Photography basics aren’t so basic
Learning photography can be stressful. Beginner photographers find themselves scouring the internet for Photoshop tricks, photography ideas, Lightroom presets, editing tips, and lighting tutorials. It is down right overwhelming, and the information is endless. Let’s break it down real talk for once.
Learning photography is like a trip to Ikea
Ever walked into an Ikea before? Your first visit is overwhelming. You want all the things, but you leave with a box of AA batteries, a 57 cents blue tote bag, and a candle, none of which you actually needed.
However, your second trip to Ikea is easier. You know the layout. You’ve navigated their website and searched for items you saw during your initial visit. You have a game plan this time. You now know to take it section by section, room by room, and that’s what I wish I had when I began learning photography—a tour guide. I needed a basic outline of photography for beginners. Where do I start? What camera do I need? What is the exposure triangle? Why is my image overexposed?
Maybe you aren’t interested in starting a photography business. Maybe you’re like I was. Maybe you’re in beginner mode and are just drawn to the creativity of images. Either way, I’m a get-things-done kind of person, so let’s get it done.
The not-s0-basic basics
There is no need to even purchase a camera until you know about the exposure triangle. I said it. Photography equipment, techniques, outdoor lighting, indoor lighting, and camera tips are completely useless if you don’t build a foundation for learning.
Generally, there are three basic parts to creating a properly exposed image. Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO work together to balance an image. Ever seen an image that was too bright or too dark? This is because there was an improper balance of one of these elements of the exposure triangle.
Aperture, for lack of technicalities, control the bokeh, or blur, in the background and foreground and how many people are in focus. Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second, and this is the element that will keep you from getting ghost-like images of your child running. The faster the shutter, the more motion you capture. Think of ISO like the third element that adds light and helps balance the other parts; however, there is always a give-and-take relationship within the triangle. If you crank up your ISO too much, you end up with grainy, noisey images.
Lighting can ironically make you want to hide in a dark closet
You can take professional looking images with just a basic grasp on photography lighting alone. Outdoor lighting is tricky, and there are several elements involved when trying to create the perfect image. A simple technique when shooting outdoors is to find shade whenever it is sunny. Shade provides an even canvas to work with when shooting your subjects during the day. Shade also eliminates all of the shadows and squinting eyes of your subjects. A very common mistake beginner photographers make is shooting portraits in bright sunlight in the middle of a field. Trust me. I’ve been there.
Editing
I can remember Googling and YouTubing a million ways of editing with Photoshop, but what I didn’t realize in the beginning is that I just needed to focus on learning color in Lightroom. I needed to learn to look at an image and play with the temperature sliders until I trained my eye to see color within my image. Is this image too warm? Is it too cool? Do I need to adjust my temperature slider to the left or right?
Lightroom is not as complex as Photoshop, but it is my preference as a way to initially edit and organize all of my images. I can then export to Photoshop for fancy editing. A number of photographers also use Adobe Bridge to apply their basic edits; however, I find Lightroom to be easier to use, and it is also works across my devices. I can log into my Lightroom Creative Cloud (Lightroom CC) app on my phone and have access to all of my basics edits and presets to apply to mobile images as well.
Posing all of those people (all ‘dem)
When it comes to newborn photography, family photography, baby photography, senior photography, wedding photography, and all of the other types of photography out there, posing can make or break a portrait. These are techniques that come with time, and I can remember not having a clue what to do for posing in my beginner days as a photographer. Afterall, you’re trying to somehow figure out lighting, get your camera settings straight, make sure your subjects are in focus, all while trying to maintain a decent conversation with them at the same time because getting your photos taken is awkward for people! It’s a lot to keep up with. A few tips and tricks that I have learned over the years include making sure that Mom is placed slightly further from the camera than Dad. I’m a mama myself, and I do not want to look bigger than everyone else in photos. Also, don’t have your clients stretch their legs out in front of them while sitting. All you see are the bottoms of their shoes!
Keep in mind what Mama wants. I hate to put it this way, but 9 times out of 10, mamas booked the photos, and Mama wants to look good. Took me years to figure out that I needed to bump that up the list of priorities for sessions. You can get all the creative shots in the world, but if Mama isn’t happy, no one is.
For photos of fast children or toddlers, formal posing is less likely. Aim for lifestyle images after you get that looking and smiling image. Simply want them to look up? Give them something to do, and then have a list of startle ideas for kids ready. By startle ideas, I mean a squeaky chicken in your back pocket, a whistle in the other pocket, a jump, a leap, a growl. Get your props ready in the back of your mind, and be prepared to be quick-on-the-draw because it will only buy you a few seconds in a lot of cases. Fast children are my main line of work, and I love the challenge. Get your yoga pants ready because sweating is the name of the game when photographing children!
Conclusion
Yes, photography is overwhelming (but it’s just so darn pretty and fun). No matter how many years someone has been in the photography business, there is still more to learn. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Let’s break down each part of the learning process into steps. You simply need a place to start.
You need an organizational pattern to keep all of the tutorials and tricks together in your mind. If you’re in the middle of learning, know that I have been there. It feels like putting together a 100,000 piece puzzle, and all of the pieces are spread out all over the floor and the dog probably even ate a few. I get it, and I wish you the very best on this journey. Do not give up.
Let me take you on this journey with me. Start by checking out my Mama’s Guide to Shooting People: A Beginner’s Guide to Photography as part of my Mama Collection. Let’s make it easier on you and give you a place to start.
