4 Ways to Improve Your Photography Without Taking More Photos
- National Geographic Photo Basics: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Great Photography
- Photography: The Definitive Visual History
- Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs
- Challenge Yourself By Taking Different Types of Portraits
- Increase Your Photography Income With These Easy Side Gigs
Photo by Emma Dau on Unsplash
Something I rarely talk about here is defeat. But, oftentimes I feel defeated in my career. It can be difficult to try and make something and love something at the same time.
It’s also difficult to not overly criticize yourself. I’ve been caught in the loop of looking at my photos, thinking they weren’t good enough, and then immediately going out to take new, better photos. The problem with that method is that it is self-defeating and really doesn’t get me anywhere.
Sometimes when you’re feeling defeated with your photography, you need to take a new approach other than immediately hitting the streets in search of your next perfect shot.
If you’re looking to improve your photography, try taking less photos and instead focusing on these ideas.
Before you dive into the tutorial, give the video above a look. I tested (with real-world and a couple of silly tests for fun) several canvas printing companies to see who's worthy of printing your images!
Do Your Research
Photo by lalo Hernandez on Unsplash
Sometimes there is nothing more fun than Google. Do you remember when everyone first started learning about Google and would sit down for hours to try and find the answers to their most wondered questions?
Channel that sort of late 90s enthusiasm back into researching your industry.
Figure out where your next photoshoot is going to be held, and find out everything there is to know about that area. The locals always know best and blogs are a great resource for finding out insider information.
Photo by Einar H. Reynis on Unsplash
Then, when you’ve found out all the information you can from Google, go scout the location.
Photography exercises can only do so much, sometimes you simply need to observe the place you’re going to be photographing.
Recommended Photography Reading
Focus on Your Editing Skills
Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash
We all understand that editing is a necessary part of photography and doesn’t make your photography any less noteworthy just because it’s been altered.
But, not enough of us sit down and take the time to examine what parts of the editing process we really need help with.
There’s no way to improve your photography without also improving your post-processing.
A general mistake most beginners make is to overdo their editing, so think about finding a photographer’s work that you like and asking them about their process.
Practice makes perfect, so the more time you spend working on editing your photos, the faster you’ll be and the better your photos will look. It’s a win-win!
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Practice Using Your Artist’s Eye
Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash
We all have the ability to get out of our comfort zones and examine our surroundings as if we have never done so before.
One trick I use is to flip my world upside down by lying down on my back and looking up at my environment. Our brain is used to processing information around us in a specific way and the goal of this tip is to take everything your brain thinks it knows and throw it out the window.
Once you start practicing viewing your surroundings differently than everyone else, it will be hard to stop. Use this to your advantage. Focus on the things nobody else does, and improved photos will be the result
Print Your Photos
Photo by bady qb on Unsplash
I think disposable cameras are making a comeback with the younger generation because they realize how valuable having photos in front of you are.
If you’re really looking to improve your photography, then start printing your photos.
I’m a big fan of canvas prints specifically because they give you the ability to constantly critique your work while simultaneously acting as a family heirloom.
And if you’re looking for a great deal on your canvas prints, then use CanvasHQ. They have high-quality canvases at affordable prices so you don’t have to sacrifice the longevity of your photos or your budget.
CanvasHQ crafts their products using the finest materials - archival-grade canvas, professional inks, and hand-made frames. These canvases are made with love and care, and it shows!
This isn’t just lip-service, either. I have dozens of canvases in my home, and they are all from CanvasHQ.
These guys know what they’re doing, they do it fast, and if there’s a problem, they fix it immediately. What’s not to like about that?!
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