Introduction – What Makes a Good Photographer
Hello. My name’s Alice, I’m a professional photographer in the Greater Atlanta Area and serve Gwinnett County. After two years of playing around with DSLR photography and cameras, I believe that I have made it to the point of providing myself with a solid income in the field. I pride myself on my photos and enjoy taking real estate photography and portraits. I am nowhere near an expert yet but only time will tell. However, I am a professional, being in this field and making a living from it. I’ve learned all you really need is a little perseverance and intuition. In this article, we will cover the Top 10 Tips for a Brand New Photographer.
I’d love to share a few tips and tricks I have learned over the years from freelancing and attending college for film arts. I think the best advice has come from the web and on-the-field learning between amateurs and seasoned professionals. This is an article mainly meant for someone who has just had a spark of creativity and wants to start photography. Also any other new person to the photography game. Whether you would like to treat photography as a game or a career. Here are the Top 10 Tips for a Brand New Photographer.
#1: To Photograph Beautifully, Photograph Beauty
When I first started Middle school, I put too much on my camera to produce nothing to something. My first photos started with my backyard and from there. My love for photography progressed. Next thing I knew I was taking photos of my friends and family and beautiful places. I was always interested in getting the lighting just right. Not only until after college I discovered the beauties of Lightroom and Photoshop. I’ve noticed in any profession that nothing comes overnight.
Patience is key sometimes in waiting for the right weather or the right timing of the photo. The Angles and lighting of the photos make a world of a difference when starting out. Also photographing the sunset, or picturesque views really define it. This constitutes growing your photo outlook and perspective making the overall photo transpire into a greater work of art for Top 10 Tips for a Brand New Photographer.
#2: Learn Exposure Triangle
I was a complete noob in the beginning. What is an exposure triangle and what is an ISO? F-stop never heard of her! Basically, it may be all overwhelming but with the right tools and resources, you can easily master these things. Shooting in manual mode, adjusting the iso, and managing the shutter speed and aperture. I would really take time to practice and get experience and different settings. This will add to your growth in becoming a professional photographer. Illustrating all these elements and producing them with ease learning what goes well with each other. Having different settings is what makes a great photographer and enhances their craft.
#3: Limit Your Use of Auto-ISO
Auto ISO is your number one friend when starting out in the industry and will help you maximize your photos until you are comfortable going manual. Anything over 1600 ISO is going to look like a trainwreck until you get it onto a larger screen and edit.
Most DSLR camera has the option in which you can adjust and play around with the maximum ISO. This is incredibly useful when on the go and taking photos for fun. Auto ISO is fun when you don’t want to think about the mechanics of the camera. Warning stays far far away from using Auto ISO in low-light settings. These photos always come out bad unless you have the right lighting.
#4: Turn the Viewfinder Grid On
This is my favorite tool in real estate photography. When taking photos you begin to realize that the world is not flat. Floors at houses sometimes are uneven or even just houses in general. This helps produce your photos to be leveled. I follow the Rule of Thirds in my professional photography. This is very useful in making sure your shots are leveled and composed. It has been scientifically proven that images are more aesthetic and sexy when following The Rule of Thirds. (google it) However, I love to be extra and turn on my 4×4 grid.
#5: Seek the Golden (Perfect) Hour
The right timing of the day can produce the most natural lighting and cultivate a moment you capture on camera. Sunsets, sunrises, and eclipses are all beautiful photo shoots in that it’s best to get portraits and landscape shots. Grab a friend or hire a model. If you are too broke like I was, ask around your friend group or family. Most people are happy to help you or camera shy. Control the atmosphere and learn from them. Ask them what you can do to improve and find the right angles and time. There’s no replacement for a beautiful sunrise or clouds that provide ambient lighting.
#6: Purchase a Decent Lens
I would get a 16-50mm lens and go from there. These are the best types of lenses so when you want to zoom in and out you have the ability to do so. I currently use that type of lens along with a 50mm prime lens for portraits. I switch up with a wide-angle 14mm prime lens for real estate photography. I’d highly recommend engulfing yourself in the world of photography. Join Facebook groups and local meetups for photographers. Network and discover more about Canon and Sony. Eventually, when you get to the stage of building your business/ passion you can invest in more lenses and I switch between all my lenses for my photos.
#7: Have Fun with Cropping
Cropping can save your life sometimes. A very simple tool and learning how to crop is an easy skill to acquire. Mastering the right is awesome when you get the hang of it. The RAW Files will be huge and you have to blow them up. This is the perfect tool if you plan on making prints with your photography.
#8: Go Easy on the Vignette
This is the most simple overused tool I see. Don’t overuse this alone with clarity and sharpness. There are always exceptions to when this filter looks great and there are times when it is used and depended on too heavily to make a great photo.
#9: Take a Camera Everywhere you go!
This is a BIG BIG MISTAKE I am guilty of myself. You just never know when an opportunity strikes. There will always be an inspiration around you or photos you can take. This will also help you expand your horizons and photography skills as it will add to your experience. This is a great thing to do when first starting out. This will help add to your portfolio and grow it in depth.
#10: Shoot in Raw as Much as Possible
Lastly, for the Top 10 Tips for a Brand New Photographer. I like JPEG files but I love Raw files. Having the extra files that you can edit in the Lightroom application. There are major differences when editing with RAW vs JPEGs. You then can work miracles in Photoshop or Lightroom and have more confidence in your photos because accidents happen.
#11: Bonus Tip – ALWAYS Bring Extra Charged Batteries!!!
This is another thing when starting out I am always running out of batteries. Just like my phone and its short lifespan throughout the day. I always have packed extra batteries with me just in case. The more backups you have the better. It just depends on what type of person you are and how many photos you take during your day. I like to change out my batteries throughout the day when I am on multiple appointments.
Conclusion Top 10 Tips for a Brand New Photographer.
As a new photographer, it’s important to recognize the value and benefits of working with a professional photography service like Joint Pixels. While you may have a passion for photography and a desire to learn and improve your skills, there are certain occasions and projects where the expertise of a professional photographer is crucial. Professional photographers, like the team at Joint Pixels, bring years of experience, technical knowledge, and creative vision to every project. They have a deep understanding of composition, lighting, and post-processing techniques that can elevate the quality of your images and ensure that your vision is effectively communicated. By partnering with a professional photographer, you gain access to their expertise, professional-grade equipment, and industry insights, which can greatly enhance the outcome of your photography endeavors. Embrace the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with professionals, as it will undoubtedly help you grow as a photographer and produce outstanding results.
