Breaking Bad Habits of Photographers
In social networks and blogs lately, the question is often raised about what habits or qualities prevent a person from revealing himself as a photographer. In this article, we bring to your attention the most popular answers to this topical question, as well as tips on how to deal with such habits. By the way, if you are a beginner photographer, do not neglect the training materials on the Internet. We recommend you read an interesting article on Skylum’s blog about the best tripods for DSLR, maybe you will discover something new.
Sleeping Longer In The Morning
Of course, this is familiar not only to photographers. Many people don’t even realize that it’s a bad habit that greatly hinders their ability to fully unleash their creative potential. Those who like to sleep in the morning miss the opportunity to take pictures during the first hour after sunrise, which, as you know, is the golden hour. This is a real problem for those who live in cold climates.
Try to motivate yourself with a commitment to other people, such as meeting other photographers scheduled for the beginning of the day. If you plan and others are counting on you, the chances of getting rid of the bad habit of getting up late will increase.
Lack Of Care About Sensor Cleanliness
Changing lenses outdoors requires extreme care to prevent dust from getting on the sensor. You must have seen a photographer taking one lens off and slowly unpacking the other while holding the camera open with the sensor up. That’s a lot of dust for a camera. What is the right way to change the lens? First, I change the lens on a flat surface. Second, my back is to the wind. You should also follow the following sequence:
- taking out the lens to change, unscrewing the lens cap (but not removing it), and placing the lens on a flat surface;
- take out the cover for the other lens (that is on the camera) and put it next to the lens;
- place the camera side by side with the lens down and replace it within a couple of seconds.
There is another way to prevent dust from getting inside the camera: using special equipment. Its advantage is that the valve allows air to escape, but prevents dust from getting inside. A few quick blows from the blower will take care of the dust on the sensor or lens. These simple tips will help prolong the life of your equipment.
Lack Of Framing When Taking Pictures
Over time, you’ll realize what the cost of such a disadvantage is. You’ll spend a lot of time post-processing to choose the best shot. Learn to compose your shots as you shoot them, and stop relying on framing in post-processing. It will only improve your abilities as a photographer.
Pay attention to the edges around the perimeter of your future picture. Train yourself to see distracting elements in the frame. Move a few meters closer if necessary, or change your focal length. A word of advice – don’t forget to make a vertical composition right after a horizontal one. After all, no one knows what kind of picture will end up in the photo editor.
By the way, a lot depends on the right photo editor. You develop your style of retouching, which will later make your shoot stand out. Everyone at once strives to master Photoshop to perfection, but it is not always appropriate. Now many other options are much easier to work with. We recommend you try Luminar Neo from developer Skylum. There are a lot of positive reviews about this photo editor. You can buy either a subscription or a lifetime license, which is cheaper than Adobe software.
Dependence On Other People’s Opinions
All of us, to one degree or another, have insecurities about our abilities. But as a photographer, this should only motivate you to learn and practice. After all, it is with the practice that confidence comes.
If you are shooting on demand, then of course you have to take into account the wishes and preferences of your clients. In other cases, let you have the final word. Of course, the criticism should be, but make sure that it is constructive and helps you to improve your skills.
Cluttered Travel Shooting
Each of us at least once in our life, being on a trip to a new place, had the desire to take pictures of everything, so as not to miss a single interesting moment. But the results of such disorganized photography: a large percentage of bad shots of random things, plus the frustration of knowing that the memory card is full and you have not looked at half of everything.
Our advice – before you start shooting, think of an assignment for yourself. This will help you stay focused. Sticking to your shooting plan will allow you to see more, and therefore get more interesting pictures.
Don’t Carry Your Camera Everywhere
A good camera is the first thing you should always have with you. If you are far from always walking around with your DSLR, at least keep a smartphone with a good camera handy. The quality isn’t the same, of course, but unless you’re shooting on demand, there’s not much difference. Not everything you shoot necessarily has to look like photo contest material.
Wrapping Up
So, if you don’t have a DSLR handy, use your phone. This will allow you to keep yourself up to date at all times. However, if you don’t accept taking pictures with your phone, here’s a simple tip. Use a 40mm or 50mm lens with your DSLR. Lightweight and compact optics will make it easier for you to carry your camera with you at all times. As for other equipment you may need, don’t forget to read about the best tripods for DSLR on the Skylum website.
