When you're a beginner photographer, it can be a little overwhelming sifting through the many thousands of photography tutorials that can be found online.
On top of that, many photography tutorials focus on complex topics that might overwhelm you even further.
If you're simply looking for a few practical photography tips to help you get started, though, this is the place!
From tips on gear selection to advice on how to find your creativity and points in between, this list is a great spot to begin your photography journey.
Get Inspired
Before you even take a single photo, it can help to peruse photos that other people have taken.
From learning about little-known places near you to photograph to figuring out what kind of photography you most appreciate, a quick scan through Instagram, the PhotographyTalk galleries, or websites like Flickr can unleash all sorts of inspiration.
But don't just look at photos for a split second before moving on - instead, really think about why the photo caught your eye. Was it the subject? The lighting? The colors?
Do the same for photos that you don't like, too. Part of becoming a better photographer is figuring out what works and what doesn't, and giving a quick inspection of other people's photos is a great way to do that.
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Invest in High-Quality Gear
You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on fancy photography gear to take great photos. But upgrading the gear you have with better stuff certainly doesn't hurt!
One photography accessory that I see many, many beginner photographers neglect is their shoulder strap.
Sure, your camera likely came with a cheap, flimsy strap, but that's not how you want to carry your camera gear, especially on long days of shooting.
Instead, you can upgrade your strap without spending much money by investing in a HiiGuy Camera Strap.
I'll be honest - when I ordered my strap from HiiGuy, I wasn't expecting much because of the under-$30 price point.
But man, was I surprised when I opened the package and saw what this strap has to offer.
Aside from being extremely comfortable thanks to its big, soft shoulder pad, the craftsmanship of this strap is excellent.
The stitching is beautiful, the materials are durable, and you can just tell that there was a lot of pride put into the strap.
What's more, the HiiGuy camera strap is incredibly functional.
The silicone coating on the shoulder pad prevents it from sliding around while the metal connectors ensure a safe and reliable connection between the strap and your camera.
There's a built-in pocket on the shoulder pad, which is handy for storing memory cards and spare batteries, while the highly adjustable length of the strap allows photographers of all sizes to use it.
It's simply a great investment and provides top functionality - much more so than the factory camera strap that came with your camera!
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Don't Just Focus on the Technical Things
As I mentioned earlier, looking at photos that other people have taken can help you get started in photography on the right foot.
But aside from finding inspiration from what other people have done, examining photos that you like can also help you develop your eye for the artistic side of photography.
That is, making a great photo isn't just about technical precision like dialing in the right camera settings. Instead, you also need to understand the fundamentals of things like composition to create the best images.
So, doing things like learning how to use leading lines in a landscape photo and how to apply the rule of thirds to portraits is just as essential as learning how to shoot in manual mode and developing an understanding of white balance.
In the end, a beautiful photo is created because of your ability to do all those things (and many more!).