Tips for any beginner in photography

So you decided to enter the world of photography? Bought a camera chose some places to visit. And then the question is: And now where do I start?

Good here are some tips that can work any beginner in photography.

Tips for any beginner in photography.

You look at the photograph above and how every beginner thinks it’s easy to make a photo like this right? Well it’s actually not that simple but I can’t say it’s impossible either.

And I’m going to try to give you a hint that you’re starting in this really cool world of photography.

What equipment to buy?

Your equipment doesn’t make you a good photographer.

If you’re getting the top of the top-of-the-line cameras it’s going to be a nightmare for any photography beginner, aside from the fact that somehow it can be a nice waste of money and can get in the way of your learning.

It’s like having a Formula One car without knowing how to drive.

When buying your first equipment the main rule is research and research.

It is very useful to take a look at photography forums and blogs to get an idea of what is available on the market. And in many blogs there are great tips for any beginner in photography.

Once you find something that sounds feasible and compatible with your budget read comments take another look at the forums and blogs, Flickr usually has great discussion groups about equipment from various brands.

The same can be applied to lenses and other equipment such as flashs and lighting in general.

Take a lot of pictures, lots of pictures anyway.

“Your first TEN THOUSAND PHOTOGRAPHS will be your worst photographs.”

Just like any other skill, the more you use it the better it will get.

As you progress with photography you’ll notice that those beginner photos you usually take, and thought are fabulous, will go better over time.

Be sure to study other arts or see work from other photographers.

As time goes by, you’ll see that Mr. Henri Cartier-Bresson who had the phrase at the beginning wasn’t so wrong.

Read the damn manual

Manuals in general, especially cameras, are at best the most boring thing you’ve ever read, or will read, in life.

Reading the manual can give you vary, if not all, the clues you need to know about your new equipment.

Even if you don’t remember everything, and it doesn’t really matter much, you can learn a lot of useful stuff.

The best strategy to get the whole manual is to lelo in small portions preferably, and always leave it where you pose pick it up and even get away from it with ease.

It may seem like a joke, but the best place to do this is the bathroom.

Courses and workshops

At this point you should already have all the symptoms of those who have been bitten by the critter of the photograph. So nothing better than improving your knowledge.

One thing that can help you long before you leave spending a lot of money on expensive workshops and courses is to look for courses that cost zero.

And one of the best I can indicate is the photography course of the site Alison.com. 

In this relatively short course you just have to invest your time and be able to understand a little bit of the English language.

On the other hand just like you did to find your new camera by looking into blogs, you will also find tons of material for your learning.

See also more about tips and courses here

Make friends, meet other photographers.

This is invaluable, whether you sign up for an online group that use your camera brand, or join a local camera club, your photography will move faster, and will be more fun with the help of fellow shutterbugs.

Camera clubs often have monthly competitions with practice and sometimes organize external events to photograph, go to exhibitions and other activities.

Talking to experienced photographers or even beginner companions can not only inspire you, but also keep you motivated.

Subscribe to some reputable photography bulletins and Facebook pages, or even addressing photographers you admire to ask questions.

Most professional photographers don’t mind answering a few questions, as long as you’re respectful and polite, and don’t fill up too much of it!.

One of the photography communities I point out and which has many good photographers of all levels is the 500px.com.

Try it all out

You may have entered this world of photography because of a specific style of photography, but it is totally valid to try other styles, challenge yourself and get out of comfort point.

Get feedback

Your friends and family love you most of the time, so their opinion doesn’t count, they’re going to lie to you. So sign up for some community where you can post your photos and get feedback from strangers.

Enter free competitions

On the internet there are a lot of photography competitions that do not give prizes, but also do not charge you anything, look for one of these and see how far everything you have learned takes you. Maybe you’re not surprised by the result.

Get out of automatic

If you intend to be a photographer, not just a photo taker, you in some will have to break free from the chains of manual mode.

Manual adjustments are not as difficult as you might think, it will be like learning to drive.

At first you will have a little difficulty to manage all the settings and buttons of your machine, but with a little patience and practice becomes second nature.

Reveal your photos.

Revealing your photos doesn’t exactly mean printing them, but giving that really nice final deal. Today there are great programs to do this job, so there is no excuse.

There are free and very simple programs, such as Picasa, which have their limits, but are good for those who are starting out.

Then there are the big weapons like Photoshop and Lightroom, which can be difficult for beginners, but it’s worth learning even just the basics of these programs if you plan to take your photography seriously this is a point to follow.

Have fun

This is the best and most important of the tips for any beginner in photography, enjoy what you are doing.

Never let yourself be carried away by frustration, or by comparing yourself to other professionals. Even the best photographers in the world have been beginners one day.

Enjoyed? Leave your comment!