Photography: 4Tips for Beginners

Daryl Pemberton

Daryl Pemberton

Helping other entrepreneurs one pixel at a time

Starting out in Photography

If you are new to photography, you might feel overwhelmed by the amount of information and advice available online. There are so many tutorials, guides, courses, books, blogs, podcasts, and videos that claim to teach you everything you need to know about taking great photos. But where do you start? How do you know what to focus on and what to ignore? How do you avoid common mistakes and pitfalls that can ruin your shots?

In this blog post, I will share with you some photography tips for beginners that will help you get started on your journey as a photographer. These tips are based on my own experience and learning process, and they are not meant to be exhaustive or definitive. They are simply suggestions that I hope will inspire you and guide you in the right direction.

Tip #1: Learn the basics of exposure

Exposure is the amount of light that reaches your camera sensor when you take a photo. It is determined by three factors: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The aperture is the size of the opening in your lens that lets light in. Shutter speed is the length of time that your camera shutter stays open to capture light. ISO is the sensitivity of your camera sensor to light.

These three factors work together to create a balanced exposure. If one of them changes, you need to adjust the others accordingly to maintain the same exposure level. For example, if you increase your aperture (lower the f-number), you let more light in, so you need to decrease your shutter speed (use a faster shutter) or lower your ISO (use a less sensitive sensor) to compensate. Conversely, if you decrease your aperture (higher the f-number), you let less light in, so you need to increase your shutter speed (use a slower shutter) or raise your ISO (use a more sensitive sensor) to compensate.

Learning how to control these three factors and how they affect your photos is essential for any photographer. You can use different combinations of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to achieve different creative effects, such as blurring or freezing motion, creating shallow or deep depth of field, or reducing or increasing noise.

Tip #2: Understand the rule of thirds

The rule of thirds is a simple but effective composition technique that can improve your photos instantly. It involves dividing your frame into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines. Then, you place your main subject or point of interest along one of these lines or at one of their intersections. This creates a more balanced and dynamic composition than placing your subject in the center of the frame.

The rule of thirds helps you avoid boring and static photos by adding some visual interest and movement to your shots. It also helps you create a sense of depth and perspective by leaving some negative space around your subject. Of course, the rule of thirds is not a strict rule that you have to follow all the time. Sometimes, breaking it can result in more interesting and creative photos. But it is a good guideline to keep in mind when you are starting out.

Tip #3: Experiment with different perspectives

One of the easiest ways to make your photos more unique and memorable is to change your perspective. Instead of taking photos from eye level, try shooting from different angles and heights. For example, you can shoot from above (bird’s eye view), below (worm’s eye view), behind, in front, or sideways. You can also tilt or rotate your camera to create some diagonal lines and shapes.

Changing your perspective can help you capture different aspects and details of your subject that might otherwise go unnoticed. It can also help you create more dramatic and engaging photos by adding some depth and dimension to your shots. By experimenting with different perspectives, you can discover new ways of seeing and expressing yourself through photography.

Tip #4: Use natural light

Natural light is one of the best sources of light for photography. It is free, abundant, and versatile. You can use natural light in different ways depending on the time of day, weather conditions, location, and direction. For example, you can use soft and diffused light on cloudy days or during sunrise and sunset to create a warm and romantic mood. You can use harsh and direct light on sunny days or during midday to create a bright and contrasty mood. You can use backlighting (shooting against the light source) to create silhouettes and rim lighting. You can use side lighting (shooting parallel to the light source) to create shadows and textures.

The key to using natural light effectively is to observe how it changes throughout the day and how it affects your subject and surroundings. You also need to learn how to expose correctly to natural light

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