If photography is your true passion and you are determined to become a great photographer shooting photos that truly inspire, you may be wondering what makes an exceptional photographer. It takes more than just natural talent.
To become a first-class photographer you’ll need to master both technical and creative skills. This means that in addition to knowing the ins and outs of your camera’s features, you also need to understand how to capture a scene that channels a strong feeling.
Let’s take a closer look at seven tried-and-true tips on how to hone your photography skills.
Master the basics
Use all available resources to learn as much as you can about all aspects of good photography. For starters, go old school and take advantage of photography books. They are filled with in-depth information and useful suggestions regarding important photography elements like lighting, composition, and color.
Don’t forget to put social media to use too! YouTube tutorials and videos combined with books can help you get a better grasp of your camera’s different modes and settings.
Take control of focus
Understanding how to get a sharp, clear focus on the subject is vital when you want to up your photography skills. Focusing your lens properly is one of the key factors in taking stunning sharp photos people will admire.
You can opt to tell your camera what to focus on every time for more creative photography or allow it to guess what to put in focus with a single-point autofocus mode.
For moving objects try the Continuous or AI Servo feature. With these amazing features on, your camera will track the focus of a moving subject.
Also, to capture a perfect, clear picture, consider getting a tripod.
Know your lighting
Understanding how lighting works is crucial in photography. Lighting has the power to make or break your shot, so take time to experiment with different lighting situations and learn what works best. To hone your photography skills, you’ll need to go beyond taking advantage of the golden hour.
Sometimes referred to as the magic hour too, the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset provide a stunningly soft and warm glow and the perfect opportunity to take captivating photos.
But, great photographers also know how to capture stunning photos of the backlit subjects and shoot in the mid-day sun too.
So, go out and learn to use every type of light to your advantage.
Enroll in a photography course
Nothing can beat undertaking a well-put-together training. Instead of wandering and slowly learning from mistakes, formal training is provided by experts in a field who have structured it with the most relevant and up-to-date information in mind.
Also, it is crafted to lead you from the basics to advanced levels at an adequate pace.
Photography courses in Sidney are the perfect example. Their courses and workshops are taught by award-winning, passionate professionals. Under their guidance, you’ll master taking high-quality digital images quickly and effortlessly.
And you get to choose between a comprehensive beginner’s course, pro training, private sessions, or a quick, half-day photography essentials workshop designed as the introduction to the exciting world of digital photography.
Play with different angles
Experiment with angles, and don’t settle for photos taken while you’re standing at a comfortable distance, with your subject straight in front of you. Most beginners stick to shooting from the eye level, but it results in photos with a generic look.
Take photos of the same subject from different angles, from above, or from a ground level. Try twisted angles and shoot far to one side or the other.
Photographing things from a different perspective can make your work more exciting. Play with varying perspectives and you will get interesting results that people don’t get to witness so often.
This is what will set you apart from dozens of other photographers.
Make the most of your camera
This one is important to emphasize. You don’t necessarily need expensive and fancy equipment to capture beautiful photos. Henri Carter-Bresson, a famous photojournalist is proof. He rose to fame with a hand-held 35-mm.
The trick is to make the most of the camera that you’ve got. Start with carefully reading the camera’s user manual as it contains important information that will help you learn to take better photos.
Apply the things you’ve learned, and try out what your camera, its buttons, and its settings can do. Practice and make mistakes until you know exactly what every button is for.
This is a surefire way to perfect your photography skills.
Practice, practice, and practice some more
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can move on to applying what you’ve learned. Remember, knowledge is only the first step on your journey to becoming a great photographer. With constant practice, you are sure to become the master of your craft.
