The idea that skill outweighs gear when it comes to taking great photos is a fundamental truth that often gets overlooked. Many of us find ourselves tempted by the latest cameras or lenses, thinking they’ll be the magic key to better images. But, in reality, your ability as a photographer plays a much more significant role.
Coming to you from Rick Bebbington, this practical video dives into ways you can improve your photography without spending a dime. Bebbington starts by highlighting the importance of always having your camera with you. It’s a simple habit, but it can make a huge difference. Often, we leave our cameras tucked away because we believe that only specific times—like the golden hour—are good for shooting. This mindset limits our opportunities. By carrying your camera everywhere, you start to notice and capture moments you might have missed. Even if the lighting isn’t perfect, there’s always something to learn and a chance to practice. And practicing in less-than-ideal conditions prepares you for those rare moments when everything aligns perfectly.
Bebbington also emphasizes continuous learning. The internet is packed with resources—tutorials, articles, forums—that can help you sharpen your skills. But here’s the kicker: knowledge alone won’t improve your photography. The key is to practice what you learn. It's easy to get caught up in consuming information without applying it. Bebbington shares his own experience of being overwhelmed by too much knowledge and not enough practice. By focusing on one thing at a time—mastering a particular technique or learning a new feature on your camera—you can steadily build up your skills without feeling overwhelmed. This approach helps you develop the muscle memory needed to operate your camera instinctively, freeing you to focus on creativity rather than technicalities.
Another point Bebbington makes is about community. Engaging with other photographers, whether online or in person, can accelerate your learning and provide valuable feedback. Photography can be a solitary pursuit, but sharing your work with others, participating in challenges, or just discussing techniques can open up new perspectives.
Editing is another area where you can significantly improve your photos without any additional gear. Bebbington stresses that good editing can make or break an image. While many photographers prefer shooting to editing, learning how to properly edit your photos is crucial. Spending time to learn these tools will pay off in the quality of your final images. And as Bebbington points out, if you’re taking your camera everywhere, you’ll have plenty of material to practice on. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Bebbington.
I've always thought making an early career in the wedding genre made me a better photographer more than anything else. Every week I would have to critically cull and edit 1000s of images in all different styles of photography. Regardless of what you think of weddings, I'd recommend everyone shoot a handful of weddings even as a 2nd shooter because it will escalate your craft faster than anything else.
Agreed, immersion is an effective learning method. Weddings require so many different competencies from planning to shooting to post-processing that you find room for improvement and efficiency by necessity.
Probably true, yet personally, I have shied away from any photography for over 20 years thanks to the "photography community" I experienced. Being told how much my pictures sucked, that I was wasting gear and people 's time wasn't exactly encouraging.
Not giving a bleep about what some "community" thinks about my photos and experimenting on my own has taught me a lot. Enough that I now have "fans" and people who are willing to pay for photos I shoot.
My take away is: stay away from toxic communities that consider themselves masters. Look for people who love to fail, learn, improve and have fun.