Education

BUY A CAMERA

This may be an obvious one, but to learn about photography, you kind of need a camera. If the price is what is holding you back, don’t worry about it! You can learn photography without breaking the bank on expensive gear. Luckily there are PLENTY of affordable camera options on the market. It all depends on what TYPE of camera you want.

You can get film cameras for as cheap as $100 or a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) for as low as $250, or a mirrorless for as low as $400. My first camera was a Canon Rebel T3i from Costco with the starter lens and kit that was gifted by my family. It was $800 and no where near what I’d spend on a camera for myself, but I am so thankful they gave me THE camera that got me started! I’ll run through all these different types in a separate post, but the point is, if you want to get started in learning photography, don’t let price hold you back! You can even get a point-and-shoot digital camera. While point-and-shoot-digital-cameras won’t give you the option of manually adjusting exposure or switch out lenses, you can learn the principles of composition. There are plenty of used cameras on Ebay and Amazon as well.

SHOOT IN AUTO

Don’t listen to the snobs that tell you that shooting on manual is the best way to learn photography. If you’re struggling with it and it’s getting you down, just shoot on auto or aperture priority or shutter priority! When I first started on manual, I was so discouraged by the fact that I never got the exposure right that I would stop shooting for months at a time. You can learn a lot about photography without worrying about the exposure settings; you can learn about lighting, tones, composition, editing, posing, etc. No matter what, just pick up your camera, go out shoot, have fun, and worry about the technical stuff later.

DISCOVER WHAT YOU LIKE SHOOTING

My best tip to budding photographers is to shoot what you feel most comfortable shooting. Whether it’s candid family photos or still life like architecture or landscapes, feel free to explore it all! All of that knowledge will be useful in one way or the other. As long as you carve out time to get out and shoot. That’s how to get started in photography.

FIND YOUR STYLE

I’ve been shooting full time for almost 6 years now and shooting as a hobby since 2013 and my style has changed more times than I can remember. It went from dark and moody to light and airy, to fine art, to spontaneous, and adventurous. It went from warm tones to cool tones and back to warm tones again. You get the picture. Eventually, you will zero in on your niche and style. It’s okay to not know your style yet!

SHARE YOUR WORK

One of my biggest regrets as a photographer was that I never showcased my work. I felt so self-conscious about my work because I felt like it was too “amateur.” But what I didn’t realize is that your community is actually so supportive. The people that care about you will do anything to see you succeed.

And that is especially important during times where you feel like your work is not “enough.” The more you share and put yourself out there, the more opportunities you’ll have to continue practicing your craft! So, as difficult as it is, don’t forget to share your work!

BE PATIENT

Good things take time! I can’t even begin to describe the amount of times I’ve felt overwhelmed by the journey of photography. The constant comparison, the feelings of doubt, and the amount of shame when I felt like I didn’t do my best work. The good thing is, is that the more you practice, and the more confidence you will gain more confidence over time.

Want to learn more about how to get started in photography, feel free to reach out! I’d love to get to know you!