Equipment
Start with what you have. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to start out with an expensive camera to take great photos. Your phone and old digital camera are. Even a simple film camera can do the job for you. If you happen to have a disposable camera lying around, that’s a fun place to begin too. Taking photos without overthinking the settings can help you to focus on the moment and later on, you can explore things like disposable camera processing to see your results and learn from them. The key here is simple. Start shooting no matter what you’re using and see what comes up.
Light
Learn to notice light. Light is everything in photography. It can turn an ordinary scene into something beautiful, so try taking photos at different times of the day. Morning and late afternoon light, which is often called golden hour, is soft and warm, while midday light can be bright and harsh. You can play around and see how light changes your photos. Even indoors, notice where light comes from windows, lamps or shadows. It’s all part of being creative and learning how to get the epic shots you’re looking for.
Composition
Keep your composition simple. It’s easy to want to rush and try and fit too much into one photo when you’re just starting out, but instead you should focus on one main subject. Think about what you want people to notice first. Is it a person, an object or a detail? Keep it clear and keep it uncluttered. A simple composition often makes a stronger image. You can also try basic techniques like placing your subject slightly off centre to make the photo feel more balanced.
Learning
Don’t worry about making it perfect. This is a hobby, which means you’re not going to get it right from day one. Not every photo is going to turn out the way that you expect, and that’s completely fine. Every mistake that you make with photography is something you’re going to learn from. Some of the best pictures happen by accident. A blur, a shadow, or a strange angle can end up being your favorite shot. Photography is about experimentation, and there’s no such thing as the right picture. The more that you shoot, the more you’ll understand what works and what doesn’t.
Consistency
Don’t stop taking pictures. The easiest way to improve is to practice regularly. You don’t have to have special occasions or perfect locations. You just start with the everyday moment. Take photos of your coffee you’ll walk, your friends, or even random things around the house with the right light. The more you use your camera, the more comfortable you’ll become with your style.
LL x
*This is a contributed post. As ever, all opinions are my own.
Leave a Reply