How to Learn Photography | A Beginner’s Roadmap to Capturing Perfect Shots

If you are searching for how to learn photography, it means you are very willing to learn it and make a career on it. In today’s era, photography has become a highly sought-after skill due to the growing number of individuals seeking aesthetically pleasing photographs and the rise of social media platforms. This article is about how to learn photography skills in 2024 and you will get all information whatever you want to know about photography skills.

Photography is and will remain a powerful tool for storytelling and self-expression in 2024 and beyond. Regardless of your goals, whether it’s improving your photography portfolio, expanding your social media presence, or any other aspiration, understanding how to learn photography can contribute to your success. However, many people worldwide lack a clear understanding of how to get started on this journey. Often, they believe that simply deciding to understand how to learn photography skills will lead to immediate improvement as a photographer.

In reality, becoming a better photographer requires a more comprehensive approach. Photography cannot be solely acquired through formal training. This overwhelming realization often causes individuals to abandon photography altogether. To cater to this need, I have compiled extensive information in this blog.

Here, you will find all the necessary insights to understand how to learn photography for beginners effectively. This ultimate guide will lead you through everything you need to know about photography in 2024. As one of the most comprehensive resources on How to Learn Photography, you must read it thoroughly to gain a thorough understanding of the subject.

In Today’s world, Why is Learning Photography So Important?

In today’s digital age, learning photography is more crucial than ever. With the rise of online platforms and content creation, individuals who can take high-quality photographs have become highly valuable. Photography not only enables you to capture better images but also allows you to convey meaningful stories and help businesses connect with their audience on a deeper level.

Whether you’re a content creator or not, understanding how to learn photography skills can be advantageous for your career, as it helps you preserve memories and provides opportunities for self-expression. As the demand for digital media and visual content continues to grow, acquiring photography skills equips you with a versatile set of abilities that can benefit you, and your loved ones, and even generate income.

Is photography a skill that can be learned?

There is a concern about this among most people. It is unclear to them whether photography can be learned. Most people think that photography comes naturally, but that’s not the case. It is true that some people are born with an artistic mind and soul and have a natural ability to compose, however, through proper education, training, guidance, and experience, anyone (including you) can learn the technical and artistic skill of photography. The more you invest time and energy into photography, as you would in anything else, you’ll become better at it over time.

Photographers Who Learned Photography Without Attending An Academy

If you believe that attending a photography academy is the only way to understand how to learn photography, we must burst that myth. You do not need formal training to become a skilled photographer. To understand photography, you must immerse yourself in the field. Join photography forums on Reddit, connect with photography groups on Facebook, and engage with professional photographers in various sectors. You’ll find that many of them have learned through experience, not formal training.

While this article focuses on “How to Learn Photography,” we will cover photography schools as they offer a structured approach to learning. However, it’s essential to recognize that it’s not the only path to becoming a good photographer. Numerous successful photographers have taught themselves and made a name for themselves in the field.

Here are some renowned photographers who chose to understand how to learn photography skills through self-study, practice, and experimentation rather than enrolling in a photography academy:

Annie Leibovitz

The first name here is Annie Leibovitz, one of the most famous portrait photographers in the world. Additionally, she is the highest-paid photographer in the world. She studied painting before discovering her love for photography, which she pursued independently.

Steve McCurry

Steve, widely known for his iconic “Afghan Girl” portrait, also did not attend a traditional photography school. Instead, he understood how to learn photography through real-world experience, traveling across war zones and documenting life.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Often called the father of modern photojournalism, had no formal training in photography but became a legend by mastering the art of capturing decisive moments on the streets.

How to Learn Photography in 2024: 15 Steps to Success

Here are all the useful tips for you to understand how to learn photography for beginners in 2024.

It should be noted in advance that this section has covered a variety of methods for learning photography, and your task is to determine which works best for you.

Step 1 – After High School, Get A Degree of Photography

If you are a student or a recent graduate with no photography experience but are serious about pursuing a photography career, enrolling in a degree program is recommended. Photography-related degree programs provide in-depth knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the subject, including how the photography and media industries operate. While it is possible to understand how to learn photography skills without a degree, if you have the time and resources, pursuing a degree program makes a lot of sense.

