SHOOT MANUAL - When I first started taking pictures I was constantly getting blurry images in low light or under exposed images in broad day light. Once I realized how exposure worked within the camera than I was able to determine how I wanted my images to look. This is super easy to understand so if you’re looking to figure it out I’ll link a tutorial video here.
SHOOT OFTEN - I take a few photos every single day but when I was getting started I made it a point to shoot at least an hour a day. Reviewing the images on my computer after each session helped me to understand what worked well for me and what didn’t work at all. This practice also helps you make the most of what little you have to shoot so when it comes time to shoot for a client you will be comfortable knowing that you can get the shots you need in any situation.
YOUTUBE EDITING TUTORIALS- We’ve all taken a picture of something we thought was beautiful just to look down at our camera and see that the image does it no justice. This can be because your eye sees better than your camera. If you dig deep into youtube editing tutorials you can get the tools you need to fix this issue and best of all it’s FREE!
PUT YOUR OWN SPIN ON YOUR EDITS- It’s becoming way too easy to copy someone’s editing style especially with all the presets and tutorials on youtube. Copying too much will only make you blend in, in an industry designed for standouts.
Put your own little touch on your editing and remember that clean is timeless and over editing an image may date it or just muddy up the image.
HAVING A COMMUNITY HELPS- I wish I understood or knew this sooner but having friends to shoot with or style for your shoots will make your knowledge of photography grow exponentially. I remember when I first started taking photos and every question I asked photographers was ignored or met with harsh criticism. I really took this to heart at that time and I realized that if I wanted to learn this I’d have to do it on my own. If you want to grow your photography skills super fast do the opposite of what I did. Join groups online (Ex. Looks like film on Facebook) share your images and comment on other people’s images. If you become a familiar face in any photo group people will naturally be inclined to help you when you have questions. Lastly, the most important part about building this community is sharing new things you’ve learned that can help others improve their craft. No one likes someone who only takes but never gives.
PLAN TO TELL A STORY- For me this is huge. My best work has always come when there was a story in my head before I went and made the photos. For example, the photos below are taken on a rainy Sunday morning playing basketball with my roommate. I knew that I wanted to bring the camera to show basketball played in the rain. If I went out with no intention or story in mind you might see photos of people on the street, my coffee, and other random things. Telling a story helps people digest your work.
COMPOSITION- This takes a while but if you look at enough photos you’ll start to see angles photographers often use. I personally love finding my own angles to shoot things so that they make a shape in my frame. Again composition will make your photos easier to understand and more aesthetically pleasing but with that being said composition isn’t everything. The most important part about photography will always be what in the photo and what is it saying.
COPY TO UNDERSTAND- I’ve always strived to not copy while making work. My goal is always to progress my practice to somewhere it hasn’t been that’s better than where it was but…… when you’re learning to take photos and you want to understand light it’s super important to copy. I’m not saying you should add these copies to your portfolio (please don’t) but the skills you can learn from copying an image or an edit is akin to sharpening a chief’s knives.
LIGHT- You have to have a relationship with light to be a photographer. Light is what develops the image onto your sensor or film and it can be your best friend or worst enemy. Find out what time of the day has the best light for you and shoot during that time every day. This will also help your images look more consistent over time. Another thing to note is that your camera does not produce the best images, the light and your vision does. Focus on better lighting rather than the most expensive camera equipment.
A GOOD EDIT ON A BAD PICTURE IS STILL A BAD PICTURE- What’s going on in the image is always going to be what’s most important. I had a teacher who used to like my edits but the images were of nothing so he would tell me you can polish a turd but at the end of the days it’s just a shiny turd. Don’t polish your turds.
KEEP A PHOTO JOURNAL- This is number one for my guys. Nothing has helped me in photography more than keeping a photo journal. If you want to see what that looks like I’ll leave a link HERE.

If you have any questions don’t be afraid to leave a comment below I’d love to discuss.