Tips For Beginner Photographers

So you are interested in photography? Here are 5 things that I wish I knew sooner!

1. You are going to be terrible in the beginning but that is okay. I remember making silly mistakes and being so upset with myself. But you have to get through the bad in order to make it to the good. So don’t give up. Instead keep taking pictures as often as you can!

2. Continue learning. YouTube is the best. Depending on the type of photography that you want to do, find a Facebook group with other photographers. There are beginners groups, advanced groups, lifestyle groups, maternity groups, etc. I personally didn’t join the beginners groups just because they are not as active and I felt the criticism was not as constructive. If you are joining the advanced group, be aware that they are not always gentle but you will learn tons. Take a class. It can be through your community college or online. I took a class through John A. Logan. The class really helped challenge me. Do an online challenge. There are tons out there to choose from. Here is a milk bath challenged I tried years ago! It was challenging and I learned a lot. Shoots like this helped me gain experience and confidence!

3. Create a place where you can view all your pictures. This will help you get a sense of your style. I initially created a private Instagram account. It allowed me to better understand my style and the type of photography that I wanted to do. This also helped me see my progress as my photography got better.

4. When it comes to photography there are so many avenues: Pet, Wedding, Family, Newborn, Landscape, ect. Most photographers typically pick one or two areas to focus on. I initially tried to master all the avenues which was a mistake because there is too much to learn, and it is confusing for clients. For example, pet photography and wedding photography are so different. Your clients are different. You camera settings and lens are vastly different. I highly encourage you to focus on one or two that you can master.

5. Take it slow. Don’t jump into it too quickly. I made the mistake of trying to become a business right away. This caused me a ton of stress, and it was clear to my clients at the time that I didn’t know what I was doing. If I could do it again, I would definitely focus on honing in on my skills before I ever charged.

6. I know there are 500 other photographers that just popped up since you started reading this blog, but there is only one of you. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Don’t try to be like anyone else. Your perspective is unique, so even if there are others, don’t worry about them. Focus on you.

I hope this is helpful, and good luck on your journey!

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My Style Of Photography