A rare late night post :) I just posted this on Facebook, but then figured it should probably be on the blog so here it is.
Photo by Tosha Francis of The Captured Life
Often I’m asked if I have any photography tips and tricks to share… that’s kind of like asking a chef if they have any cooking tips to share. Yes, there are tips and tricks, but it’s SUCH a huge topic filled with so many nuances that this “tips and tricks” statement kind of gets to me lol.
I know folks don’t mean any harm, but there are so many different ways to go about learning and perfecting YOUR photography that I never feel right indulging this statement. What level of understanding do you have of basic photography already? Do you understand what the exposure triangle is? Do you know why a DSLR is called a DSLR? Are you interested in taking better pictures or do you not know how to take pictures at all? I could tell you to always make sure you focus on the eyes, but what if you don’t want to pursue portrait photography? What if you want to get creative with your compositions and not focus on the eyes? What if you don’t even know how to use the focus points on your camera? What if your camera doesn’t have focus points?
Lol clearly you see there are a lot of facets to this thing and this hasn’t even scratched the surface! I love teaching, but I love teaching with direction. I don’t like talking just to talk. I like providing specific assistance and actionable steps that you can implement right away.
So I guess I say all this to say that although I would love to help everyone with their photography questions, it’s not always possible. I encourage every photographer that I mentor to be an advocate for their own education. Don’t wait for information to be handed to you. Research and try to find out things on your own. This is not to say that you shouldn’t ask for help when you need it, but don’t be so dependent on help and direction that you lose your own voice. Photography, just like any other artistic endeavor, is all about personal expression and the best photographers are those that are truly doing what they love.
Just my 2 cents… or 3 ;)
-Danni