What is THE most important thing to learn as a beginner photographer?

#1 to learn is Patience

Might not be what you were expecting, but in my opinion patience is the most important thing I've learned as a photographer and is also a lifeskill that will carry you far into a more successful journey in and outside of photography.

There are MANY skills and techniques to learn as a proficient and successful photographer. Without the patience to learn, practice, fail, try again, fail, try again, and on and on you may give up before you succeed to the level you desire.

The following is WHY patience is critical in your photographic journey and ways to become better.

7 reasons why patience is key

1. Developing an Artistic Eye:

- Composition: Some "have the eye" naturally while others struggle when they begin taking photos. Regardless quality composition is often a key for compelling photographs. It takes time to learn the "rules" (like the rule of thirds) and develop an intuition for framing shots creatively. That being said the good news is, it CAN be learned and improved upon over time. Keep it simple at first and think about basic shapes, lines, colors and textures while deciding how to line up the shot.

- "Seeing" ~ Becoming aware, observing, and understating the characteristics of light is another trait requiring patience to obtain while developing an artistic eye. Being to pay attention to the direction, intensity, and color of light.

My class series "The Creative Eye" introduces how to see the world in a different way and develop your artistic style through understanding the foundations of composition and far beyond.

2. MASTERING TECHNICAL SKILLS:

  - Learning camera setting: Understanding how to use different settings like ISO, shutter speed, and aperture takes time. Patience is necessary to experiment with these settings and see their effects on your photos. Don't get frustrated with "bad" shots because that's just a part of the learning experience. Make sure experiment with the manual settings BEFORE you have to photography something important.

  - Post-Processing: Becoming proficient with photo editing software and learning how you like your images to look requires education, practice, and you guessed it... patience.

If you're ever in need of personalized instruction to refine your technical skills and hone your creativity, I've got you covered with 1 on 1 sessions or private group classes.

3. Trial and Error:

  - Experimentation: Photography involves a lot of trial and error. Not every shot will be perfect, and it takes patience to keep trying different techniques and settings until you achieve the desired result.

  - Learning from Mistakes: Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Patience is required to analyze what went wrong, understand why, and avoid similar mistakes in the future. Even after over two decades of being a photographer I practice, experiment, and still take plenty of bad shot to capture the best ones. Patience with yourself and the learning process will go a long way in your in your progression.

4. Building Experience:

  - Time Investment: Becoming skilled at photography doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of practice and consistent effort. Patience AND persistence helps in staying motivated and dedicated to the craft over the long term.

  - Portfolio Development: Your portfolio will continually evolve and improve overtime. Begin early in your journey with selecting 8-15 of you best images from each subject matter that you like to photograph.

5. WORKING WITH SUBJECTS:

  - Portrait Photography: Capturing the perfect expression, pose, or moment requires patience, especially when working with people who might feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. Learn to be patient with both yourself and your subject during portrait shoots.

- Wildlife Photography: This genre demands immense patience, as capturing animal in their natural habitat can involve long periods of waiting to get the best images.

  - Landscape Photography: With ever changing weather and light landscape photographers often go back to the same locations over and over. The best light is most often early in the morning, later in the afternoon, early evening, or even at night. And that light is fleeting. Being there early and waiting is often the experience of the landscape photographer.

  - Commercial Photography: There is a multitude of genres within commercial photography such as advertising, product, fashion, branding, social media content, and others. There are times these projects are large enough to have numerous roles and multiple levels of production.

6. FINANCIALS

  - Equipment: You don't necessarily need the latest and greatest when you are first learning, but overtime the better you become the more likely you'll want better performing and higher quality gear. People sometimes say, "It's not the camera, it's the photographer that creates a good photograph". While that can be true at times, I assure you there are situations that your success rate greatly increases with better equipment. Consider what expenses are priority and start saving now for that next lens or upgraded camera. Keep in mind used gear is a great way to go if your budget doesn't allow from brand new.

7. GAINING RECOGNITION (FOR PROFESSIONALS):

  - Building a Reputation: Gaining recognition and building a career in photography takes time. Patience and consistency is crucial for networking, showcasing your work, and gradually building a client base or audience.

  - Feedback and Improvement: Constructive criticism from peers and mentors can help improve your photography. Patience is needed to accept feedback positively and work on areas that need improvement.

Are you a beginner ready to learn more?

Hands-on experiences like photography workshops, classes, walks, club meetings, and conferences will put you in an immersive environment with various skill levels to learn and grow from. IRL experiences are invaluable for learning and keeping the community strong. Check out my education and events pages to learn more.