Why You Aren’t Taking Better Photos
- Why You Need to Rethink Your Camera Lenses
- This is the Single Biggest Photography Mistake Beginners Make
If you're reading this article, I'm assuming it's because you aren't satisfied with the photos that you take.
That doesn't mean that you have to take terrible pictures, either.
What makes the great photographers great is that they never settle and are constantly in pursuit of ways to improve their images.
That should be true for all of us, whether you've just picked up a camera or you're a decades-long photography veteran.
In the video above, Peter McKinnon hits on this very subject of why you aren't taking better photos.
The purpose of his video is to shed light on some things that might be holding you back as a photographer and to challenge you to think about how you go about the business of taking pictures so that you can improve.
For quick reference, I've outlined a few of Peter's top tips for how to be a better photographer below.
Editor's Tip: If you're shooting with old, dysfunctional gear, it might be time for an upgrade. Stretch your dollar further by investing in quality pre-owned gear. Start your search now.
How to Be a Better Photographer: Be Careful With Social Media
As Peter points out in the video, social media can be a great medium for photographers.
Not only does it allow you to share your work quickly and easily, but it also allows you to connect with other photographers with whom you might not otherwise connect.
Social media gives photographers an easy way to join communities, get feedback on their work, and learn from other photographers as well.
Of course, one of the downsides with social media is that it's easy to look at other people's photos and start to feel inadequate about what you're doing.
What's more, there's a lot of negativity on social media that can easily get you down about the quality of the images you create.
The solution to these problems is to simply unplug for a bit. Stop worrying about what other people are doing, how your photos compare to the work of others, and what others are saying about your images, and just go shoot.
The more time you spend taking photos, the better your photos will become!
Learn More:
Tips for Taking Pictures: Don't Take Advantage of Digital
I think most of us would agree that digital photography has changed the medium for the better in many ways.
Not only is digital more convenient, it's also opened the doors of photography to many, many more people, and that's a good thing!
But the problem with digital photography is that it's too easy to take advantage of.
As Peter notes, sometimes photographers can get lazy because they know that if their photo isn't that great that they can delete it and fire off a dozen more shots in quick order.
The problem with relying on the convenience of digital is that it can take away the thinking part of photography to some degree.
That is, with film, you were forced to slow things down and really think about what you were doing because you only had a certain number of frames with which to work.
If you want to learn how to take good photos, try limiting yourself to how many shots you can take.
With just 24 frames, for example, see what you can do when photographing a landscape or taking a portrait. It might sound strange to limit yourself to make yourself a better photographer, but you'll find that it will actually have a distinct impact on how you work and on the quality of your photos, too.
Editor's Tip: As you gain photography skills, you might outgrow the gear you currently have. Upgrade your kit by selling or trading in your old gear. Find out how.
How to Take Good Photos: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Another reason why some photographers plateau and become dissatisfied with their images is because they get stuck in a rut.
I'm certainly an example of that because in years past I only took photos of landscapes.
I love landscapes, and there's certainly no problem with having a niche in which you specialize, but if you never try to take other types of photos, you can begin to lose your creative edge.
To resolve this issue, spend some time out of your comfort zone and photographing things that you normally wouldn't photograph.
If you take mostly landscape photos, try macro photography. If you specialize in street photography, try bird photography. You get the point...
Trying new things will help you develop your creative eye, and you can use that added creativity for taking better pictures all the way around.
