Click. Click. Click.

It’s the sound of pictures being taken all around you, a mixture of tourists, enthusiasts, and professionals. Photography or the action of taking photos is something we take for granted, as it has become as easy as pulling out our phones and tapping the screen. However, have you ever stopped and thought about why photography exists and what it’s used for? Photographs are meant to tell stories that words fail to express, they are timeless, and the compositions require some thought.

I was one of those people that hated taking pictures and even more being in them, but as technology progressed and I upgraded to my second phone, the iPhone 6, I grew an appreciation for wallpapers on my phone. Though using other people’s photographs was easy, I wanted to take pictures that I could call my own and show off on my lock screen. Yeah, I know what you must be thinking; you’re pretty sure that I just aimless pointed my phone around and clicked, but nothing……you’re totally right! At the point in time, I had no clue how to take the pictures I wanted and saw online, and I still didn’t have a clue until I started ShutterShop Photography. However, what I learned is that it’s never too late to start learning something new, and there is always something new to learn no matter how experienced you are. Now let me help you get started with photography!

1) Equipment Doesn’t Matter

Many people think that in order to take professional or even decent-looking photos, they have to invest a lot of money and buy the best equipment, but that’s not true. In reality, you just need a place to start. As I said before, I started taking pictures with my iPhone 6; this gave me an idea of what I liked to photograph and what kind of shots I wanted to get in the future. There are many cool things we can do with cameras on phones nowdays, and I would recommend starting there. When starting ShutterShop I actually didn’t have a professional camera, I used my iPhone X and tried to practice getting the right composition, playing different angles and editing skills. And if you’re at the point where you don’t know if you are good or not, try your luck on apps that let you compete with other photographers for money. Personally, I have used a few like Snapwire, Foap, and Twenty20, these are a great way to see where you stand compared to all different levels of photographers. The apps are free and even sometimes allow you to make money, but worst case you get to learn which is a win, win, win situation. Furthermore, there are endless YouTube tutorials on Phone photography that can help you grow and gain a better understanding on the basics of photography. I used iPhone Photography School and still use Peter McKinnon’s and OpticalWander’s channel for inspiration and as a learning tool. Just remember to be patient and that you have to learn to crawl before you can walk.

2) Always Edit Your Pictures

I think there is a common misconception about editing the pictures you take. Editing your pictures is not a bad thing but instead can bring your pictures to life. Giving photographs that extra flare, first allows the photographer to make it their own but also gives them a way to stand apart from anyone else that may have taken a similar shot. Many people take a picture and share it to their social media pages, but there is so much that could take that picture from 0 to 100 real quick. There are many editing apps available on your phone or laptop that can help you do this. I am not saying to spend hours editing your pictures, but even minor edits like straightening or touching up some of the colors can go a long way. I usually don’t edit on my phone, but if I do, I’ll use the built-in iPhone adjustment features or Lightroom Mobile. Typically, I use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop on my MacBook Pro to give my images that extra flare to make them pop.

3) Be Open Minded

Whether you are getting into photography as a hobby, business or you’re just curious, remember to keep an open mind. Photography is an art, and like in art, there are many different ways to express yourself, which you should use to your advantage when starting photography. Whatever you choose to do, make sure to choose something that allows you to express yourself and tell your own story. I started off taking only pictures of cityscapes and landscapes, but more recently, COVID-19 has opened me up to self-portraits and portraits, which has been really fun and a great experience. Photography can open you up to many paths, however in order to make the best of it, you must be willing to take that step outside your comfort zone, to take risks, and not get too hung up on certain plans.

Getting into photography has honestly been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I find being able to wander around taking pictures and editing them relaxing. Moreover, photography did start as a hobby for me, and even as a hobby, it should be something that you are passionate about. Photography is like a crash course on life, it teaches patience, passion, focus, and perspective. I believe that those lessons are the most important ones because they make you a better person and create a better world to live in.

Challenge yourself to be adventurous and step outside your comfort zone!

Tell me about your adventures below!