a base set of skills to build upon as you develop your own style. The Rule of Thirds is one of the first concepts that you should add to your arsenal of photography knowledge. The Rule of Thirds is when you break an image into nine equal quadrants and place the focus of the image in specific spots as dictated by the quadrants. By placing the subject of the image on either one of the two horizontal grid lines or one of the vertical lines, you can create a balanced photograph. Another way to do this is to place the elements on one of the four intersections. 

You should also learn how your camera works. Understand how to control your depth of field by altering your aperture, the size of the hole you shoot through, or how to convey movement by slowing down or speeding up your shutter speed. Some may recommend using your automatic features when you first start, but to really understand the mechanisms of your camera, attempt to shoot in manual as much as you can. This will hone your ability to decide will and will not make a good photograph based on the capabilities of your equipment and the light situation. Once you feel comfortable shooting in manual mode, you can have fun discovering what different automatic settings you have available on your camera. These settings typically provide presets for different situations like aperture priority, shutter priority, portrait, and macro. 

3. Shoot Everything All the Time

When you start your photography journey, bring your camera with you everywhere. This will give you endless opportunities in many different settings to capture your surroundings. When you are first beginning, you will want to try your hand at all different types of subjects. If you are going to a friend's sports game, this would be a great opportunity to learn how to shoot fast-moving subjects. If you go on a hike, this will allow you to create interesting landscapes. Even being around the house can build on your ability in capturing still life. You want to practice as much as you can so you truly hone your ability to get great images and not rely purely on editing to make your images. You will be surprised by the moments that you catch when you are constantly prepared.

Growing as a photographer relies on your enthusiasm to become better. Don't get too caught up in the advanced concepts or expensive equipment, and you can grow as a producer as quickly as you want. Stick with it and you'll eventually be shooting your goal images.