Every photographer, no matter how experienced, makes mistakes. This video outlines seven common mistakes in photography and provides practical tips to correct them.
Coming to you from Jason Vong, this insightful video starts with the mistake of learning from the wrong sources. Many beginners turn to general photography forums or social media groups that offer conflicting advice. This leads to confusion and slower growth. Instead, it’s better to find resources specific to your niche or style.
Next, Jason covers the issue of over-reliance on wide autofocus. When shooting a broad scene, many tend to use the camera’s default wide area autofocus setting. This can lead to missing focus on the intended subject. Jason advises always selecting a specific focus point to ensure your subject is sharp. He emphasizes the importance of smaller focus areas, even if the camera has advanced features like eye-tracking. The smaller the focus point, the less guessing the camera has to do, giving you a better chance of capturing your subject crisply.
Another key takeaway is understanding the difference between blur and misfocus. Many photographers mistake blur for focus issues, but blur is usually due to slow shutter speed or subject movement. The solution is to use shutter priority mode and adjust the shutter speed based on the type of movement you’re capturing. Jason offers some general guidelines, like 1/250 s for portraits and 1/500 s for fast-moving subjects. Mastering this technique can greatly increase the chances of capturing motion without sacrificing clarity.
Jason also touches on a common misconception—always using the lowest f-stop. While wide apertures like f/1.4 are great for low-light and creating that beautiful bokeh, they aren’t always necessary. You might blur too much of the scene and lose context. He uses an example of photographing a lock-covered fence in New York City: when shot with a wide aperture, the image loses its sense of place. By narrowing the aperture, more context is captured, enhancing the storytelling aspect of the photo.
In the final sections, Jason reminds photographers to consider who they’re shooting for. Are you aiming to impress peers in online forums, or are you creating images for clients and loved ones? Your audience’s expectations should guide your creative choices. The technical perfection that may impress other photographers often doesn’t matter to clients, who focus more on the overall emotion and story conveyed by your photos. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Vong.
