Photography is fast becoming one of the world’s most popular hobbies to engage in. Not only does it encourage creativity but it also allows you to capture precious moments and remember them for years to come. Anyone can pick up a camera, point, and click, which is one of the beauties of photography. To become a pro, however, takes much time and dedication.

This doesn’t mean it’s out of reach, it just means you have to think about the stages of your learning and purchase the right equipment as and when you need it. The last thing you want to happen is to buy all the gear and have no idea, besides, it’s expensive! Here we are going to take a look into a few tips and tricks for you to widen your repertoire and essentially become a better photographer. Here’s how to improve your photography skills.

Your Camera

Let us start with the most basic of needs when taking photographs – your camera! If you’re thinking about uploading these to your computer and editing them then it’s safe to say we are going to be looking at DSLRs (digital single-lens reflex cameras). The good thing is that there are plenty on the market, all of which vary in price.

To begin with, there isn’t much point in shelling out thousands of dollars on a camera. You need to build your skills to a level where you can utilize the extra settings and abilities these cameras have. Start with something cheaper and just enjoy taking photographs, this way you’ll learn about yourself as a photographer, what you like studying, and what features you might need in a camera that’s more expensive.

There are two companies that are synonymous with great photography and they are Canon and Nikkon. Both companies make incredible beginner cameras that start around $3-600. Here’s your best starting point.

Your Software

Something beginners don’t tend to think of is the software they are going to use for editing their photos once uploaded to the computer. One good piece of advice comes from the folks over at parkerphotographic.com/: use free trials and try out as much software as you need to find the one that suits you best. Once you’ve decided, there are plenty of courses you can take part in to truly hone your skills and become a hotshot editor.

Take your time learning how to edit properly, this can be the making or breaking of a beautiful picture. Sure, you may have captured a brilliant scene whilst on a walk, but making it pop off the screen or from a frame is a tough skill to grasp.

Use A Tripod

If you’re after the perfect landscape shot or even a set of headshots then using a tripod is going to give you the perfect advantage. Not many people use a tripod, especially amateur photographers. However, the great thing about using tripods is that it forces you to stop and think about your composition. Where you’re pointing the camera, what your subject is, how the background is looking, more thought is required which means your end product will be of higher quality.

Join A Club

Photography is great because it’s something you can do wherever, whenever. You don’t need to be with anyone else, all you need is your trusty camera and a nice walk. That’s not to say talking with other photographers isn’t going to be helpful, especially when you’re learning. Joining a club and learning from others is going to accelerate your growth and learning journey within the world of photography. Find a club and go along for a chat.

Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

We all get stuck in comfort zones. They’re easy, nice, some may even say comfortable. But that’s not going to help you improve. Find something that makes you feel uneasy and go after it with full force. Take animals, for example, many photographers will avoid taking photos of animals because they’re notoriously difficult to capture. They move a lot, they hide, they don’t do as you ask. All of these points are why you need to try. Taking portraits will seem like a walk in the park after snapping the birds in your local park.

Photography is great. It gets you out of the house, allows you to be creative, encourages your brain to think outside the box. It truly is a brilliant hobby, and an even better career if you can raise your skill level high enough. Here we mentioned 5 pointers to improve your photography skills but there are, in fact, hundreds more. Keep pointing, keep shooting, and you’ll get better every day.