Beginner’s guide to establishing a digital photography practice:
It's easy to buy an expensive camera, and then watch it collect dust while telling yourself that you'll take photos later, or at big events, or on trips. It’s even easier to gasp at the price tag and decide you’ll just have to wait to start taking photos until later down the line when you have more money to spare. But realistically the best way to improve at photography is through regular practice on whatever camera you already have. Just like any other hobby photography is a skill that can't be developed overnight (although your film photos can be! lol). This guide will help you establish a consistent photography practice without having to spend money on everything you think you need to get started. Believe it or not you don't need fancy lenses, or those big umbrella things professionals use for lighting. You don't need an expensive DSLR that goes ka-chunk ka-chunk ka-chunk when you take pictures. You don't even need a traditional camera-- you can simply start out with your phone! Let me introduce you to the joy of developing a photography practice of your own.
For some background: I have loved taking pictures ever since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until 2019 that I was able to purchase my first DSLR camera. Though that was a major step in pursuing photography with serious intentions, I have been practicing casually and regularly for over a decade now. The first real step I took in pursuing photography was actually buying my first cell phone when I was 11 years old (a cheap gophone I couldn’t have been any happier to have!). While cell phone photography isn’t always taken as seriously as that taken on fancier equipment it is an excellent and more accessible place to begin. I also owned a few cheaper digital cameras over the years, and those were wonderful tools for building my practice. A nice camera is definitely a helpful asset to have, but all you really need to begin developing your taste and basic skills is a phone or any other cheap camera you may already have access to.
Here I have outlined some simple steps to help direct you in getting started (even as a total beginner):
Start by making an effort to take at least one picture every day. Even better, take many throughout your day. Get curious and excited about documenting your life just for the sake of it, and commit to making it a daily practice. Looking back I love having a visual index of my life dating back to my teenage years. I can search by month or year and use it as a tool to jog my memories any time I need to. This doesn’t mean that every picture is noteworthy; in fact, it means that most of your photos will likely be mediocre or forgettable. If you get to the end of a day and realize that you have no photos try just taking a selfie of how you look in that moment exactly where you are. There is no shame in taking selfies and tracking your changes and growth-- take pictures when you’re happy, when you’re sad, when you’re scared, when you’re angry. Find the joy and curiosity in taking them even if you feel you never want to look at them again. Focus on taking pictures for the sake of documentation without the pressure of looking pretty or good.
Take pictures of your friends and surroundings, especially when you go somewhere special or new. Take pictures of your dog, of the squirrels and birds you encounter, of the sunset each evening. Take pictures of your room, your outings, and your daily activities. Take pictures of yourself. Cast a wide net by shooting a variety of subjects. Give yourself time to figure out what it is you enjoy photographing the most.
Look through lots and lots of photos by a variety of photographers-- professional, amateur, and everything in between. Which photos stand out to you? Which photos do you find boring? Which photos make you feel something? Which ones bring you joy? Is there a photographer whose subjects or style you admire? Make a point of following their work.
Try researching the basics of composition & leading lines, camera settings like aperture/iso/shutter speed, and color theory. Don’t expect to master all these skills immediately; remember that you can take your time and learn these at your own pace. They certainly can help you create stronger photos, but don’t let yourself get too overwhelmed by all the information at your fingertips. Focus on gradually incorporating one concept at a time. At the end of the day the most important thing is that you are taking pictures, not that you are following all of the technical rules.
There is no shame in taking advantage of automatic shooting modes, especially when you’re just starting out, but do give yourself a chance to play around with the settings if your camera allows. Some photographers can be snobby about using automatic modes, but ultimately you must find what works for you. I personally believe that there is no one way to be a photographer. Just try not to limit yourself to automatic settings if you’re not achieving the results you want-- shooting in manual settings can be a major step in getting to know your camera better and learning how to achieve the results you’re looking for. A good place to start is with semi-automatic modes like Aperture-priority or Shutter Speed-priority, where you can focus on experimenting with just one setting.Invest in a nicer camera if you have the means. There are countless reviews and guides out there to help you pick which brand and model will best suit you. Research the difference between DSLR and mirrorless cameras (both are great in different ways! Recently I have switched from DSLR to mirrorless myself). I rarely hear mention of how intimidating obtaining equipment can be when you don’t have the privilege of affording a high-quality camera. Personally I started out with the cheapest DSLR bundle I could get my hands on, and even that took me years to be able to purchase. There is undeniable merit in immediately investing in your dream camera if you are in a position to do so, but there are also many real advantages to starting smaller. For instance, it can be much easier to learn basic settings on a simpler camera with less features to further complicate things.
Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for working with the equipment you currently have access to! The truth is you can practice and expand your skills by working with whatever kind of camera you have, even if it doesn’t live up to the quality or features you dream of. Even just practicing on a cell phone that doesn’t allow for adjustable settings gives you a chance to practice some of the most basic skills of composition and connecting with your subjects. Photography is a relatively expensive practice, and the world needs more photographers who refuse to perpetuate creative elitism and who understand the real barriers that many face when getting started.
** Something I do personally recommend is that if you are interested in self-portraits (and you have the means) consider investing in a camera that will connect to a remote or a remote app for your phone. My first camera advertised that it was supposed to connect to my phone via Bluetooth to function as a remote, but in my experience that feature has never really worked. The app is too glitchy to use without freezing and having to reinstall between shots (I recommend looking up reviews to confirm that others have had success in doing so with the specific model of camera you want). Maybe even consider investing in a camera that lets you compose the photo through your phone, or one that has a screen that can flip around for the subject to see. Think about investing in one that will automatically focus on your face or your eyes. These are all obstacles I’ve faced in taking self-portraits, though on the bright side it has pushed me to find creative solutions and also to focus more on shooting subjects other than myself!Develop your editing skills. A simple place to start is with Lightroom Mobile on your phone or tablet (which is free!), and eventually you will probably want to look into desktop editing software. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the different settings and experiment with each one. Try looking up basic editing tutorials online, or check out the free walk-through tutorials available in the Lightroom Mobile app. There is no one way to edit photos, though some basic guidelines can help you achieve the vibe you’re going for.
Observe others’ editing styles. What kind of color palettes do you like? Are you drawn to warmer or cooler tones? What kind of editing wows you and what do you find to be cheesy or tacky? Do you like shooting in color or black and white or both? Many people opt for buying presets (which is valid), but personally I recommend learning how to edit yourself since this will give your photos a more personalized touch and help you further develop your own style.Last but not least, connect with other creatives! Whether it’s another beginner to photography (or modeling) who wants to experiment together, or it’s a seasoned photographer who you’re paying, give yourself the gift of creating alongside others. As much as I love shooting on my own I really enjoy collaborating with other people, bouncing off ideas and creating something that brings your unique styles together. Seek out opportunities that allow you to learn and grow as a photographer. And most importantly, keep producing work no matter how good or bad you feel it is. The only way to improve is to stay committed to your practice!
