what are some things a photographer should know?

Question

I really want to be a photographer but don't know much about it, is their anything I should now? Any tips?

Answer 1

Know your camera. Learn what it does, what it doesn't do, and what you can make it do, even if it doesn't want to do it. Understand the technical aspects of photography thoroughly. Depth of Field, what various length lenses do, shutter speeds, how to use natural and artificial lighting. If you're going to use film, you need to know how to process and print it. Take photos.

Know your environment. What is the best way to use photography to communicate where you are. Is it journalism, technical photography, medical photography, art, environmental portraiture? Take photos.

Take thousands of photos. Practice, experiment, push the limits. Join a photographic club, take a course, and keep taking photos.

Talk to professional photographers at your local paper, photographic studios, art exhibitions and the like.

Take more photos.

Have a look at photographic magazines, borrow and read books on art, journalism and photography from your library. Become aware of events and ideas in society by keeping up with the real news (not the stuff CNN wants you to see). Take photos.

Learn about the other areas of human expression. All the arts (literature, dance, architecture, music, sculpture), all the forms of media (especially the non-mainstream ones) and underground mediums (graffitti, street art). Take photos.

Associate with fellow creatives, and learn how they express their ideas and what they see as important. Take photos.

Answer 2

You have to first start on your own by reading some books and then applying what you have learned while shooting. You need to learn the technical aspects of photography and your camera (composition, shutter speed, depth of field etc), once you understand these you will be able to shoot better pictures. Get yourself a book on "How To" (also you can find some information on-line). Learn from your mistakes and don't do them again. Take notes while shooting and then look at your photos on the computer find the best one from that set and see how it was shot and what made it better than the others.

See if you can be an assistant to a photographer in your area and see how he does things. You will also need to buy good camera equipment a professional DSLR camera.

Have a look at these websites for some help some are free and some you will have to pay for:

http://www.betterphoto.com/home.asp......

http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/shutter...

http://www.lexar.com/dp/index.html?cmp=e... (tips and lessons)

Learn something from one of these places and go out and try it and you will start understanding your camera and what to shoot.


Hope this also helps,
Kevin

Answer 3

Anyone can pick up a camera and call themselves a photographer. I feel that you should have passion for capturing pictures. You should know how to capture, edit, crop, and develop pictures. You should know how to promote your work, i.e via internet, bulletins, flyers. Practice makes perfect. Im quite sure you understand where I am coming from. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Rule One. Never photograph a Hell's Angel. (Not without life insurance anyway.)
Rule Two. Never EVER let a friend photograph you naked. A friend is not always a friend.
Rule Three. Never try for a slo-mo photograph of a bullet coming out of a gun. From the front. Never.

Answer 5

Know that photography isn't just taking pictures, it's an art. You want to show meaning in the pictures you take. Different angles add to the effect.

For more help, visit:

http://www.photographytips.com/

Answer 6

Know how to operate your camera. Know how to develop film and/or make digital prints.

Answer 7

How to work a camera! and how to develop pictures!...those (i think) are kinda the main ones...ya...