However, if your primary focus is not on pursuing photography as a profession, and you only want to improve your photography skills for personal enjoyment, enrolling in a degree program may not be necessary. For those aiming for a photography career, pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or a Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) degree after high school is an excellent option.

Step 2 – Explore Photography Videos Online

A significant step for anyone wanting to understand how to learn photography as a beginner is to watch online tutorials and videos about photography. A wide variety of photography and artistry videos can be found on YouTube. It may be confusing at first to decide what to watch and what not to watch. I recommend ignoring the warnings, photography tips, and tricks videos at the beginning and focusing on the photography tutorials. Being informed about tips and tricks would be pointless without understanding the fundamentals of photography.

Watch a complete photography playlist where the creator helps you understand photography concepts from beginner to intermediate level at the beginning of your learning journey.

For example: The Best Photography Course by Wolf Amri.

Another option is to watch a single video that covers all major concepts of photography over several hours.

For example: Learn Photography for Beginners by Parker Photographic.

Step 3 – Get A Professional Camera And Learn How To Use It

Since you are serious about understanding how to learn photography, I assume you have already purchased or are considering purchasing a professional camera. After buying a professional camera, take the time to read the manual thoroughly and apply the instructions for using the camera. You might think it is a waste of time to read the camera manual and follow its instructions, as it could consume a significant amount of your time and energy.

However, that is not the case. Instead of reading the camera manual, you might be tempted to watch a tutorial on how to use your specific camera model. It is essential to understand that no one knows the camera better than the manufacturers themselves. The manual will provide you with every method and technique to use the professional camera in every possible way.

Step 4 – Enroll In An Online Photography Course

While watching online photography videos on platforms like YouTube and Dailymotion can be informative, it differs significantly from enrolling in an online photography course. An online photography course offers structured learning, guided by an instructor, allowing you to progress through the material step by step. This comprehensive approach is often lacking when solely relying on online photography videos. If you choose to understand how to learn photography skills through an online course, you can strategize your learning by first covering the course material.

Then, if you encounter any areas of confusion, you can explore those specific topics further on YouTube or other platforms. Among the top online platforms for understanding how to learn photography for beginners are Udemy and SkillShare. Udemy stands out for its extensive range of courses, covering basic to advanced levels at affordable prices, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Step 5 – Join Photography Workshops to Learn Photography

Find out where your city has photography workshops by searching on Google. Social media is also a good source of information about that. You can generally learn a lot about the technical side of photography through photography workshops. A number of photography workshops are offered free of charge, and you may wish to participate in one.

Additionally, many photography workshops aren’t free; they charge a small fee in exchange for giving you a broad perspective on photography. A paid workshop is an option if you are willing to spend some money to improve your craft.

Step 6 – Get a Sneak Peek At How Top Photographers Work

One of the best ways for you to understand how to learn photography for beginners is to examine the work of other photographers and admire their work. The more you see someone’s work that is already well ahead of you and similar to whom you aspire to become, the more you become motivated and energized.

The following exercise can help you see the work of top photographers continuously and regularly.

• Create a new social media account, preferably on Instagram.
• Don’t follow anyone other than your most admired photographers in that new account.
• Take a half-hour or an hour to study the photos shared by your favorite photographers on that account regularly. You might be able to find some meaning in those photos if you try. In what way are they trying to convey a message? In no time at all, you will also develop a creative instinct for taking photographs.

Step 7 – Read the Best Photography Books to Learn Photography

My personal favorite is this one as an avid reader. Books are the only ones that can help you in a way you would never expect. The reading of photography books gives you not only the knowledge shared by the author, but also provides you with an opportunity to adapt his mindset. If you want to gain a deeper understanding of photography concepts, you should read books written by renowned photographers.

The following are some of the best books you can read while discovering how to learn photography:

Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson

A foundational understanding of light and camera settings is provided in this book. After reading this book, you will know everything you need to know to begin your first photography project.

The Photographer’s Eye” by Michael Freeman

The art of storytelling through images will be taught in this book. A must-read, because as a photographer, you must master the art of telling stories through images.

“Humans of New York” by Brandon Stanton

As a photographer, you will gain inspiration from this book. In this book, you will find numerous iconic photography works that will inspire you to improve your craft and become a better photographer.

