Everyone needs to flex their creative muscles and photography is a great way to do just that. These days, you don’t need a fancy camera or other gear to take photographs. A smartphone with a camera is perfectly adequate to start with.

It doesn’t matter whether you have an iPhone, the latest DSLR, or an old, dinged up 35mm camera — there’s nothing stopping you from dipping your toe into the art of photography.

As a beginner, you’ll probably be full of questions, so I’ve put together a few tips for new photographers that will point you in the right direction.

1. TAKE IT SLOW

Photography isn’t going anywhere, so you don’t need to cover all of it in a week, or a month, or even a year. Throwing yourself into a new activity can be exhilarating, but it can also result in creative burnout before you’ve had a chance to get going if you’re not careful.

If you’re a perfectionist, then it’s easy to get disheartened when your first photographs don’t come out looking as you expected. This is why it’s better to start gradually and take your time. I know that it’s frustrating to not get instant results, but taking great photographs takes practice, time, and patience. Just ask Annie Leibovitz.

2. BECOME FRIENDS WITH YOUR CAMERA

Your camera is your friend, so treat it like one.

Take it with you when you go places, look after it carefully, and (above all) have fun with it! What’s great about photography is that absolutely anything can be a subject, even empty space – minimalism is a fascinating niche to explore.

If you want to practice, then take photos wherever you go (within reason, of course). Get to know your camera as you would a friend. Spend time with it and find out what makes it tick.

3. YOU DON’T NEED TO SPLURGE ON GEAR

One of the most important tips for new photographers is that you don’t need to splurge on a lot of new gear. Not only is the newest equipment expensive, but it might actually take away from the experience of learning photography at the beginning.

When you start off with photography, it is best to learn by doing. And, learning by doing entails working with the basics before playing with high-tech tools.

If you have a 35mm SLR, then you have no choice but to begin with the basics:

Light (known as aperture)
Shutter speed
Composition

On a DSLR there are many different settings. Make sure you start with Manual Mode, which allows you to set the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO just as you would on an analog camera.

DSLR settings also include Aperture Priority Mode and Shutter Priority Mode, which allow you some control over settings without the pressure of balancing them all together. They’re a great way to start if Manual Mode is a little too daunting at first.

4. LEARN ABOUT SHUTTER SPEED

As I mentioned before, one of the basics of photography is learning shutter speed. And, luckily, it’s a fairly simple concept. The shutter in your camera opens, allowing light to reach the sensor within. Shutter speed refers to the time the sensor is exposed (i.e. how fast the shutter opens and closes).

The faster the shutter speed, the less time light has to reach the sensor, which is great for bright environments or when you’re trying to freeze motion. When you’re in a dark environment, the shutter must stay open longer to allow in more light or your resulting image will be hard to see. Any shutter speed above 1/125^th of a second is sufficient for capturing a clear image in good lighting if the subject is relatively stationary.

5. LEARN ABOUT APERTURE

Another one of the basic tips for new photographers is to learn about aperture. A camera’s aperture is the opening through which light enters the camera and reaches the sensor. It’s quite helpful to think of the aperture as part of an eyeball. The pupil is the hole through which light travels. The larger the aperture, the more light can come through.

On a camera you can set the aperture by choosing from several “f-stops”, typically ranging from about f/1.4 all the way up beyond f/32. The smaller the number the wider the aperture, which means a brighter image and a shallower depth of field. Shallow depth of field results in bokeh (or the blur behind your subject). So, if you’re wanting a single subject to be the focal point of your photo, you’ll want to use a lower f-stop (which is great for portraits or macro photography). And, if you want more of your image in focus you’ll want to use a higher f-stop (which is good for landscapes or group photos).

The numbers might seem confusing at first, but through trial and error, you’ll become a natural!

6. BEGIN TO SEE THE WORLD LIKE A PHOTOGRAPHER

After practicing photography for several years, it has become second nature to look at the world around me through a mental viewfinder. I don’t go around pretending I have a camera glued to my face, of course. But, I look at my surroundings with a more analytical eye than I did before I found photography.

Absolutely anything can make a good photograph. It just depends on how you see it.

The wisdom that accompanies this principle, however, is that it’s unlikely you’ll take a profoundly meaningful photo of a cup of coffee without first developing your photographic eye and settling into your own style.

7. FIND YOUR VOICE

Another one of the most important tips for new photographers is to find your voice. Just like an author, each photographer has their own unique style and way of seeing the world.

At first, it will probably feel you’re taking snapshots without any real focal point. But, before long, you’ll start feeling your way around this craft. You’ll want to create images that express your personal vision and convey your point of view to an observer.

Finding your style requires experimentation and practice. After all, you can’t run before you can walk!

A great way to create a visual representation of your progress is to set up an online portfolio website. That way, you can see exactly how you’re developing your voice, and thereby shape and mold your journey as you grow and learn.

8. HAVE FUN!

It probably sounds clichéd, but having fun is extremely important when you start photography.

Harsh criticism and judgment can easily ruin any enjoyable hobby. So, start off slowly and don’t rush yourself. If you aren’t having fun, it’s unlikely that you’ll stick with it.

“Having fun” means different things to different people. So, you’ll need to experiment a lot to discover your own sweet spot. There are so many different fields in photography that you’re sure to discover a niche you love. Landscape, portraiture, minimalism, abstract, sport, lifestyle, street… the choices are endless!

There’s also a multitude of ways to print your photos, which allows for an abundance of experimentation. Whether you set up your own darkroom or have a photo printer, play around and see what works with your own style. There are countless editing options too! You can use Lightroom to customize your image or use Photoshop to create masterpieces reflective of your own unique vision. In the end, editing is half the fun!

These tips for new photographers can really help when you’re first starting out. Just remember, nothing can replace the education that comes from exploring your camera and figuring out how to use it in a way that works for you.

So, get out there and start taking some photos!

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