5 things I Would tell any beginner photographer
Photography, along with many other pursuits, is most definitely a journey - and in my case a particularly slow one. Believing the game is as simple as picking up a decent quality camera and pushing a button is an easy trap to fall into, and it's not long before this naive approach will lead to a lack of interest for a myriad of reasons from no coherent style to the frustration that your photos aren't at the level of many others in the field. There's no shame in feeling this way though, and for years I was very much in the same boat; refusing to take onboard the advice of others nor investing the time to work out why my progress was almost non-existent.
Despite this though, my experience has allowed me to look back clearly on certain milestones and lessons which have shifted my approach to ultimately produce far better photos than the ones I was taking when starting out. If you're looking for hacks and go-to settings this probably isn't the post for you, but if you're just starting to get into the craft and have an open mind, then I'm hoping that by digesting these five pieces of advice you'll be far better equipped than I was and will be on the fast-track to becoming the photographer you wish you were.
Of course there is so much more that could be discussed, but these are the some of the main points I wish I had been told as a beginner:
Stop Focusing on the Gear
This is certainly easier said than done, especially as photography stems from our technological choices. With frequent releases, branding, and a closer connection to both of these through things like influencer marketing (online creators for example), it's even more difficult to escape the feeling that the system and lenses you're using aren't good enough. Nevertheless one of the most beneficial and relieving actions you can take as a beginner/intermediate photographer is to detach yourself from this superficial rabbit hole.
Although there are probably more, I mainly found that this interest in gear can have two major limiting factors when it comes to our progress as creatives. Despite cameras, lenses, and accessories all obviously falling under the umbrella of photography, an overbearing interest in them doesn't result in creation and therefore doesn't result in any of us honing our skills. In fact what's worse is that because we do subconsciously associate the two, things like reviews or online shopping may make us feel like we're actively engaging with the craft, when in reality our recent photos are very few and far between.
Secondly, and perhaps the better instance out of the two as it implies getting out there and shooting, is that a heightened fascination into camera gear can lead photographers away from being accountable for their own actions. There will always be a better set up out there than the one you own, so it's easy to say that your out of focus, over exposed, grainy photo would be perfect if you simply had your dream camera in hand rather than taking the time to understand what results in an effective final image. In reality any modern camera system has the power to take stunning photos, with those at the top end providing marginally better results for those in the pursuit of (albeit subjective) perfection. Don't get caught up or disheartened in chasing the newest and 'best' models, instead chase a skillset that won't become outdated.
Bonus Tip: Perhaps on the contrary to everything I've just said, if you simply can't shake the tech bug then I'd suggest doing your best to actually obtain the system that's constantly caught your eye. Of course don't go too overboard, as no one likes an 'all the gear no idea' kind of person, but this should put an end to the distraction of equipment and motivate you to fully focus on photography. This is speaking from experience too, as when I went from my Sony a6300 to the A7RIII (admittedly with a decent set of lenses) my interest in gear reviews and the like pretty much died overnight. The camera was no longer a toy or something to fixate upon, but now merely a tool with which to produce photos with - an expensive tool mind you.
Be Patient & Say Yes
Personally, if there's a main link between my mindset and progress in photography, it would be centred on a committed approach to getting the shots I want. Originally I was very much a casual 'one and done' shooter, rocking up to a location hoping that the 'spot' I was in would do the heavy lifting, and if a cinematic/photogenic moment unfolded in front of me then that would be considered an added bonus.
Now there's much to be said about the whole photography location/spot subject, so much so I've actually already written a blog post on it, but here I more want to stress the basic but significant principle that the more serious you take your shooting, the more serious(ly good) your photos will turn out. Fall in love with the creative process by analysing the environment around you, imagining a composition in your head, and being present enough to either notice when all the elements of that thought are falling into place, or if other interesting scenes are occurring in front of the lens.
This of course will take longer, and may involve a few sacrifices such as shooting alone to not annoy the non-photographers in your life, but simply investing time into the final result will almost inevitably create a better one. The good thing too is that the more you do this, the quicker and more natural it will be to analyse the scenes around you - imagine Spider Sense but a more boring photography version.
