5 Beginner Photography Tips You Haven’t Heard Before.

Before we get started, here are some tips that you hopefully know by now.

• Shoot in Manual (learn the exposure triangle - ISO, aperture, shutter speed)

• Shoot in RAW (better for editing)

• Shoot for free (build your portfolio)
  

  If you don’t know the exposure triangle and the benefits of shooting in RAW, then take a moment to learn this first. The tips I am about to tell you are a little less technical but still crucial to advancing your photography skills.

Study directing / Try modeling.

When you look at movie directors, most of them have done a bit of acting, writing, or camera work. It is essential to understand the role of the crew members you will be working with. Failing to do so will make it difficult to communicate the kind of shot you need. For example, as a director, having acting experience allows them to know exactly what to say to an actor to make the scene come to life.

A lot of your clients may not have modeling experience. Learn the role. Try it yourself. What feels awkward? What are some go-to poses that always look natural? How can you get a genuine smile or laugh from them?

When you are able to make your client feel comfortable in front of the camera, you will make the experience worth while for them, and the culling and editing process will be easier for you.

Don’t rush a shoot.

Take your time finding the right composition, lighting, poses, etc. Be sure to keep track of the time your session ends, but do not overshoot just for the fun of it.
This is coming from an over-shooter herself :)

There were plenty of times I found myself shooting in not so great lighting because I felt anxious about telling my model to move once more. I didn’t want to have them waiting on me while I figure out my settings. But later on I’d have so many extra photos to cull through and fix during editing. Sometimes I don’t even end up liking any of them.

Take your time taking shots. Find the perfect composition, move around, change the pose, figure out the lighting. Do what needs to be done so that your editing process is as smooth as can be. If you find yourself taking a bit longer to adjust something, communicate with your model. “Hey, the sun has moved quite a bit since we started so I want to make sure we get proper exposure on your face.” Be confident in your skillset and trust your vision.

Crop after, not before.

I have no idea why I use to get super close shots with my camera, thinking it’s perfect, then go home to edit and realize the models arm is cut off. Or I didn’t leave enough headspace. Sometimes I find that the shot is crooked and have no wiggle room to level the photo properly.

Please remember this: Even if you want a tighter shot, stay wide. You can ALWAYS crop in during editing. But you cannot crop out.

Time Yourself.

You may start off shooting for free. This is completely fine and highly encouraged. You need to build that portfolio somehow. But one thing I wish I did at the beginning of my career was time myself throughout the entire process.

How long does it take me to shoot a portrait session? How many good photos can I get from it on average? How long does it take me to edit a gallery? How long does it take me to edit one photo? How much time does it take to prepare for a shoot (location scouting, mood board, phone calls, etc.)

Why is this important?
PRICING.

How will you know how much to charge if you aren’t tracking how long it takes you to do everything? What is your time worth? Of course we can always figure this out as we go along, but if I was tracking my time and money from the beginning, I wouldn’t have to go through so many trial and error phases when pricing my work.

Experiment with Lighting.

Believe it or not, lighting can be more important than the actual shot. Use your free time to go outside and learn the sun. What can you achieve on cloudy days that you can’t in direct sunlight? What shots are best for backlight? How can you utilize shadows?

Also, learn how to use both on camera and off camera flash. Learn studio lighting even if you love natural lighting and vice versa. Lighting is a whole world of its own and can change an entire image.

You hold the camera.

Take control and shoot with confidence.