Take a lesson from my early mistakes! When I first started out, I was like many others, full of passion and eager to try everything. I still love learning new skills and I am still very much a student of learning this trade. However, there are things that I wish I had simply taken the time to consider.
1. Photoshop will not fix everything
Photoshop can only enhance a photo. It is no substitute for a poor photograph straight out of camera. It is ALWAYS better to get a good technically strong photograph in Photoshop. Honestly, when I first started out, I loved editing more than shooting. (I still kind of do). While this natural bent of mine helped me learn a ton in Photoshop it did not help become a better photographer. While I still believe editing is so important and it can really make a photograph sing, it is still more important to get a good photograph straight out of camera. So, take the time to learn proper white balance, the exposure triangle, focus, depth of field, and start taking photos in raw.
2. Visualize your shot beforehand
Story telling is a huge part of photography. Think about what you want to convey and how to best convey that motive. What has helped me with this is looking at cinematography. Think about composition and color. With composition, do you want it to be peaceful or uncomfortable? How do colors make you feel? How do you want people to feel when they look at your photograph? How can you separate and highlight your subject? Do you want this photo to be moody or light and airy? Think about your light. When I do this it instantly creates a better photograph. When I first started, I got lucky often, but I was so busy trying things that I didn’t really consider these elements. Just this idea will take your photography to a new level.
3. Light matters
Look at your subject. Are they well lit? If they are not, there is no saving their skin tone in Photoshop. I often look at the position of the sun and use the palm of my hand to find the best light. Catch lights in your subjects’ eyes can really help bring life to your subject. Shadows can add dimension. Light can add to the mood or it can be flat and boring. If it is flat and boring, you’re going to have to rely on things like interesting composition and color to help bring life and interest to your photos. When I first started out, I used midday sun a lot. While yes, it is very convenient to take photos in the middle of the day. However, hard light is difficult to work with well. It also saturates colors and casts colors on skin that is hard to get rid of.
4. Slow down
You’re nervous and your subjects are impatient and twitchy (well the little kids usually are). You know what’s more important than being super-efficient? Good technical skills and getting a good photo right out of the camera. If this takes a little longer to get your settings right, then take the time and do it! I was in such a hurry, and always felt rushed and out of control. It is ok to slow down, or to say “oh no I missed that, can we redo it! I think it is worth getting right.” Take your time to look at the whole picture fully. Take in the details, and the light. Is your client’s hair out of place? Would this photograph look better if this branch wasn’t going through your client’s head? Would it be a better story if you took off this child’s shoes?
5. Do not be afraid to step up the ISO
A grainy photograph is still better than a blurry one. Let that sink in. If you must crank up your ISO to keep your shutter speed up, then do it! Don’t be afraid of a high ISO. It might be worth it, and Photoshop and lightroom can help clean up some of the grain. I prefer lightroom to take care of noise in a photo. I use the Luminance slider on the Detail panel. When I first started, I was afraid to go above 400. Now I use a pretty high ISO when necessary. Noise is a sacrifice I’m willing to make to avoid a blurry photo.
Essentially there is no substitute for a strong photo straight out of the camera. Take time and learn all that you can. I hope this was useful. Thanks for reading!
