6 Beginner Photography Tips

If you just started with digital photography, the tips below can be useful to you.

1. Hold your wallet

I know how it feels when you see someone taking picture with DSLR camera. If you have heard the sound of the shutter of the DSLR camera, you probably will say to yourself that you also want the camera as birthday gift.

But before you rush into that, you might want to start your digital photography journey with a point and shoot camera. Besides, if you ask the experienced photographers, they will tell you that it is the photographer who takes great pictures. A high end DSLR camera is merely a plus point.

Who knows you might get bored with digital photography? Then your expensive digital camera might go wasted or listed in ebay.

2. Understand your camera

This might be the most important tip in this whole post.

I still remember how excited I was when I first got my camera and I am all pumped up to start taking picture. How hard can it be? You just lift the camera, look into the LCD screen and press the shutter button. And you will see a nice picture. But have you ever thought that your pictures can be better?

Let's take the white balance for example. Depends on your light source, it is possible that your picture will turn out slightly blue or red. And until you adjust your white balance, your pictures will feel different than other photographer.

So, when you got your camera, take a deep breath, relax and go through your manual and experience the camera settings.

3. Learn the basic

Since you are taking time to understand your digital camera, why don't you take the same time to learn the basic of digital photography as well?

If the manual doesn't provide you with the adequate information about digital photography, you can always look into the search engines for more. There are a lof of websites and blog that offer free digital photography tips.

So, make it a habit to read 2-3 articles or blog post about digital photography every alternate day and experiment what you learn with your camera. It can be very exciting when you see the pictures you took with what you have learn.

If you are worry about the cost, why should you? With digital photography, you are film free. You can simply delete the pictures that you don't like (although I will recommend you to keep those pictures for a while, you will know why by referring here).

And if you are learning from the internet, you just pay for the normal internet connection. If you are busy or the information seems overwhelming, you can always save the article in a folder and go back to it later.

4. Keep your camera

Have you ever wonder why you didn't have your camera with you during certain moment? It just makes you want to pound yourself for leaving the camera at home.

Great pictures often appear when you least expect it and I always see that during dinner with friends. You can't imagine how well the chefs set the plates nowadays, it is a waste if you like food and photography. Besides, if you visit the restaurant for the first time, you probably want to capture the ambience of the surrounding with your camera. It can be a great topic to share among friends too.

And to avoid missing all these precious moments, I now make sure that I at least carry my compact digital camera when I go out for dinner.

5. Tripod

You might be thinking, why you should get a tripod when your digital camera already comes with the anti-shake function. If you have compare pictures taken with and without a tripod (even with anti-shake function activated), you will see the reason why you need a tripod. The difference is even more significant when you are taking picture with low surrounding light where the shutter speed has to be delayed.

By mounting your camera on a tripod, it gives so much more stability to the camera and clearer pictures. Besides, tripods nowadays are affordable, light weight, portable and adjustable. If you are serious about digital photography, you should really consider getting the tripod.

6. Practice to improve

What more need to be said about this? If you want to have nice pictures; if you want to people to compliment about your pictures and if you want to come out triumphant in any digital photography competition, you have to practice to improve your digital photography skills.

Some of you might say that practicing is boring. I totally agree with you because I do felt that some time. I used to think how long I still need to become as good as the professional photographer. And to be frank with you, I have no idea.

Still, I know what I want with digital photography and I am going to work for it. I will continue to look for inspiration and improve my skills.

I hope you will do the same. :-)

Happy taking pictures,

Michael Wong. :-)