More than ever, people are choosing to become photography experts and most people have found that while they may have had a passion for it pre-COVID, COVID taught us all that hobbies were important. Thus, a passion for photography, creative hobbies and even cooking was born in so many. Getting into photography takes time, investment and a love of capturing something beautiful behind the lens. You can take courses to learn the craft, offer free shoots to practice your skills and ultimately, decide which niche you’d like to focus on. No matter what though, it’s not a simple or easy process to just ‘get into’ photography.
Photography is both art and discipline. You’ll take classes to learn the equipment you need, to do the observation vs inference photo activity that you might have missed out on in school. You’ll learn under the guidance of others how to point and shoot in a way that has meaning, and then edit the images to show off the final, fantastic result. The skills that you bring to the table as a photographer are going to make or break a wedding, a baby photoshoot, a birthday. It comes with a lot of discipline because you have to have the knack for it to be able to say so much in one image. Below, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you to get into photography and feel like you're a part of something amazing.
Before you get started:
Before you get truly on the path as a photographer, you need equipment. Getting into professional photography takes a lot of learning and the equipment that you need to carry you into a professional space is the first thing you’ll learn. Getting the right photography equipment is a small part of the equation as some photographers invest in expensive cameras, and others can do an amazing job with an instant camera. Some professionals take product photos for magazines and others shoot for people. Many photographers across the sphere take the time to research the equipment they need rather than just going for the most expensive stuff on the market.
The camera you pick is just the tool you need to capture an image. Shopping around and learning the differences between DSLR and SLR cameras is important because both of these offer the same basic features. The goal is to get serious, so an entry-level DSLR may be a good plan for the start of your photography journey, but it may not carry you right the way through. Some of the essentials you’ll need include:
The right lenses. You need to have a range of lenses to work with for both short and long range photography. Fixed focal length lenses don't zoom in and out but they can give you that sharp focus.
A tripod. Some photographs will need steady ground to come out, so stabilize and elevate your photography with a tripod. This will help you to support your flash unit and camera.
Speed light. A portable speed light can help you to provide additional lighting to your subject and can ensure balanced exposures for outdoor shoots. This is especially helpful during daytime shoots.
Memory cards. You need to make sure that you have enough memory to shoot the shots you want to shoot and your client wants you to shoot. They’re not too expensive, and it’s so much easier to edit and transfer photos when you have a few memory cards to help.
Cleaning supplies. Your cameras and equipment have the potential to get dirty while you’re out on a shoot so you need soft bristled brushes, wipes and more to ensure that you are enabling optimum functioning.
Backdrops. Are you planning a range of indoor shots? Having backdrops can help you to mix it up and give your clients some choices for the best results possible. Photography backdrops are going to come in a range of styles and materials, and you can use them in every form for the perfect photograph.
Getting into photography:
This hobby is rewarding and exciting and if you’re an enthusiast, you can find your feet in the photography world. As a shutterbug, you’ll get your own business out there into the world and get started learning new skills and challenging yourself with regular projects. Here are some of the ways that you can get into photography:
Get to know your camera. You cannot branch out into this world without a camera you understand. You need to know your trade tools if you want to be successful at it so start reading the manual for your camera and go from there. Learn how to quickly change lenses and assemble and disassemble your camera for maximum results.
Find a mentor. One of the best tips that you can use is finding a mentor who understands you and what you want. You need to succeed and that means surpassing your own expectations. Your mentor will encourage you and guide you in what you’re doing and help you to set goals, get a foot into the right world and provide you with feedback on your craft. It’s not easy to find a mentor right away, though, so you need to really look at your learning and ask for help.
Take a course. You can be a total natural behind the camera but sometimes, having that piece of paper to tell others that you are qualified is going to be even more important than you think. You want to be the best in your career and an education is going to help you with that. Putting in some time and effort, taking a course that resonates with you and staying updated on the latest and greatest trends can really help. The equipment and techniques that you need to learn can all be taught and there are so many options for courses these days.
Learn to see things in a new light. When you are behind a camera, you learn to take the world in a different way. You learn to focus your attention on the technical aspects of the craft and yet there is way more to photography than understanding the technical side of things.
Create a portfolio. With time, you're going to rise from a photography novice to an amateur. If you can get to this level, you're going to get a chance to network, find referrals and gain new contacts, and that's going to help you to get the right skills in place to get your very first clients. You'll achieve more by creating a portfolio online too, because you can showcase your skills. You can accomplish this through blogs, websites, and more platforms. Try marketing brochures too. Creating your portfolio gives you something to communicate your capabilities to potential clients, and it's a great idea to make sure you have this for both personal and professional clients too.
Check your lighting. The lack of light or harsh shadows can really affect the way that your photographs will look. Getting into photography is knowing where you are going wrong when it comes to lighting, so make sure that you keep in mind that the composition of your pictures is going to help you to tell the story better to your clients at the end of the day. Sure, you can edit most things out of bad lighting, but it's a better idea to make sure that you have the right set up in the 1st place rather than having to try and fix work, giving yourself double the work.
Make sure that you have the perfect background for the subject. No matter where the location of your shoot is, you need to have the right background. So if you're shooting in a natural background, then make sure that you have abundant natural light. If you're photographing inside, extra lighting plus the right backdrop can help to bring the subject to the forefront and really enhance the picture in the end. Make sure that you use photography backdrops if you're in the studio because then you can give your client choice as to how their pictures are going to come out.
Practice, practice, practice. To achieve professional status as a photographer, you need to get behind the camera as often as possible. Take the camera with you whether you're on a shoot for a professional client or not. Take it on days out and spend time with it so that you can understand how it works. The better you get with your amateur photography, the better you'll be with your professional clients.
Getting into photography doesn't have to take a long time, but it does take time and patience to get to where you want to be. Start small, get yourself the right equipment and then look for a mentor. Once you're educated, focus yourself on social media to advertise your skills to others.
cool!