So you want to learn how to become a better photographer. Where do you start? There are many different ways to learn how to take better photos. People learn differently and have different learning methods. Also budgets come into play as well, as a couple of ways I’ve listed may cost money. I am going to list four different ways that you can learn about taking better photos or improve them.
- Blogs. There are lots out there. You are on one of them now that offers one way of learning about photography. Blogs are an excellent format to learn. I learn well from seeing text and photos, so I read a lot of different blogs by many different photographers.
- Books. When I got my first DSLR- a Canon T2i, the first thing I did was print out the user’s manual. Why? I like reading books and I feel like I can go at my own pace. Plus it goes into a lot more detail than the quick start guide. There is just something about a book that a computer or tablet can’t replace. I have a beginner photography book that goes into detail about Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed and Manual Mode. I also have books that cover different photo techniques for getting creative shots. Books go into a lot more detail than blogs and I can pick them up any time I want.
- Videos. If you’re the kind of person that learns visually this is the way to go. You can watch a photographer demonstrate it. I’ve watched a lot of videos on many different subjects in photography. Some websites offer whole libraries of classes to watch. You can pay a monthly fee or buy the class outright. I’ve done this both ways. I like owning the class as I can refer to it anytime I want. There is video on just about every aspect of photography. If you are the type that likes watching videos, then this one is for you.
- Workshops. Workshops are great as you meet people that have the same interest and the instructor(s) can show you hands on what to do. Plus you may get to try out equipment that you may not have at home. I used to go on Photowalks offered by my local camera store. These photowalks centered around a technique such as black and white, macro, portrait, etc. And I got to try out equipment that I didn’t have at home. Since the pandemic, the photowalks have gone online. All that’s needed is video conferencing software while you listen to the instructor talk and you can ask questions. This is an advantage over pre-recorded videos.
The advice I have is pick the route that makes most sense for you and your photography journey. I have done all of these ways and each way has been very helpful to me. Try out each one if you need to and you’ll find the way that helps you the most.