Say yes to waiting it out for the perfect light. Say yes to waking up a bit earlier to take advantage of quieter streets. Say yes to returning to the same place in order to nail the shot you want. Say yes to better photos.
be Trigger Happy
Linked to this idea of 'nailing the shot' is funnily enough something that could actually end up saving you time while ensuring the best results possible. As alluded to in the subheading, this is shooting in some form of burst mode, and the benefits again are two-fold.
The first is the most obvious that by taking multiple shots of the same composition then we're eliminating, or at least drastically reducing, the chances of our photos being out of focus or just not right in some way. Even if you've taken onboard the previous point of advice of taking more photos, the smaller screen size of our cameras and the excitement of shooting can lead us to believe the shots are exactly how we imagined them - only to find out in-post that that isn't the case. Of course there's a lot more to ensuring high quality photos, but this is just one easy way to bypass an early obstacle and focus on shots that actually impress, rather than doing what I used to do and selecting photos to edit/share simply based on how sharp they were.
On that note then, a burst can also be used to add the cherry on top of what could already be a well put together and clean shot. Whilst patience can allow for better planning and better/more photo-worth moments to occur, these moments can often only last a few seconds - especially if you're more focused on reality or seek to demonstrate some form of motion in your photos. Moreover, there are things that can even happen too quickly that wouldn't cross our minds - let me explain with this shot from Porto.
Composition wise, a willingness to explore led to me finding this beam of light on this building, while patience allowed me to work out where to stand to capture it best. Nevertheless it was via burst mode that not only ensured the gentleman would be right where I wanted him to be, but the higher speed of shooting meant I could freeze him mid-stride for that added sense of authenticity. This might mean upgrading to a slightly larger and faster SD card, but it'll be worth it.
learn your Apertures
Okay this is possibly the most boring piece of advice I can give, so I'll try to keep it short. Understanding the exposure triangle (Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO) may suck all the fun out of photography, but a basic understand is at least vital to moving forward in the field. When you do grasp it though this craft will no longer seem like a science lesson anyway. The good news though is that although shooting AUTO is considered blasphemous, the majority (don't quote me on that) of photographers use the next step up of Aperture Priority mode. Why? Well this is the element that will most likely define your photo - assuming you're shooting in typically good lighting conditions*.
I'm going to be persecuted for the absolute bro-science approach I take towards apertures, but fortunately I can get away with it given my style of shooting*. Opt for f2.8 when focusing more on an individual subject, but don't be too scared as a wider lens or further shooting distance will also do okay at capturing the wider scene. Go between f4-6 when seeking to shoot a wider composition that may still have individual elements to focus more on. Then f7-10 for really big landscape shots in which you're wishing to have as much clarity across the board as possible. As with anything this isn't set in stone, but it's a methodology that's served me pretty well.
*If you're reading this and trying to shoot at night or wish to shoot things like long exposures then that's the equivalent of jumping in the deep end without being able to swim
** In a similar vein I've gone from f2.8 as that's just what's realistic. If you're reading this with a prime lens (except from the budget friendly 50mm f1.8) then you are literally a case of all the gear no idea
Just Do It
I'm ending things with the funnest bit of advice possible, and god knows we need it after all those numbers in the previous one. That advice is to simply get out there and shoot.
You can watch all the videos and read all the articles like this one you want, but a bank of photography theory will never be a substitute for real experience with a camera in hand. Not everything you shoot needs to be shared, and therefore doesn't need to define your work into a single niche. For instance I developed my skills and passion starting in lockdown by going on photo walks and even taking shots of trainers I'd bought -something you won't see on any of the platforms I post to. As with anything the more hours you put in, the better the results will be over time - which if anything involves striking a balance between being both active and patient to keep that creative flame burning.
On a deeper level this can be seen as a form of manifestation and becoming the person you want to become. There's no point nor proof to you saying you're a photographer or interested in photography, if you barely engage with the practice or have a non-existent collection of work to show for it. If you want to be a photographer, get out there and take some f***ing photos.
