My Top 6 Tips for New Photographers
01// SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT
Not only is this the only way to get used to your camera and the best ways to use it, but it’ll give you lots of opportunities to edit and practice lightroom/photoshop. Practice not only makes perfect, but it makes for faster working, which is crucial to running a full-time photography business. Do you ever wonder how photographers change the settings on their cameras SO FAST?? (I sure did!) Well the answer is easy: lots and lots and lots of PRACTICE!
Another thing that will come quicker and easier after practice, is posing your subjects. Practice shooting is going to help you learn the best angles, the most flattering poses, and what to do/avoid at a shoot to help your future clients look and feel their best!
02// Experiment with different shooting and editing styles, and figure out what your personal style really is.
Its possible to absolutely love a different photographers style, and still have your style be different from theirs. You might like a lot of aspects from several different styles, and that will come together to make your unique style! Find things from multiple different places that inspire you (nature, magazines, movies, music, Pinterest, real life, etc.) and remind yourself of your style consistently to be true to it.
Don’t veer from what you love, just because you think other people might like that style! You, being true to what you love and are passionate about, will show through your work. That is what will bring the raw emotion and connection that art can provide!
Find the time of day that you like best, the location type, etc. Try so many different things in every aspect. Ways of shooting are all SO different, experiment with all different styles to help yourself both be educated and have enough experience to find what you truly love.
03// Invest in yourself - both time and $
Every single time I invest money in myself, I see a turnaround, and I see growth. I have never done a styled shoot, or gone to a content day/workshop without seeing a major turnaround in both bookings and numbers on social media. There are a million ways to invest, definitely figure out which ways are going to be best for your specific personality and business style!
Note, you don’t need an amazing camera to be an amazing photographer. I shot my first few weddings on a very inexpensive and old Canon Rebel - people still loved the photos and kept wanting to book me, so I must have been doing something right!
If you can take amazing photos on a cheap camera, imagine what you will be able to do on a more expensive camera! Don’t think that you need to spend a billion dollars and have the nicest equipment to be a successful photographer.
04// Take advantage of free advertising, and learn how to rock it
Instagram, Pinterest, SEO… there are SO MANY ways to advertise for literally FREE. This is something we owe to technology, and is a part of the world that has never been available to generations before us. This is HUGE. 90% of my clients find me on Instagram or Pinterest.
The other 10% are referrals from those clients! There’s so many podcasts and free resources that can teach you how to rock the social media/online advertising world, and can motivate you to jump right in and go for it!
05// Learn the “rules”
Rules of composition, why golden hour is so popular, shooting in RAW, what part of the image to focus on… learn all of the rules!
Once you get the rules down, BREAK THEM! Nothing is a dead giveaway for a “new photographer” than a photographer who obviously doesn’t know the “rules”.
Has a photographer ever really stuck out to you, though? That’s probably because they were breaking those rules. Long story short - EDUCATE!
06// Network with other photographers and people in the industry that you want to enter into
Nothing is going to help your business MORE than networking. Community over competition is a thing for more reasons than just happy-go-lucky peace keeping. Those in your community are going to be your lifeline, your assets, your best friends, co-workers, and your mentors. I don’t know how to explain it very well, nor do I know why this is the case, but it is true. Trust me. Go make photographer friends.
Networking also extends to other vendors within the industry you’re entering into. i.e. for the wedding industry - meet florists, makeup artists, hair stylists, wedding planners, etc. and be their friends! You will have so much in common, and have many similar interests. Shoot with them - create with them. One of the most powerful ways to get into an industry is to have raving recommendations from people already in the industry!
Be confident. This is what you’re passionate about - that’s why you’re here. Trust that. Lean on that. Go with your gut. You’re doing this for a reason, and don’t ever forget it!
