Ever since I was a youngster, I’ve always had a fascination with photography. I’ve always had an interest in how people take all kinds of artistic photos using their cameras. When my parents got me a Polaroid instant camera for one of my birthdays, I was so overjoyed!
I’ve still got that camera, but I seldom use it apart from when I’m feeling nostalgic. These days, my weapon of choice is my trusty Nikon digital SLR camera. I also have a couple of Sony digital cameras that I sometimes use as well.
It’s taken me a few years to develop my photography skills, and I think it’s safe to say that I’m now at the “pro” level! If that’s a goal you wish to achieve, you’ve come to the right place! In today’s blog post, I will share with you some dynamite tips that helped me while I was learning. Here is what you need to know:
Start out with a basic digital camera
Put away your credit card! There’s no point buying high-end gear if you don’t even know the basics! To get started as a pro photographer, you need to learn how to take decent photos with a basic digital camera.
The point of the exercise is simple: to learn how to take a picture. Sure, you might get drawn to all the features that high-end DSLRs offer. But, if your composition skills are poor, they are a waste of money.
Learn and experiment at the same time
These days, you should experiment alongside getting “proper” training. The good news is there are plenty of flexible ways to learn about photography.
That means you don’t have to go to any evening classes! For example, you could take part in an online photography course. You might also wish to view some tutorial videos on YouTube from the pros.
Take care of your equipment
It doesn’t matter if you want to be a pro photographer as a hobby or to turn into a career. If you chuck your camera gear around and don’t look after it, you won’t get far!
I recommend investing in a protective carry case for your camera. You should also buy a camera cleaning kit. Both of those items are affordable, especially from places like eBay and Amazon.
Try out different techniques
There are thousands of different ways to take a picture. The methods of doing so are simple, but the challenge is choosing the right technique for the job. For instance, you wouldn’t turn your camera’s flash on if you’re outdoors on a clear and sunny day!
It’s also OK to take photos in both portrait and landscape format. Ignore people that say you must only stick with one or the other!
Take photos of things that interest you
Are you a secret train geek? If so, you could go and take some snaps of historic steam trains. In fact, it doesn’t matter if you’re into trains, planes or cars. Taking photos of moving objects like those helps you to capture the mood and ambience at the time.
I hope you’ve found today’s guide useful. See you soon!
