What Does This Button Do??

*This is my girl Keely Marsh working it for some headshots!

Many people like the idea of being photographer, but where do you start after you get a camera? Several of you (probably the ones reading this) have already messaged me with the eagerness to learn as many tips and tricks as you can. Well here I am to provide a more thorough answer to your many questions.

Owning the camera, for one, is a big part of it, but honestly it's not that big of a deal. Using it is the trick...anyone can shoot on AUTO. No downing auto-sometimes the I have to use it but only as a last resort.

1. Learn your settings. Before you even so much as pick up your camera, take the time to learn about each and every one of your settings. No, this isn't the fun part; it's actually quite the opposite & frustrating. Start with the words aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. These are the settings that you manipulate in operating the manual mode, or M, on your camera. Watch videos, read articles. Understanding your camera is the key to executing the perfect photo.

2. Take what you've learned and experiment. For example, to see how changing your aperture affects the photo, change ONLY your aperture and leave your ISO and shutter speed alone. With each time you change your aperture, take a picture. Note the difference in how much of your photograph is in focus over the course of your photos. This would be done best with placing an object on a table and getting fairly close to it, while still getting the whole object in the photo. Shoot straight on. Do the same with shutter speed, leave your aperture and ISO alone. Here photograph someone or something moving while changing your shutter speed. Lastly, manipulate your ISO. This can be done with any subject.

3. Now you know the relation between your settings and that photo hanging on your wall, so go practice. Oddly enough, I started with still-life: plants and objects. Things that might not catch your eye on a day-to-day basis. I wanted to take those things and make them beautiful. Or I was trying to get a good grade in my photography class but the other sounded better. lolll.

4. You want to take pictures of people instead of plants; I get it. But who do you start with? Friends. I'm sure if they have followed your love of being behind the camera; they'd be honored to be in the center of the spotlight in front of it. Take pictures of anyone and everyone you can. You may have to Pinterest poses, but truth be told, I still do. There isn't a way to memorize how to pose people because everyone is different. Some poses only suite certain people. So, practicing is the only way to get any better at it. You'll learn what to do with those pesky hands eventually.

5. Now for the editing software- the thing everyone things is absolutely necessary to make a gorgeous picture. Not true. Editing does take photos up a notch, but a photo is equally as beautiful straight from the camera. To be honest, someone asking me what editing software I use when they just got their camera is one of my pet peeves. I know you won't start out using it- you're just asking for the road. But seriously, don't worry about it yet. When people ask me what photo editing software I use, I answer Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom- which is true. Also say that I started with only Photoshop, and honestly, I think that was the best thing for me. Photoshop is SO complicated. Even now I hate it. But not knowing how to use it to make amazing photos, led me to making amazing photos on my own. I paid closer attention to detail, to lighting, etc... because I knew I was limited in my knowledge of Photoshop and making it any better. That made me a better photographer. Now, I do have Lightroom, and since I started out the way I did, Lightroom took my photos up a notch. I'm not saying you have to get Photoshop first and use only that for a year and half; I'm just saying that it helped me. Take from this what you wish.

6. With all this being said, these tips will only START you off on your photography journey. But photography is about constantly learning and evolving with time. By no means is being photographer just clicking a button, it takes time and effort.

Feel free to contact me with ANY questions. I may not be able to help, but I can try!