
As a beginner photographer, you naturally want to start taking photos as quickly as possible. But where do you actually start? As a beginner, you can feel quite overwhelmed by everything that is involved in photography. It’s easy to get lost in the details.
To help you get started, I have five valuable tips that can guide you as a beginner photographer.
Tip 1: Start with the basics.
By now, you have probably discovered that photography is not a cheap hobby. I wouldn’t recommend buying an expensive camera right from the beginning. The chances of taking great photos right from the start are quite low. This can lead to frustrations, especially when you’ve invested in an expensive camera. My advice is to start with an entry-level model and learn the basic functions from there.
Tip 2: Get to know the settings of your camera.
Cameras have a lot of settings. n the beginning, you will likely rely on the automatic mode. In this mode, the camera takes care of the focus, shutter speed, and exposure settings. This is known as the exposure triangle.
Ultimately, you want to have complete control over how you take the photo. You can achieve this by switching your camera to manual mode, allowing you to adjust the exposure triangle. In short, you’ll be able to adjust the focus, shutter speed, and exposure.
It may take some getting used to, but the result is beautiful photos.
Tip 3: Photograph what you love.
There are different types of photography, such as portraits, nature, macro, urban, wedding, and many more. My golden tip here is to photograph what you love. You don’t have to choose between different types.
Some photographers specialize in a specific subject, such as portrait photography. However, there are plenty of photographers who enjoy photographing multiple subjects.
Personally, I photograph a lot of nature and macro subjects. But I also enjoy capturing urban areas.
Tip 4: Create better photos by using composition rules.
Composition is important in photography. It makes a photo much more interesting to look at.
There are different composition rules, but the most commonly used ones are:
- Rule of thirds
- Spiral
- Diagonal method
There is a lot to say about composition rules, and I have written a separate article about it.
Tip 5: Try to keep your camera as still as possible while taking photos to prevent blurriness.
Always use two hands to hold your camera. Place the lens of your camera in your left hand, allowing the body to rest against your wrist. Use your right hand to operate the right side of the camera.
To achieve more stability, you can lean against a wall, sit down, or kneel if possible.
If you want absolutely no movement in your photo, using a sturdy tripod is the best option.