Learning How to Become a Photographer

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You may have come across this article after getting your first digital SLR camera or out of interest in starting photography as a hobby. Either way, we’re glad you’re here and we hope you learn something.

To become a better photographer, you must first understand the basics of photography. This includes learning about the elements of exposure and photographic composition. These two keys to photography are 90% of what you need to understand to making a great photograph. The remaining 10%? Perhaps a bit of luck. By learning these two fundamental principles of photography, you will be ahead of a majority of the other photographers out there and your photos are sure to get noticed!

By exposure, we mean the three elements:

1. Aperture – Aperture is how wide the opening of the lens is. A larger aperture (or lower f-stop number) indicates a wider opening, thus letting more light in to your camera. A larger aperture is commonly used to let more light into the camera (in dark situations) or to have less depth of field. Wide apertures give photos that distinctly SLR “professional” look with “blurry backgrounds.”
2. Shutter Speed – Your shutter speed determines how long the shutter is opened. A longer shutter speed conveys motion through blurred moving subjects. A short fast shutter speed stops motion. Consequently, a longer shutter speed lets more light in since the camera’s sensor is exposed for a longer duration.
3. ISO – The ISO setting on your camera determines how sensitive to light your camera is. The catch is that a higher ISO setting will result in noisier (grainier) images. But if you need more light to make the proper exposure and steady your shot, raise your ISO to compensate for the lack of light. Outdoors or in plenty of light, use lower ISOs to have vibrant clear images.

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As you specialize or advance in your photography skills, you will naturally begin to upgrade your camera gear. A photographer is not defined by his or her camera, but by their photos. A camera is simply a tool of the trade. Many people, especially those in online forums and blogs, get caught up in having the latest camera bodies, lenses, and lighting equipment. Often these are just distractions or excuses for not taking good pictures or knowing how to use what you already have properly.

You can’t expect to jump to a high-end camera if you haven’t mastered the basics and functions of your own camera. A camera is a tool and only as effective as the user’s ability to operate it.

In fact, the number one most popular “camera” used on Flickr until most recently was the Apple iPhone. Because camera phones go where you go, they are there to capture every memory. You can see a list of Flickr’s top listed cameras here. Don’t be afraid if you don’t have the latest camera. Just learn to take better photos with the camera you already have!

Learn as much as you can about the art and everything related to it. If you are as passionate about photography as I am, this comes quite naturally. I try to learn as much as possible and read anything pertaining to photography that I can get my hands on. In my free time when I’m not out shooting, I’m usually reading up on photography blogs, websites, forums, books, or magazines to soak up all the information I can. Our photography tips and tricks or techniques section is a great place to pick up quick handy tips and learn something new. I guarantee you it will come in handy and be time well spent!

Continue on to the next page to learn more on how to become a photographer.