10 Realistic Tips to Be a Better Photographer
Let’s get started with some tips to make you a better photographer. There’s no “order” of things to do to get better. Mix and match and play around with some of them and you should start to see progress.
1. Spark a “Photography Conversation”
You probably know that you’re not the best photographer in the world, and if you’re looking to achieve that status, you’re going to need a little help. Unless the people you run into are extremely mean, you will probably luck out with this tip. Asking anyone you see that has a camera questions about photography is not only a great conversation starter that will probably get you some new friends, it can also lead to valuable advice. People around you take pictures all the time and I’m sure if you ask politely, they’ll be willing to spill the beans on their techniques and tips. You don’t have to ask tourists at Disney how to take better photos but if you see someone carrying a nicer looking camera (an indicator of their interest in the field), it should be a safe bet that they’ll be willing to talk.
2. Read and Apply
Books and magazines are a great way to keep up to date on new camera gear and tips for the hobby. There are probably more magazines than you can imagine about photography and even more books in regards to the field. Head over to your local bookstore and see if they carry either. I can almost guarantee that they do. The people that write for these magazines have been taking photos for a long time and their tips and tricks are an invaluable tool in your arsenal. Don’t sit and read the whole thing in one sitting either. Read a bit and practice. You’ll retain all of the information much better if you practice what you were taught and then move on to the next thing.
3. Experiment with Lighting
Now that you’re taking photos of everything you may notice that when you upload your photos to your computer or go down to have them printed out, the lightning may be off in some of them. There are happy mediums of light for any given exposure and in your experimenting you may end up with some very poorly lit photos. But in the end, it’s all worth it. You can try by buying some standup lights for your setup shots in a studio or in your home or practicing with a reflector that will bounce natural light up on the subject’s face or region that needs to be photographed. There are plenty of online tools that can help you figure out what you need to better light your photos and just playing around with different light angles and filters can help you get a better feel for how a photo should turn out.
4. Set Up a Studio
Now, let’s go into this whole “Be a better photographer” thing with the idea that you’re not looking to be a professional. But, even if you’re not wanting to take photography all the way to the point where you can quit your day job, you should still have a little professionalism in your hobby. Setting up a studio in your house or apartment is a great way to start understanding photography techniques. It doesn’t have to be anything big, just a backdrop (or multiple) and some lights that you can move around at will.
5. Avoid Overpriced Gear
Some people want to be photographers so badly that they think their current camera is a piece of junk and can’t do what they need. Wrong. The camera you have now is probably sufficient to get you by with what you’re looking to do. More often than not, ‘wannabe’ photographers go out and buy the most expensive Nikon or Sony they can find just because they think it will somehow make them better. While you may look cooler when walking around town with it, better gear does not make you a better photographer. Experience does. So put the notion out of your head that you need the most expensive lenses and camera bodies because some guy in a low-budget no-name camera store told you so.
6. Buy Better Gear
OK, the question that just popped into your head was “What the hell?” No, I’m not completely crazy. I know that the previous tip just told you to avoid buying new gear because you think you need it. Well that fact of the matter is, while you should avoid overpriced gear when you’re just starting out, at some point in time you’re going to need to ramp up your game. The low-level entry cameras that you buy from your local Wal-Mart and Best Buy are not going to hold you over if you want to get serious about this hobby. By all means hone your craft before you start looking to spend hundreds of dollars on a lens but if you’re already at the point where you need to start getting better photos out of your gear, it’s time for an upgrade. Companies like B and H Photo based out of New York City are a great resource for any photographer.
7. Take Criticism
One of the hardest things to do no matter what hobby or field you’re in is to take criticism. No one takes it well, I know. But it’s an essential part of growing as a photographer. Take some of the work you’ve done and post it on social sites like Facebook or Flickr. This will open you up to a much larger audience that can then tell you what they like and don’t like about a particular piece. Analyze the ones they do like and see what it is about those that makes them stand out. Take all of the elements of critique and areas of interest to your viewers and see if you can hone in on those in particular. This will help you get an eye for what you should be looking for in the lens.
8. Study Form
While you may be opposed to “corporate America” and how there is an ad around every corner in the subway station or on every billboard down the highway, you can actually learn something from all of this advertising. The photos that make it into our everyday life have more of an impact than you would care to think about. But what makes these photos “pop?” Take a look next time you’re waiting for a train or driving down the road. These photos had enough of an impact that a company was willing to put them all across the country for everyone to see. There must be something about them that makes them special.
9. Photo Editing
While photos in their raw form can often be the most beautiful, a lot of magic happens in post-production. Programs like Adobe Photoshop or even the free software, GIMP, can work wonders can take place after a photo has been uploaded to your computer. A lot of photos that you love and admire are more than likely products of post-production. It may sadden you to learn that the beauty you’re trying to achieve through a photo may actually only be possible to get when you sit down and edit the hell out of it. Imperfections are easily fixed and depending on whether or not you want to start a career in photography, you may have to “stoop down to their level.” Learning how to properly edit photos from great to fabulous is an art form in itself.
10. Be Yourself
Above all else, just be yourself when you’re taking photos. Don’t try to pretend that you’re a famous photographer that you’re not. Your art and expression will shine through even if you’re not the most well known photographer on the planet. Take pride in your work and work hard towards the ultimate goal of being better but don’t lose sight and give up just because your first photos are terrible. It takes time and if you take the time to enjoy what you’re doing, your photographic skills will increase ten-fold.
Those were some tips that will help you get started in the field of photography. If you have any that you would like to add, feel free to drop a comment below.
