5 Habits that keep you from reaching full potential

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Habits are very easy to pick up in photography. As a rookie, even if you are aware or not, you look to others for examples of how to do things, without always being able to tell if it’s right or wrong. That’s how some bad habits are developed. Mind you, these are not the kind of habits that will keep you from taking great photos, but they are the kind that might make you miss some, or they might keep you from making the best of a certain situation. Here they are, along with the explanations of why they are wrong.

1. Taking the camera away from your eye

This goes for the times you need to change the settings. It’s a mistake that almost every photographer makes. Think about it, whenever you need to change the ISO or white balance, you bring the camera down and read the LCD screen. Needless to say, in that one or two seconds, a lot of things can happen without you focusing on them and you could miss the action. From my own experience, it takes quite an effort to break this habit, and even after some practice I still find myself doing it. The best thing to do is to make sure your settings are right (as much as possible) before you start shooting. If changes are required, constantly make an effort to remind yourself that you can change most of the settings while still looking through the viewfinder.

2. Forgeting to level of when framing

Sometimes the beauty of a scene or the perfect moment can have a powerful impact on us. So powerful, that we tend to tilt the frame, especially when there is a horizon involved. The distraction can be natural, but you should always remember to check the level in the composition and make sure everything is lined up, unless you want it otherwise.

3. Talking with the camera at eye level

Whenever you’re photographing someone, you should have good communication with that person. That means looking at each other while talking, so try not to talk from behind the camera. Not only is it rude, it will also make your subject uncomfortable and that has the potential of ruining your session.

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4. Standing in one place

This is another common, easy to make mistake. You’re particularly vulnerable when using a long lens, because that is indeed a situation in which stillness is required. However, most photographers forget to move after taking the photo and thus miss the opportunity of experimenting new angles. It is therefore a bad habit that limits creativity, but it can be controlled with a little self-discipline and will power.

5. Making conscious mistakes because you’ll edit them later

Photoshop is a fantastic tool, but using it improperly can backfire. That means relying on it when you shouldn’t. The avoidable mistakes you make while shooting are your fault and fixing them on a computer will only take more time and energy out of the creative process that editing should be. It’s a cliché, but it’s true: you should, to the best of your abilities, try to get everything (or at least as much as possible) right from the camera. Some unwanted elements can be avoided when you frame, others can’t. That’s fine to fix, but neglecting proper exposure, white balance, and other crucial settings isn’t.

Also Read: 5 COMMON REASONS FOR TAKING PHOTOS FOR FREE AND WHY IT IS WRONG TO DO SO.

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