From Beginner to Pro: A Guide to Improving Your Photography Skills

Photo-editing software

Want to become a better photographer?

Most of us have taken photographs and at some point been disappointed with the results. We may even have wanted to improve our photography skills and looked at books, websites and bought magazines devoted to photography. If you have thought abouut not just improving your skills but about becoming a more serious and proficient photographer, perhaps even going professional at some point, then how can you best improve your skills?

Here are some tips for improving your photography skills:

Practice regularly: 

The more you shoot, the more you will develop your skills and creativity. Try to shoot as often as possible and experiment with different subjects and techniques.

Study the work of others: 

Look at the work of other photographers to get inspiration and learn from their techniques and styles.

Learn the technical aspects: 

Understanding the technical aspects of photography, such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and composition, will give you greater control over your images and help you to achieve the results you want.

Experiment with different equipment: 

Try different lenses, cameras, and accessories to find the tools that work best for you and your photography.

Get out of your comfort zone:
Try new subjects, locations, and styles of photography to keep your work fresh and interesting.

Edit your work:
Take the time to edit your images and refine your post-processing skills. Experiment with different editing techniques and software to find what works best for you.

Seek feedback:
Ask for feedback from other photographers or share your work online and get feedback from a wider audience.

Keep learning:
Stay up-to-date with the latest photography techniques and trends by reading photography books, articles, and blogs, and attending workshops and photography courses.

By following these tips and consistently putting in the effort, you can improve your photography skills and develop your own unique style and vision.

Here are some links to websites you might find useful:

1. The Photographer's Gallery - A place for the discovery, exploration and understanding of photography in all its forms. This place was an inspiration for me in the early days of taking my photography serious and I have seen many great exhibitions over the years there.
2. Magnum Photos - For more than 70 years Magnum has been creating the highest quality photographic content for an international client base of media, charities, publishers, brands and cultural institutions. The Magnum library is also a living archive updated regularly with new work from across the globe.
3. The Association of Photographers - The Association of Photographers was first formed in 1968 as the Association of Fashion and Advertising Photographers and is one of the most prestigious professional photographers' associations in the world.
4. The Royal Photographic Society - The RPS is an educational charity committed to bringing photography to everyone. Founded when photography was in its infancy, today we are a world-leading photographic community.

All the above websites will provide with you a wealth of inspiration from some of the greatest photographers of all genres. You can also join an organisation such as the RPS or AOP and benefit from interacting with other photographers, attending seminars and talks, as well having the opportunity to have your work  reviewed and advice given. 

Another site well worth visiting is lensculture - which runs competitions judged by professionals in the industry with the opportunity to have your portfolio reviewed. Single images can be entered for free into cometitions but there is a charge for entering several images. However, a free portfolio review is often offered as part fo the entry free. For an example of what portfolio review looks like why not check out one of mine here!