TeamIf you’re starting to learn about photography, you could use these 8 useful tips for beginner photography to make sure that you shoot great photos. Don’t make learning about photography a boring task though. There are some things that you need to know, but once you know the rules, you’re allowed to break them. You will learn a lot simply through experience, but here are some things that you should know first:
1. Dedicate enough time to photo composition.
The way the visual elements are arranged is your photo composition, and you need to make sure that you dedicate enough time to it. Put thought into the composition and remove any distractions. A good photo should have a sense of simplicity and balance, so try to achieve that. If it doesn’t work out the first time, try again, and keep in mind that you should always take several photos anyway. Learn about the rule of thirds because it can help you compose good photos. Imagine a grid over your photo with two horizontal and two vertical lines that divide the photo into 9 equal sections. Follow the rule of thirds by placing your subject along one of these lines or where they intersect. Some cameras have the option to display this grid for you, so you don’t have to imagine it.
2. Don’t immediately buy expensive photography gear.
Photography gear has gotten insanely good, and you would need a big budget to afford the best equipment. However, don’t rush with investing money into photography. There were great photographers before any of this equipment existed, and most of today’s gear is just fine even though there are more expensive options for slightly better quality. One of the useful tips for beginner photography is to use the camera that you already have instead of buying better gear. Once your photography skills get better you can consider investing in your talent, but as long as you have the talent you can make amazing pictures with any equipment.
3. Learn about the important settings.
You should know about your camera’s important settings, so don’t just use full Auto. Your camera shouldn’t make the decisions, you should, so set it properly. Some of the most important settings are ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. You should also use different autofocus and shoot in RAW instead of JPG.
4. Understand the importance of light.
Light is very important in photography, so one of the useful tips for beginner photography is to truly understand this importance. Always see if you can move the subject or the light source to create a better photo. Try to balance the intensity of the light between the background and your subject. Notice the softness and the direction of the light. Most importantly, find enough light by moving somewhere else or using flash because your photos won’t be good if there’s not enough light.
5. Keep moving.
Move as much as possible while you’re taking pictures. Walk forward, climb on top of something, walk backward, and do what it takes to take the best picture. You are supposed to take several pictures, and if you take them all while facing the same direction and using the same height, they’ll all look the same. Keep moving and take different pictures instead.
6. Learn about post-processing.
A part of photography is editing and manipulating images after you capture them. Post-processing means that you can change the colors, crop images, and so much more. Learn to use Adobe Lightroom to make sure that your picture turns out the way you imagined them. Don’t ever make permanent changes though. Save edited images as a separate file, and don’t overdo it with post-processing.
7. Make copies.
When you lose your photos, you can’t get them back, and there’s always the danger of losing them if they’re stored only in one place. So, one of the useful tips for beginner photography is to store your photos in three separate places. Make sure that you have access to your photos somewhere else if your hard drive stops working.
8. Take your time, experiment, and have fun.
You can’t take great photos if you’re in a rush. Take your time to create the perfect photo composition, adjust the settings and the light and think things through. Taking a great photo requires you to be patient and persistent. Practice makes perfect, so keep trying again and experiment. As you keep taking photos and experimenting, your photos will get better and better. Don’t forget that photography should be fun and you’re supposed to enjoy it.
