Avoid going round in circles

A common mistake that most amateur photographers make is just going out taking pictures, again and again. In the end, as they see no real improvement in their photographs, they become frustrated and lose interest in photography.

Taking pictures won’t make you improve magically. To do so, you need to incorporate the analysis of your own photographs and dedicated learning sessions into your photography practice.

In this lesson, I will give you four fundamental principles to help you improve and stay motivated in the long run.

To have a reflective approach

Just as I do in the Contact Sheets, don’t let your photographs sit forgotten in a binder or on an SD card. Be active. Analyze them and try to find what you do well and where you can improve.

Sometimes, just by looking at them, you’ll spot an area for improvement and know what to do.

Or you may struggle to find the words to describe the problem or find a solution. In that case, you’ll need to turn to the book and read the right lesson to move forward.

Other times, you will discover improvements to implement after reading a lesson.

You can review photographs from the previous session or earlier photos.

It will take time

It is possible to obtain decent images quickly by copying the presets, the lighting, etc given by others.

But here, we are not learning to copy, but to create. That means we take a longer -but more rewarding- path to understand the root of photographic art and how to create unique images.

I have been photography for years, and I keep learning things. Don’t see learning as something that ends, but as a continuous way to improve. Step by step you will acquire the skills that will make you a better photographer.

Avoid changes that are too frequent or too extensive

Trying new gear or new photographic styles are common temptations you have to resist.

Changing too many parameters too often won’t help you improve. You need consistency to identify the factors that contributed to the success or failure of your photographs.

How can you tell what is working well and what isn’t when you are constantly changing everything?

Keep a solid basis: the same camera, the same lens, and the same film and development process if you use film.

If you want to try something new or make a change, stay the course for a while so that you can draw meaningful conclusions.

Set goals for oneself

Setting goals will help you stay motivated.

And by goals, I mean realistic and concrete goals. Not vague or overly ambitious things like “taking great photographs before the end of the year.”

Set goals that are clear and that you are sure you can reach.

For example: on this photo outing, I’ll use a different focal length, I’ll photograph a new location, I’ll sort out which are my ten best photographs, etc.

Conclusion

Balancing practice and theory (lessons) is the key to continuous progression. You can read all the lessons at once, but you may not fully understand their application without practicing. And as stated earlier, practicing without reflection will cause stagnation.

So take your time, don’t expect great results immediately. Following the tips in this lesson will help you ensure steady progress in the long run.

The next lessons will teach you the skills you need to improve your photographs and become the photographer you want to be.

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