Photography is a wonderful hobby or career that is accessible to almost anyone who is interested. The great thing about photography is that anyone can pick up a camera and start taking pictures, but if you choose to learn more advanced methods there can be a steep learning curve. However, there are a few common pitfalls that you may want to avoid so here is a list of the five most common mistakes.

Photo Equipment Overload!

It’s easy to get swept up in all of the possibilities for your photography gear. The list of cool photo equipment is endless- filters, tripods, extra lenses, lights, reflectors and timers and so many others. However, without a solid foundation and a clear understanding of what your camera is capable of on its own, you’ll never be able to show true mastery of all of those accessories. Start off small with a basic digital SLR or a basic 35mm camera and only one lens. When you feel like you’ve pushed that as far as you can, then start looking for some fancy attachments.

Not Every Shot Will Turn Out

When you get started, you’re going to miss lots of shots. In fact, not only will you miss a lot of great photographs, you’re also going to mess up on photos you were able to take. For this reason, it’s probably a good idea to take every photograph at least twice. This will help you from missing an important picture and will also help you better understand the inner workings of your camera. Besides, in the day of digital the cost of shooting thousands of images is no more than shooting only ten.

Don’t Use Your Flash

You don’t need it. An automatic flash can prevent you from properly learning how to handle complex lighting situations and sometimes even ruin your images. Turn your flash off and force yourself to adapt to environmental light using only your wits and your camera’s settings – you’ll be better for it in the long run. Cameras are quite versatile and can shoot in almost any environment, so try to be creative about how you use the light you’re provided, even when it doesn’t seem like enough.

Improve Your Composition

Although you see it done commonly, you don’t need to center your subject in the center of the image. This can create unnecessary space in your pictures and make them less interesting. Picture the frame or viewfinder of your camera as a cropping tool so you’ll always compose exactly what you want in your picture. Framing your image properly in the viewfinder doesn’t take long to learn but will make a lasting difference in the quality of your photographs.

Point and Shoot

Simple digital cameras with giant LCD screens on the back are certainly tempting, but if you’re hoping to learn about the art of photography and challenge yourself to improve, you’re probably not going to get anything out of one. Many beginning photographers choose these cameras for their convenience and affordability, which works great if you’re only planning to take pictures of family and friends rather than for artistic or professional purposes. If you want to take great pictures and expand your knowledge of photography, you will need to have the right photo tools for the job.

Overall, these five mistakes are easy to avoid and won’t cause you much harm if you happen to stumble into one now and again. The only things that are important are building good shooting habits and continually challenging yourself to do better – the rest will come over time. By regularly taking pictures and avoiding these common pitfalls, you’ll be taking great quality pictures in no time that you’ll be happy to share with others.

Author Bio: Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Shop online and see our large selection of picture frame styles like our chic distressed picture frames and our antique styled victorian picture frames. Shop online or call 1-800-780-0699.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: beginning photography,beginning photography tips,learn photography,learning photography