Everyone is a photography savant when it comes to taking out our hi-tech mobile devices and pressing the shutter button on a touchscreen. We even know the ins and outs of basic photo editing… Oooh! Sepia! But what about using an actual camera? Manual film and digital cameras require a little more know-how than your average smartphone. Not to mention that if you are just starting your photography hobby, you may not even know what devices to invest in.
For all you shutterbugs looking to be the next Ansel Adams or Steve McCurry, here are 10 tips for getting started in photography:
- Expensive equipment is not always best.
Taking great photographs isn’t about having a $5,000 new camera, as is clear from the many excellent photos being passed around the web today from the simplest smartphones. However, there is a difference in quality with a device purposed for photographs versus one that merely includes a camera feature. Look for a happy medium.
- Invest in a tripod and camera case.
Instead of investing all of your money in the camera itself, set some of your budget aside for a tripod and/or camera case. A tripod can increase picture clarity, especially if you suffer from shaking heads. And a camera case will protect your device. Even if you buy a previously used camera, it’s still the source for your hobby and should be protected.
- Experiment with camera settings.
Just like with a camera feature on a cell phone, cameras include dozens (if not hundreds) of settings and tools to aid the photographer. There is no shame in experimenting with these functions. Even if you produce a blurry photo, it’s a learning process to understand which combinations take the best shots under specific circumstances (lighting conditions, subject matter, etc.).
- Keep your camera with you at all times.
Even while you are still learning about your camera, carry it with you – to work, class, on vacation. You never know when the perfect shot will present itself. Better to be prepared than to lose an opportunity!
- Exploit free resources.
The web is a virtually limitless playground for learning about your new photography hobby. From tips and tricks to ideas for shots or suggestions on lenses, set some time aside to research how to be the best photographer you can be.
- Don’t expect perfection.
It can be frustrating to visualize the perfect shot – the sun is hitting your subject at just the right angle, the colors are appealing, leading lines draw in the eye – and then see the image fall flat of expectation. Try not to become discouraged. Even the greatest photographers have shots that don’t turn out initially. Failed attempts are opportunities to reassess and try again.
- There’s no such thing as too many shots.
When you become inspired to take out your camera, keep the lens cap off and your finger clicking away. It’s easy to turn out a crummy photo when you only take one, especially with motion photography. Try several positions for various angles, light patterns, and arrangements. The same is true of settings. Change settings within a shoot to produce differing tones and clarities. A typical shoot may generate anywhere from 30-80 shots of the same subject.
- Mundane objects may not be so mundane after all.
You’re probably excited to start taking professional photographs of amazing landscapes and motion shots of your friends or sporting events, but it’s not a bad idea to start off using mundane objects as a subject matter. It can be tough to get excited about photographing a bowl of fruit, but with this sort of mundane subject matter you can control the environment and take your time adjusting for a great shot.
- Learn the basic rules.
Ever notice how some photos easily draw you in with a sort of magical essence that others lack? It’s not magic – it usually has to do with understanding the mechanics of the human brain. Artists and photographers have generated a series of simple rules that create more attractive pieces: the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing just to name a few.
- Emulate styles and shots you like.
Say you admire Ansel Adams – plan a vacation to Yosemite National Park and take a few dozen black and white landscapes. By comparing your aesthetic to those you admire, you will learn what works and what doesn’t.
Starting a photography hobby need not be expensive or complicated. Follow your instincts, practice, experiment, and never give up! When you finally produce one or a whole collection of photographs that do justice to your artistic eye, print them out and head to Frame Warehouse for the perfect mat and frame to showcase your hard work and dedication!
