10 tips to keep you shooting and improving as a photographer

Before making money out of it, the best photographers first dove into the world of photography simply because they love it and are drawn to it. They have spent countless hours improving their technique and sleepless nights reviewing and editing the photos they’ve taken.

Most of the time, beginner photographers forget the user manual altogether due to their excitement to shoot. Be one with your camera. Learn every little bit about it to be truly flexible when it’s time to shoot. Practice what you’ve read. In this digital age, tutorials are available on YouTube for those who want to learn fast. Now that you know how to use your camera to its fullest, mind your focus. Shooting on auto mode can get a bit tricky especially when the focus captures the wrong object. Try shooting in manual mode and take control of your focus.

For proper lighting, shoot at golden hour. If you don’t know when that is, download mobile apps that can help you catch the golden hour wherever you are. Teach others what you learn from photography. By doing so, you can easily clarify basics and tricks in your mind. Watch a documentary to be inspired to be creative with your subjects. Make it a point to learn new techniques on a regular basis.

Get yourself out there and stand in between interesting stuff. Most of the time, those who improve fastest spend most of their time practicing the right method. Review your old photos and learn from them.

Jim Feldkamp is a San Francisco-based nature photographer and lover of the outdoors. For more updates from Jim, subscribe to this blog.