In this world to get where you want in life unfortunately, it’s about who you know not what you know. Very sad, but at least you guys know a friendly photographer that will share some knowledge with you about starting out as a photographer. Now everyone’s journey is different, but I’m going to give you 3 solid tips to start out with your photography.
1. Get A Mentor
This has to be one of the most if not the most important tip I can share with you, get a mentor! If you plan on starting a business the best approach is to learn from someone that is successful. A great mentor will not give you the advice you may need but let you tag along on shoots to get an overall perspective on how to capture those moments that we dream of. That mentor will also tell you NOT to gauge yourself to other photographers because you will end up hurting yourself in the long run. You have to remember some of these photographers took years for them to get where they are and you aren’t going to have those skills overnight. Slow and steady wins the race.
2. Aim Small, Miss Small
Ok so yeah, I totally stole that reference from The Patriot, but it really does have true value hear. You want to start your photography journey small and come through the ranks as you get more confident. You’re not going to capture work that going to be on the cover of The National Geographic’s or Vogue, so start photographing things around the home or of course mother nature. Landscape photography is a wonderful way to start out, and it truly brings a calming presence to your skill set. I remember my first landscape journey in the Vancouver Islands of Canada. I was surrounded by whales, dolphins, bears, eagles and all that good ol Canada has to offer. My favorite shot, that have as a canvas in my living room, is of a small island of trees filled with eagles’ nests with the fog in the background. It’s an amazing shot that even my children just sit and glance at for a long time. As your skills improve and you feel more confident with your camera, expand to people and everything will grow from there.
3. Have A Budget
This is very important, I believe that if you start out small and work your way up then you are far better off. Too many times do you see someone buying 2 to 3 thousand-dollar cameras and not know a thing on how to use it. If you go on to any photography gear website it could be a tad overwhelming with all the equipment to choose from. I love shopping on B&H because the bundles they provide and also, they’re excellent customer service. You could easily get a great camera, lens, sim cards, carry on and a range of other items for just under $1,000. Don’t splurge on thousands of dollars of gear and have it collecting dust.
Well there you have it folks, 3 great tips to offer you. Another great source is YouTube of course or a nice cup of Joe at your local Barnes and Noble. Until next time, happy hunting.