When we first decide to get a little serious about taking pictures, it can get overwhelming looking at all the information and amazing photos on the internet. 
I’m here to tell you to stop thinking so much! Yes, there is a lot to learn, but you don’t have to wait, you start by taking photos, and work at getting better over time. To get you started, here are 7 tips for beginning photographers.
Tip #1 – Use what you have
The best camera to use, is the one you have with you. It won’t matter if it’s your cell phone, a point and shoot, or a fancy DSLR. Start with what you have, and learn all you can with it.
Learn everything you can, and when you feel limited by your equipment, you can move up to the next level. There are professionals who are making money today, using their cell phones. Can they do everything that a DSLR can do? No, but they can do a lot…
One of my cousins shared her portfolio with me a few weeks ago, all of it on and with her cell phone. Her shots were very good! There were somethings I would have done, if I had my camera with me, but she has a great natural eye for the art around her. One of these days, she may want to move to a DSLR, or she may become an I-Phone star. For now, she’s making great art, and so can you!
Tip #2 – Be prepared
Carry your camera with you everywhere. Make sure the batteries are charged I’m here to tell you to stop over thinking it. Yes, there is a lot we can learn, but you don’t have to wait, you can start taking good photos right away, and work at getting better over time. To get you started, here are 7 tips for beginning photographers.and you have room on the card for your photos. If you aren’t prepared, you WILL miss some great shots, and you’ll regret it.
Tip #3 – Take photos everyday
Practice, practice, practice. If you are looking for inspiration, try one of the 30 day challenges on Pinterest, where they give you a different topic everyday for a month (like this one). The point is, it will take time to develop a photographers “eye.” Give it some time and after awhile, you will “see” the shots around you that you are missing today. You will have an idea how you would take that shot and what your set up would be. This is the fastest way to get better, practice!
Tip #4 – Take more than one shot
I don’t mean just take the same shot 2 or 3 times, I mean move around, get closer and fill the frame, move back and include the scene to tell the story. Try different perspectives, from low to the ground, from above (ladder), to the left or right. Often, the second or third perspective will turn out to be your best shot. In the shots below, I much prefer the close up, to the long shot. Which one do you like?
Tip #5 – Be ready to be discouraged
If you share with others, some will tell you you are wasting your time. But you are not doing this for them, its for you, right? So ignore them. When I first started with film, a pro photographer friend told me that he was happy with one or two photos on a roll. If the pros are happy with 1 in 36, why should we expect every shot to be a keeper?
Share the ones you like, not the ones you don’t. Don’t over share the stuff you already know you need to work on. The cabin above, with the tire resting on it, is just not very appealing to me, but I did like the gear hanging on the corner, so that’s the one in my portfolio.
Tip #6 – Find a mentor
If you can, find a professional, or a really good amateur to help you, and give honest feedback. This can really accelerate your learning. But be prepared to hear some hard things from time to time. Ask what you could change to make your shots better. Ask what you are missing. Look at 500 Pics and Pixoto to see some really great photos to get you inspired and see what others are doing.
Tip #7 – Have fun!
This is the most important tip of all. Have fun. Take your best shots, share them and learn from them. Getting up early to shoot the morning mist, or staying up late to capture fireworks, is fun for me. Find out what type of photos you like, and have fun learning to be great at photography. Share your shots on Flickr and Pixoto (the more you comment on others work, the more they will return the “favor”).
I hope this helps you to get started. Photography is a lot of fun, and you can capture a lot of family memories this way.
What do you think, have I missed something, or do you have a comment to share? Leave a comment, or ask me a question. I would love to be able to help you along your journey.
Dan
Related Posts:
Composition: Creating Frames Within Frames – How to bring focus and add interest to your photos