Photography Basics Refresher for Professional Photographers

As you progress in your career, it’s easy to lose track of some of the photography basics for photographers. You gain skills, learn new tips and tricks, and forget some of the essential aspects of it all. Of course, you’ll remember that photography is all about light. You always have to keep in mind the exposure, aka the brightness or darkness of the photo. This will be affected by the aperture and depth of field, as they dictate how much light reaches the sensor. Your camera’s shutter speed dictates how the photograph will turn out. The higher the speed, the cleaner the action photos are, while the slower speed can create a surreal “motion blur.” The ISO speed will affect your camera’s sensitivity to light and allow you to take excellent photos in darker settings. Lastly, the white balance allows you to bring the colour temperature back to neutral. All of these works together to help you create the perfect photograph. But there are other photography basics for photographers, have a look.

Basics of Professional Photography

It’s not easy being a professional photographer. It can be a stressful job, and while you’re trying your hardest to satisfy your clients, some of the key aspects of photography can be overlooked. Here are some of the dos and don’ts of photography basics for photographers.

1. Don’t Go Crazy Buying the Most Expensive Equipment Right Away

Even inexpensive cameras can allow you to take beautiful photographs. Teaming up with smart photo editors can help you perfect your photos and get the best results. For starters, it’s a good idea to take a camera which allows you to adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO – as you figure out the exact features you need, you can easily upgrade.

2. Consider a Tripod

You can’t expect perfect professional photographs if your hands are shaky. A cup of coffee before the shoot can have a significant effect on the results, especially in darker settings with lower ISO speed. Investing in an inexpensive tripod will ensure better photos and more satisfied clients, so this is a must.

3. Keep Your Camera with You All the Time

You never know when you’ll come across just the perfect photo setting. You always want to be able to capture the moment and add new items to your online portfolio. It’s a good idea always to carry a small camera bag and a tripod. If that’s not possible, a smartphone with a decent camera can help you. Smart photo editors can improve your shots, or you can essentially take notes with it, then return to the scene prepared the following day.

4. Make a List of Shots You’d Like to Get

If you don’t have a camera or a smartphone at hand when the opportunity for a photo presents itself, take notes. Jot down the location, the time of day, the weather conditions, etc. This way, you can return to the scene at exactly the right time and take your shot.

5. Don't Overlook Mundane Subjects for Photography

It’s usually the simplest things that help you create the perfect photograph. You’re probably accustomed to seeing your backyard every day, so you notice nothing special there. But make sure that you’re always looking at things through a photographer’s eyes. You’ll catch an interesting trick of the light or notice something unique that’ll stand out in the photo.

6. Enjoy the Learning Process

Professional photographers who’ve been in the business for a long time often think they’ve seen and done it all. Don’t think like this. There’s always something new to learn, an interesting experience to go through, or an unusual client to satisfy. Enjoy this process – you only stand to gain something new from it.

7. Experiment with Your Camera’s Settings

Another of the photography basics for photographers that are often forgotten after years of experience in experimentation. Yes, you know the settings that seem the best to you, and you know which ISO speed to use when. But sometimes it’s the imperfections that make the photo mesmerizing. Play around with the camera’s settings, get out of your comfort zone, and experiment.

8. Learn the Basic Rules

Learn, or relearn, the basic rules of photography. Even with years of experience under your belt, you can forget some of the essentials. Maybe it’s because of the specific style you’ve developed, so you’ve learned not to follow a rule. Maybe you’ve overlooked something when you were starting.

9. Take Photos Regularly

This will not only allow you to keep up your skill level, but it will also allow you to update your portfolio. As a professional photographer, you simply must have your website and be active on it. Post blogs, vlogs, updates, and more. Most importantly – keep your portfolio fresh!

10. Learn Basic Post-Processing

You don’t have to learn absolutely everything about post-processing, but some basic information will help you make better photographs. As always, you can partner up with smart photo editors to truly bring all of your photos to life. But learning some of the basics will make it all much easier for you.

11. Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Even if your client is very specific about what they want and how they want it done, you should never be afraid to experiment. Of course, listen to your client, it’s crucial! But among the countless photos, you take for them, adding a few experimental photos can work wonders. Both you and your client might find something new that you like. Experimentation is key for professional photography.

Conclusion

These photography basics for photographers are easy to forget, but important nonetheless. Team up with smart photo editors to stand out from the competition. Update your website and portfolio regularly so that your clients can find you. Showcase all your work. If you take wedding photos, architecture photos, product photos, etc., upload some of them to your website. And keep learning and experimenting.