Seven Things a Photographer Wishes He Knew When He Started

When you are new to photography, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to nail down the fundamentals, build a signature creative style, and work toward a career and financial success all at the same time. This excellent video discusses seven things a photographer wishes he had learned when he first started in the industry.

Coming to you from Evan Ranft, this awesome video features him discussing seven things he wishes he had learned about photography when he first started. Of the lessons, I think the most important for me was simply spending more time practicing. I spent a lot of time when I first started out reading and watching videos, and while that's certainly important to learning and improving, if you don't consistently go out with your camera and put those lessons to work, they won't do you much good. Similarly, it takes a long time to develop a personal style, and there are really no shortcuts to doing that. You simply have to put in the time experimenting with your camera and working your way to both technical aptitude and creative experience and control. Check out the video above for the rest of Ranft's thoughts. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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1 Comment

Valid points were made.

Organize your files: In 1981, when I started with film photography, I used a numbering system for the film rolls of: Year-Roll #
More tech isn't always best: I started photography with a Canon A-1. Later, I bought a used Canon New F-1; that year, I bought a Canon 5D Mk III. I still enjoy using my film cameras.
Make sure to document your life: I need to do more of this! I'm not getting any younger. I've been scanning photos beginning from 1981 and family and friends age without you noticing.