It doesn’t take a sleuth to realize that photography and videography have become pretty popular these days. Cameras are getting better, faster, and smaller, and even the cameras on the back of your phone capture a beautiful image or moment. Social and mobile media has taken the world by storm, and it is easy to share and see engaging content from around the world by just a swipe, scroll, or search.
For creative people, it can be enticing to capture beautiful, original images, and photography continues to evolve, with several areas of focus that can draw many people in. The opportunity is there to not just make photography a fun hobby, but a rich and rewarding career.
But like anything new, learning how to begin can be a daunting task. There are so many types of photography to understand, and the camera, lenses, and gear are an investment and sometimes very confusing to understand. So instead of adding to the noise and complexity, I’m going to break down the best way to enter the field of photography and hopefully this will be a helpful guide that steers you in the right direction.
Step 1: Learn about the basics of photography
It sounds silly, but a lot of people skip this part. Instead of learning, they leap into buying gear, getting excited about their first new camera without realizing that they could be buying a camera they have no idea how to operate successfully and could be too much or too little of a camera for them.
So take time, and learn. Read recommendations and watch videos online — head to the Adorama Learning Center to answer all questions you may have. You’re going to see a lot of foreign terminology like aperture, ISO, shutter speed, megapixels, dynamic range, white balance; all of them important to understand when operating your camera and lenses. You’re going to see different types of cameras like full frame or crop-sensor cameras, or mirrorless and DSLR cameras, and you’ll want to know the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of both. And of course, make sure to learn about the different kinds and types of photography. There are several, and it’s important understand what opportunities are out there. No matter what, you have to learn the basics or you’ll be lost from the start.
Step 2: Find your focus
Now that you’ve learned about photography and understand how cameras operate, what types of cameras are out there and what types of photography you can pursue, now it’s time to find your focus. It’s important to sort through what type of photography you want to pursue. You can’t do them all, even if you want to. Focus on two to three areas you could really master and enjoy, and types of photography you could plan and purchase your gear around.
For example, landscape and street photography use a lot of the same lens types. The same goes for weddings and portrait photography or sports and wildlife photography. They require specific lenses and camera features that you need to build a game plan around. So develop your photography focus, and that will develop your career much farther than trying to do it all. That will just lead to frustration, and the gear will be overbearing in all senses.
Step 3: Set your goals
The next step is to set goals. How far do you want to take your photography interest? It can be a hobby or full blown career, so it’s right to set priorities. Do you want to do destination weddings or work with big commercial clients? It might seem like a big dream, but it can be a reality if you work hard and plan early. You just have to set your goals and invest the time and money into achieving them.
And the same goes for those who just want a hobby out of photography. While some people can buy a $3,000 camera for their photo hobby, if you’re on a tight budget, don’t invest in a piece of equipment from which you won’t see a return on investment. Buy an entry level or mid-level model and start there. So no matter your goals or ambitions for photography, plan and set them now so you can be set up for success.
Step 4: Get your gear and get out there
Now that you understand photography, have found your focus, and set your goals, you can now go get your gear. I always tell people to shoot simply, and start off with a camera body and two to three lenses, at most. Learn and master that camera and those lenses and then move up if necessary. And the most important thing is to get out there in the environments and places you want to shoot and practice.
Ask a friend or two to let you take portraits of them. Plan a trip around shooting landscape or wildlife. Build on your experience and build up your portfolio. It will truly make a difference in the quality of your work. I look back on photos I took recently and photos I took when I started, and wow, the difference is incredible. You will grow and get better, but you have to put yourself out there.
Photography is like anything new — the hardest part is just beginning and taking that leap off the diving board into the pool of unknown. But if you learn the basics, find your focus, set goals, and get out there and learn through experience, you will be well on your way to setting yourself up for success.
