Top 5 - Best Photography Tips for Beginners

Photography is my poison. I was introduced to it in degree college and since then I've kept clicking, kept learning. With time, it has opened up a new world of understanding.

It's more than an art form for me. It's a journey, a discipline, and a perspective. I will tell you how I started, what I've learned, and how can anyone go about it.

So, if you are somebody who likes to scroll through beautiful pictures on social media or is heavily inspired by the art or someone who is thinking to buy a camera, here are some of my best photography tips for beginners.

INTEREST

 

Begin by asking yourself what makes you interested in it. What draws you to know more about the art form? Once you have an answer to this question you'll know what to expect from your pictures.

Photography for beginners can be a hobby or passion or an attempt to make their social media more attractive.

I started photography as a part of my college curriculum. As I kept clicking and editing the pictures the answer to the question, what interests me? kept changing.

Now I believe, every picture narrates a story and understanding that journey is something that interests me.

 

Photography tip: Understanding your interest is essential to be more certain of the output.

 

KNOW YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Every camera model is unique in itself. Therefore, understanding the settings of the camera is amongst the most important photography tips for beginners.

Some beginner DSLR's and point and shoot cameras do not provide you with higher exposure settings. So, one will have to play with the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO according to the lighting conditions.

You can begin capturing the photos in the Auto camera mode. This mode is helpful as the camera adjusts the focus and all one needs to do is click the capture button.

Once, you get a basic understanding of the DSLR settings, take full control over the manual camera mode. Here, one has the complete freedom to change the exposure settings.

The more time that you spend understanding your camera and lenses, the more confident you will become to get the desired output in the pictures.

 

Photography tip: Understand your digital camera to click better pictures.

 

SUBJECT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT

 

The subject is of prime importance in any picture. It should be the most striking element that draws a viewer's attention instantly.

Consider your subject as the main protagonist in a film. Other additional elements will only add up to the story. But the main protagonist should narrate the story as it is his journey.

Of course, there are other things that a photographer can do to make the subject stand out.

For example, using depth of field, composition technique, a contrast in moments, actions, and colours, etc.

 

Photography tip: Give prime importance to the subject of your photograph.

 

RAW vs. Jpeg

 

These are the two widely used file formats. If you like photography then you must understand them well. RAW files contain much much more information then jpeg.

Professional photographers always shoot in the RAW mode as it captures minute information and other details of the picture. A RAW image can be of 20 – 26.6 Mb in size.

As these files are heavier in size, social media do not allow you to upload RAW images. Jpeg files are smaller in size as they contain less information about the picture.

Due to smaller file sizes, all social media supports jpeg. If you have a DSLR then make sure that the selected image format is RAW. This will enable you to capture minute details that are not visible to the naked eye.

The best part of the RAW image is that you can create an image as big as you want without losing details. Clicking in this mode is extremely helpful while editing.

One can bring out rich colour tones making the image more impactful. For better results, click pictures in RAW mode, edit them and later convert them into jpeg format while uploading on social media.

 

Photography tip: Always click on RAW mode

 

DON'T HESITATE

 

If you feel there is something interesting happening that you want to capture, then do not hesitate. Take a step forward and capture the moment.

Remember "A good picture is a good memory and a bad picture is a good teacher." Besides this, hesitation can make you miss a wonderful opportunity.

In my opinion, being present at the right place and at the right time is more important. Clicking the picture is just 10% of the job.

Plus in this digital world, one can delete the picture if it turns out to be bad.

 

Photography tip: Go ahead and capture the moment.

 

BASIC COMPOSITION TECHNIQUES

 

As an art form, Photography doesn't have any rules as such. But certain photo guidelines can make the pictures look better. These are more popularly known as the composition techniques.

The most common photography composition technique is "the rule of thirds." It implies to not place your subject in the dead center.

Place the subject a little to the left or a little to the right of the frame. This gives the picture a much-needed breathing space.

Use natural frames, e.g. natural or man-made objects to create a frame within a frame.

Use leading lines to drive a person's vision towards something. Capture contrast in moments, colours, and actions, etc. to make the subject stand out.

There are many basic composition techniques that I'll be covering in a separate blog article.

 

Photography tip: Use composition techniques to enhance the picture.

Click here to discover more 6 photography tips for beginners

 

FAQ:

 

1) How can I teach myself photography?

Answer - In this digital age, there is enough information about photography over the internet. Youtube and blogs are the best mediums to learn various photography tips and tricks. All one needs to do is start clicking with the device that they have. Keep experimenting and find new photography techniques to make your pictures look interesting.

 

2) What are the basics of photography?

Answer - The exposure triangle is the base of any photography model. Understanding the exposure triangle will help you get insights about the formation of an image.

 

3) What are the 3 elements of photography?

Answer - ISO, Shutter and the Aperture are the three basic elements of photography. The combination of these three elements gives us the exposure triangle. Changing the three settings on your DSLR allows you to control the amount of light falling on the sensor. Adjust ISO, Shutter and the Aperture accordingly to get the desired impact on the frame.

 

4) How do I choose a camera?

Answer - There are a lot of things to consider before buying your first DSLR. Apart from the cost, brand, and configuration, there are many other equally important things to consider. I have compiled a list of important things in a dedicated blog article. Go through it to make a better purchase decision.

 

5) What is the rule of thirds in photography?

Answer - The rule of thirds is a composition technique. According to this technique, the subject should never be placed in the exact center of the frame. Place the subject a little to the right or a little to the left to give the frame a breathing space. This also helps in making the composition more impactful.

 

6) How to start photography?

Answer - Begin by understanding your DSLR/mobile. Explore the settings and learn how to use each element effectively. You can begin with the Auto mode and later move to the Manual mode once you pick up confidence. Keep yourself updated with the latest trends and implement them in your work.