Horace said; “He who has started well, he is in the middle of the work.”
This is true in all areas, also in photography.
Looking back, I would have liked someone to guide me when I started my adventure of photos.
If that had been the case, it would have saved me a lot of errors, and a lot of testing time that didn’t work. In short, it would have been in the middle of the work, much earlier.
So why don’t I help you get off to the best start?
How about I give you the eight photography tips I would have paid for when I started?
Well, let’s get to it!
My photography tips for beginners
- The image is the basis
- Define your plan
- Value your time
- Simple is better
- The camera is your best friend
- Do not seek to be good, but different
- Being professional can wait
- Don’t get carried away by the customer
Photography Tips For Beginners
And there I was, in some station in New York, with a camera that I didn’t control at all and taking some meaningless photos… but I liked it.
This was almost ten years ago (what a time when I even had hair), and since then I have made progress and discovered a lot along the way.
I have tried, I have failed and I have learned, above all, I have learned.
But it would have been much better if someone had told me where to go and what to do in those moments of doubt.
And so that it doesn’t happen to you too, here are eight tips on photography that will come in handy to start your journey and will prepare you for your photographic life.
The image is the basis
Just like the taste is the base of the chef.
In photography, you have to focus on the image.
Once you start taking photos, you will see that your way of seeing the world changes completely. If you are like me, you study every detail, you will learn something new from everything you look at.
The secret is that every photo you see, every movie, every landscape… has something to teach you. You can learn things from everything around you, from lighting to composition, lines, and shapes… Take advantage of it.
Define your plan
When I started with photography, I wasn’t very clear about where I wanted to go.
The truth is that I didn’t think I should have a plan, I just took all the photos I could and tried to improve.
And this is good, but the sooner you decide what you want to do, the faster you will get there.
For example, I realized that I wanted to dedicate myself to food photography after many years of taking photos. If I had defined my future plan earlier, now I would have several years ahead.
Value your time
Time is something you can’t buy, so it’s the most important thing you have.
In the beginning, it is normal not to give value to your work time, because it is thought that, since you are not a professional, you do not deserve it. But this is a very big mistake.
The most common mistake is not valuing your time enough, so you end up working a lot for little money.
When you have to decide how much your time is worth, think that it is not only taking the photos but also preparing the project and editing them, something that can take even more time than the session itself.
Simple is better
Every photographer in his early days (me included), is dragged by the “the more the merrier”.
But in photography, the more information there is, the worse it is going to be.
This is the main reason that many photographs fail. There is no clear subject, the view is distracted and the photography becomes crazy.
So, simplify your work and you will win. Because, as the architect, Mies Van Der Rohe said, “less is more”.
The camera is your best friend
As in any profession, knowing your work tool is essential.
I remember taking pictures without knowing what I was really doing for a long time.
This is ultimately a problem because there will be photos that will lose quality due to not having selected the appropriate parameters.
Therefore, the first thing you have to do with your new camera is read the manual and know every detail of it.
Then, take photos and more photos, so that you know their behavior and know what is the best option in each situation.
Do not seek to be good, but different
There is a big difference between “good” and “different”.
If you pursue being good, you’re usually going to be following in someone’s footsteps. And generally, this someone is going to be better than you.
If you seek to be different, if you seek new paths and unique things, you will be creating your own steps and your own style. Also, you will start to be good at yours without realizing it.
People are tired of seeing only good photographers… You need to be different.
The example that I always like to give is the photographer Brandon Woelfel. Photographers who take photos of girls, there are many. That they use lights and colors like him, no.
Being professional can wait
I understand that you want to fulfill your dream and earn money as soon as possible, but be patient.
The professional photography industry can be tough, especially if you have no experience with clients.
Your image is always at stake, but more so when money is involved. There are clients (especially the most serious ones) who are not going to accept certain things, and this is something that you will learn with experience.
Therefore, it is important to take it easy and not want to go from amateur to professional in a short time.
Don’t get carried away by the customer
If a client is looking for you, it is because he needs you to solve his problem.
To do this, they want someone to do a great image job, YOU.
Sometimes you will meet clients who will trust your work to solve their problems. Other times, you will find someone who thinks they know what they need and how to make it perfect, but they don’t.
There will be clients who tell you how you have to do your job. Simply impose your criteria (gently, always). The creative and knowledgeable person is you.
If you are good enough to be called, you are also good enough to carry the address of work.
Of course, these are just some of the photography tips that would have come in handy, but they are not the only ones.
The world of photography gives a lot. If you want to delve a little deeper into this matter, then join the best photography workshops to learn more about photography.
