It is widely acknowledged that learning photography through self-teaching can be a difficult and time-consuming process, particularly for beginners. Today, I would like to share some tips on how to learn photography on your own and become a skilled and professional photographer through self-teaching.
There are many skills and pieces of information to learn when self-teaching photography. Some of the most important include mastering the fundamental basics, such as exposure and shutter speed, as well as practising regularly. There are many resources available, but it still remains a challenging and time-consuming process. Here are some new ideas that we want to share with you when it comes to when self-teaching photography.
Why does self-learning photography more difficult than learning in school? Here are two reasons: lack of self-discipline and choosing the wrong direction in photography.
Lack of self-discipline
Learning photography requires motivation, self-discipline, and a detailed plan. However, many people often give up when encountering problems and difficulties. If you want to master excellent photography skills, it’s important to create a comprehensive schedule and build strong motivation to help you practice taking photos every day.
Choosing the wrong direction
Photography comes up in several different genres, including street photography, landscape photography, travel photography, and more. It is recommended to try multiple photography genres to discover your passion and favourite style within a short time frame (such as three to six months). Once you find your favourite genre, you should focus your efforts and attention on learning the specific techniques related to that style. If you work hard on a photography genre that you don’t enjoy as much, it can waste your time and effort.
Now, thousands of people choose to self-teach photography through online resources. If you prefer this approach, how can you improve your photography skills and take your skills to the next level?
Table of Contents
Set your goal
It’s important to consider what kind of photographer you want to become, such as a landscape photographer, street photographer, fashion photographer, and so on. While it can be challenging for some people to decide on a photography genre at the beginning, it’s important to take this question seriously during the learning process. Here are some tips that may help you in this regard.
Try different photography types: You need to explore different photography genres at your best and learn different purposes and functions in different photography types; Step outside your comfort and try some new to discover your passion;
Creating a comprehensive learning plan
Be mindful of fragmented learning when developing your photography skills. For example, some people prefer to learn photography tips and skills from YouTube videos without a detailed plan. While these videos can be informative and excellent, they often teach specific tips for certain situations, such as how to take a picture of the moon with a phone; how to take drop water in the sunlight. Learning in this way may result in a fragmented understanding of photography, with a mind full of different skills and tips but lacking a comprehensive knowledge of photography itself. Instead, YouTube videos can be a good supplementary resource to your learning process.
When creating a photography plan, it’s important to set goals based on your available time and objectives. For example, you could spend a year learning the basics of photography, such as exposure, camera settings, composition, and color. During this time, you can break down your plan into smaller monthly goals, such as focusing on learning composition and color for one to two months. Alternatively, you could spend six months taking thousands of landscape photos and learning professional photography techniques, such as landscape photography. During this time, it’s important to detail each subject in your photography plan and post your images on social media to get feedback and improve your skills.
When learning photography step by step every day, it can be easier to maintain confidence even in the face of challenges.
Choose effective learning methods
To maximize the effectiveness of your photography learning, it’s important to carefully select a suitable learning method, in addition to setting goals and making plans. For example, if you find that taking notes is a valuable learning method during self-taught photography lessons, it’s important to consistently use this method throughout your entire learning process. This approach can significantly improve your skills and help you to make more progress in your photography journey. Here are some tips for helping you find a suitable learning method:
Seeking advice from others: If you’re unsure about the best learning methods to apply to your photography education, seek advice from experts, such as experienced teachers or individuals who have successfully learned photography. Their insights and suggestions may provide valuable guidance for your own learning journey;
Reflect on your progress and learning method: Regularly assess your progress and re-evaluate the learning methods you’re using in your photography education. This approach can help you to adjust and optimize your learning method as needed, leading to more effective and efficient learning;
Discover your learning style: Everyone has different learning preferences and habits. Some individuals prefer to learn through visual aids or hands-on activities, while others prefer to memorize information and skills through repeated practice. Find a best learning style that works best for you. If you still have no idea how to learn more effectively, please read this book – Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning
Perhaps there are still many people who are unaware of the information covered in photography education. To address this, we have shared some tips and insights in this article: What Do You Need to Learn in Photography?
Alternatively, we can provide a more detailed explanation of the information about self-taught photography classes.
Firstly, it’s necessary to learn the basics of the camera, including lighting, camera settings, shutter speed, composition, colour, and more. Secondly, viewing and studying thousands of excellent works and images can help improve one’s aesthetic sense. It’s also recommended to read about art and photography history and select some favourite photographers. Reading their biographies and studying their meaningful and impressive images can offer valuable insights and inspiration. Finally, to produce unique and distinct works, it’s important to choose subjects that interest you and research them deeply, such as art, painting, movies, history, and so on. This approach can help make your work stand out from others, and help you become an excellent photographer.
Conclusion
While there are numerous fragments of information and crash courses available on the internet that can teach you some quick tips and skills, they cannot provide you with a comprehensive photography system. Here are some photography classes.
- 15 Best Free Online Photography Courses
- 10 Best iPhone Photography Courses: From Beginners to Pro
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.
