Resources for Photography for Beginners

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Last Updated on June 22, 2020 by Ellen

What are your favorite resources for photography? I’ll admit that when it comes to blogging, photography is my least favorite thing to do. I love SEO, writing, social media and scheduling. But, I just do not enjoy photography or editing photos.

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Resources for Photography

When it comes to photography, it can seem overwhelming. It can already feel a bit daunting to get the camera, the lenses, the software and everything else you need, but then to think about forking over big bucks on expensive courses and books so you can improve? Forget about it.

So, what kind of resources for photography do you really need?

Camera

Obviously, you need some sort of camera whether that’s a DSLR or the camera on your smartphone. I’ve seen some people take truly stellar photos with their smartphone camera. But, for me, I find a DSLR makes it easier because I have more options to adjust.

Of course, along with the camera comes the camera lens. The exact lens you need will really depend on the type of photographs you want to take. A fashion blogger will need a different lens than a food blogger. If you’re not sure which lens you need, you may want to borrow a camera lens first.

Camera accessories

Cameras can be expensive so there are a few basic accessories you should have on hand. You’ll want a strap so you don’t accidentally drop your camera and a case to store it. You may also want to invest in a cleaning kit.

Extra memory

Taking a good photo often means taking a hundred photos of one shot. When you do that several times a day, you can quickly run out of memory. A basic memory card will give you more memory for your photos.

Next level resources for photography

Once you have the basic equipment, you may want to invest in a few other resources for photography. Depending on the type of photo shoots you do, you may need a tripod and some type of lighting set up.

Editing software

Now that you have everything you need to take the photo, you need a way to edit it. Most photographers don’t just use the photograph straight from their camera. It needs to be edited. A few options include Lightroom (which I found very confusing) or PicMonkey (which is what I like to use).

Popular photography websites

A lot of what’s involved in becoming a good photographer is having a good eye. That means you need to visit creative photography websites to see how they take their photos. Pay special attention to how they set up their photos, what props they use, and the composition. Learn what you like and what you don’t like. Is there a special filter you really like? Do you love the way photos look with bright lighting but dislike shots at dusk? Here are a few websites I like:

Photography resources for beginners

If you’re brand new to photography, the most important advice I can offer is to read the manual that came with your camera. Learn what the wheels and dials and buttons do. And, practice, practice, practice. You would be surprised at how much you can improve your photography by learning to use your camera. You may also want to get a good basic digital photography book like the Digital Photography Complete Course or the Beginner’s Photography Guide.

Of course, if you learn better by being more hands-on, you can always take a photography class. Your local college or community college should have a few to choose from. Or, there are a lot of photography classes online you can take. Check out Annie Leibovitz Teaches Photography or Jimmy Chin Teaches Adventure Photography.

There are lots of popular photography websites you can visit and learn for free. Famous photographers often have blogs where they share tips about the equipment they use or how they get the photographs they take. Find a few in your field and visit them regularly to learn more. I love Northlandscapes and Dave Hill because I really admire their style. But, you’ll need to find the ones that most fit the type of photos you like.