Many of us fantasize about the ability to take superb photographs but feel limited by our lack of knowledge, skill or equipment. Myself included. I am lucky enough to have a nice DSLR camera. But the knowledge and skill part is where I fall short. My photography experiences includes working one summer with a wedding photographer and taking a film photography and black and white developing class. Both happened while I was in high school. Everything else is pretty much self taught, practice and reading digital photography blogs.
That’s why when I discovered Beyond Snapshots, I was thrilled. The blog only began January 2010, but Rachel and Peta (the two masterminds and photographers behind Beyond Snapshots) has all ready taught me so much. They are sharing photography secrets and tips to help others take pictures beyond the auto mode. My favorite part about the site thus far? The Spotted segment where they take someone’s photograph and provide constructive criticisms. I’m learning how to really look at photographs in an artistic way. At the same time, it is improving my photography. Thanks Rachel and Peta for sharing your talent with us!
» Tell me… What has helped you improve your photography skills?
Honestly I think the the main thing that has helped my photography improve is practice. The more pictures I take, the more I learn about my camera and the more I am able to get great shots. I also really enjoy looking at other photographer’s work and getting inspiration from them!
Oooh! That looks like a very helpful blog. I’m always on the lookout for photography tips and tricks to try. Thanks for passing along the link.
For me, photography is trial and error and LOTS of practice. I’m pitifully slow in manual mode, so I mainly use Av. I’d like to get better with Photoshop Elements, but it still makes me cry.
I’ve been enjoying your blog for a little while. Love the idea of your 52 date nights!!
Thanks for sharing a link to that blog, I will continue reading from there.
I’m sure this is the magic word: practice. I’ve been taking so many more pictures much more often and I have seen improvement in getting the photo I want in less takes and getting many more interesting shots.
Yes, I have found practice is key. Anyone with tricks on how to remember to take pictures? Do you keep your camera on you all the time?
Hey Tiffany – I don’t have much time to comment, but I wanted to quickly tell you that I follow your site and think you are awesome!
And to think, I knew you “way back when”.
Mary J.
Thanks, Mary! Thanks for reading even when you have your hands full with your 3 little ones. Tell the girls I said hello!
i would agree on the practice thing. i had a film slr camera that i used to use often and then got out of the habit. i love my new cannon dslr…especially for practicing. it allows me to play with the settings and see the results immediately so i can refresh my memory regarding f-stops and such without waiting to finish a roll and get it printed. i also love looking at other people’s photography and art to get ideas and inspiration. great blog, tiffany!
Nothing has improved me just yet…but I’m working on that =)
I think the thing that has helped me improve the most is figuring out exactly what I like about someone else’s picture. Is it the angle? The lighting? The focus? What is actually in the frame? I don’t have a fancy camera, but I actually like the pictures I take of my kids better than the pictures they take at the “fancy picture places.”
It captures their life and joy more accurately.