10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Photography
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I have been thinking a lot lately about what a huge influence photography has been over the past 150 years or so. The stories that have been told, the faces we have been privileged to see, the events that have been recorded. Miraculous may seem like somewhat of an exaggeration, but I really don’t think it is. Photography is vital to all of us. With it we have a link to not only the world’s history, but our own history; as families and as individuals.
I think most of us tend to look at photography as just something fun, nothing out of the ordinary; when, in fact, it is nothing but ordinary. Albert Camus said, “If we understood the enigmas of life there would be no need for art.” There are things in photographs that cannot be written about, cannot be described. When I look at pictures of my father or my grandparents or even just a trip that I took long ago, I am there once again, in that moment. I could not describe that feeling to anyone, although I’m sure most people have felt it.
Most people these days have cameras, whether it’s in your phone or a small pocket camera or a big, expensive DSLR. If you do have a camera, here are some tips on getting the most out of your photography…
- 1) Get better at it. Read your manual. Find out what all the buttons do. Experiment. Have fun.
2) Back up your files. Make sure you have more than one copy on just one computer. Use DVDs or put them on an external drive. Your best option is to put them in another location in case of a fire or burglary.
3) If you are a parent and you are the one always taking the pictures, get in front of the camera every so often. I have known plenty of people whose parents did not like to get their photos taken and therefore were behind the camera (I am one of them). Force yourself to let your kids take your pictures. I hate to bring up such a morbid topic of death, but we do all die and our kids and grandkids want pictures of us. They don’t care if we had a bad hair day, look fat, feel ugly… doesn’t matter to them. Get in front of the camera.
4) Use whatever camera you have. The type of camera doesn’t matter; what matters is that it is used.
5) Organize your picture files. Make sure you use a folder structure that is easy for you to use and access. Use keywords so you are able to search.
6) Share your pictures. It is so easy to do today using Flickr and Facebook. Just a click of a button and relatives on the other side of the country can keep in touch.
7) After you share on the computer, print your pictures. This is so important. We tend to just leave our photos on the computer these days. We share them online, but no one sees the actual print. There is nothing like an actual printed photograph, especially framed and hung up on your wall.
8 ) Get your family photographed professionally. It doesn’t matter if you hire me or someone else, but you never know what the future holds and those pictures could be priceless.
9) If you are a photographer like me, make sure you leave your camera behind sometimes. It’s also important to actually be in the moment. You can miss a lot standing behind the lens, seeing life through the viewfinder. When you are out from behind it you can actually participate.
10) Don’t stress. Photography should be fun. Enjoy your camera. Enjoy pressing the shutter. There are no more worries about cost of film or developing. Just shoot.
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Hey Nicole:
Thanks for sharing these tips. Although I am by no means a professional photographer I have another suggestion for this list. I have been trying to take my camera with me where I go and I have found this has really helped develop my creativity and capture some great moments that I otherwise would have missed!
Love your photos and will come back to visit your blog!
Kristen
Thanks Kristen! And that is a great tip… I should have thought of that!
Nice site!
#7 & #9 really struck me.
I’ve been printing some pictures lately, some to frame on my wall & others to send to family. I still have disposable cameras (I used to walk around with a bunch taking pictures of everything) to develop too. But most of my pictures after 2005 are on my PC.
I went to a concert & purposely left my camera at home. Even though I was itching to capture the crowd & certain scenes, I was in the moment & don’t regret it.
Visiting from #31DBBB
That’s exactly it… know when to be in the moment!
I really get what you mean about photography being something special. What a miracle it is. Even now, when I whip out my iphone to take a pic of my son in the store, I’m amazed. The phone IS my camera: I don’t have to get the picture developed, and I can share it with all my friends and family immediately. All of this within a few seconds! Not like the old days…
My daughter was just in DC with my parents and it was amazing to me that she and I had full on conversations just texting… stuff that never would have happened over the phone or in person.
Great post and wonderful blog! (Stumbled and Buzzed this!) I’ve just added you to the 31DBBB Niche Directory.
We are really bad about doing #7.
As for #8, I have little interest in having my family or kids photographed professionally. I definitely do not want studio photos and it’s just out of my price range to hire a professional photographer, not that they aren’t worth every penny!
I’m happy with the memories I’ve been able to get by photographing the family and I’m trying to improve as a photographer specifically so the pictures will be worthy of the memory.
Lynda – first of all, thank you so much for the compliment and for Stumbling And Buzzing it!
Second, I completely understand not wanting studio photos. I absolutely HATE the JCPenny or Olan Mills type photos. You should look around at photographers in your area. Most photographers do things a lot differently… no studio stuff. For example, check out
http://kuperberg.com/
.
I love that you said to have your family photos taken by another photographer. My husband’s family has a couple photogs in it, and in the interest of saving money, one of them always takes the photos. In nearly 11 years of marriage, there hasn’t been a single family photo taken with everyone included. It’s at total bummer!
That is so sad! They should at least use the self-timer and run into the photo before it goes off!