Step 8 – Read Photography Blogs

Some people are better readers than watchers or listeners. It is easier for them to comprehend when they read rather than listen to a podcast or watch a video. Those people would surely find books to be the most useful medium for learning more about photography.

However, books are lengthy and can take a long time to read. As an alternative, blogs can be used by such people to gain a better understanding of photography. Among photographers, Fstoppers and Digital Photography School are two of the most popular blogs. The blog websites mentioned above as well as the other great photography blog websites out there will surely give you something profound to learn about the photography topic you choose.

Step 9 – Never Miss a Practice Day

A person becomes better through practice, and this is true for every skill, including photography. Keep in mind that you want to become a skilled photographer rather than a knowledgeable one. Hence, don’t spend your entire day watching videos and reading articles just to consume information. Practicing and applying everything you learn is crucial. This is the only way to gain confidence as a photographer and reach artistic proficiency in capturing captivating images.

Step 10 – Join A Photography Club to Learn Photography

It is guaranteed that if you join a photography club, you will consider it the best place to spend your time as a photographer. Why? Coz Why Not? A photography club lets you spend time with like-minded individuals who are so passionate about the world of photography and taking better pictures. The bond you develop, the experiences you share, the things you learn from each other, the tips and tricks you exchange, and all of these things together result in you becoming better at what you do.

In this way, you would be investing your time most effectively if you joined a photography club. When it comes to understanding how to learn photography through a photography club, there is a catch. It is only possible to join if you are already capable of understanding the basics of photography so you can share your own thoughts and ideas with other members.

Step 11 – Find your eye

Here is the most uncommon advice you are going to find on how to learn photography for beginners. What is the defining characteristic among most or all successful photographers? They have an eye for seeing things differently. In the process of becoming a successful photographer, they develop an eye that is unique to them to see things differently than others. Because they see things differently, they capture them differently.

A great way to stand out from the crowd is to develop an eye that allows you to see things differently. You can develop your eye as a photographer by doing the following:

• Try to extract some emotion from something.
• Take a picture of your favorite flower and try to make it look as happy as possible.

This activity will do more than just develop your eye; it will also expand your imagination as well. Remember, while you’re developing your eye, you may want to take the best photographs you can. You shouldn’t worry if your photographs are poor quality, because this process is only meant to help you understand what resonates with you as a photographer, which will aid you in developing your niche and expertise.

Step 12 – Every Day, Challenge Yourself to Work Harder

Basically, this isn’t advice on how to learn photography, but rather how to improve your skills once you’ve learned it. Despite their skill, even the most eminent photographers in the world don’t consider themselves advanced. It’s because they understand photography is an art that needs constant refinement and sharpening. Developing your skills as a photographer to some extent, getting paid, and then settling for it will make it difficult for you to make a name for yourself.

When your photography skill is not constantly sharpened, then:

• The thought of raising your price will scare you.
• Over time, you won’t be able to generate a WOW effect with your photos.
• There will be no wider perspective on photography that will help you expand your creativity.
• It will be difficult for you to spot moments when the best pictures could be taken.

In order to prevent this from happening, you will need to work hard and challenge yourself every single day. No matter how hectic your day may be, make time for some simple photography challenges.

Step 13 – Seek Out a Mentor

Having a mentor makes everything so much easier. Mentors are people who have already accomplished what you are hoping to accomplish, so he could hold your hand and walk you step by step through the steps necessary to succeed in the photography field. Therefore, finding a mentor is the best way to improve as a photographer.

However, finding a mentor is not that straightforward. Either you need to spend money on hiring him or you need to invest your time working for him. If you can afford to hire a mentor, that’s excellent. If not, you’ll need to find an experienced photographer you’re willing to learn from and work for them either without pay or for a very small amount. At this stage, your goal should be to improve your photography skills, not earn money.

By working for free or low pay for an accomplished photographer, you’ll get to observe their techniques, receive guidance on small details, and gain valuable photography lessons that will help you advance your skills.

Step 14 – Enter Photography Contests to Learn Photography

You may think you’re not ready for a photography competition yet, but there’s nothing wrong with entering even as a beginner. No one will stop you from participating just because you lack experience. If you enter a photography contest, the outcome will be either winning or losing. Even if you don’t win, you’ll learn a lot from the feedback on your photos. You’ll also get to see what made the winning photograph stand out, which can help you improve your own work. Photography contests can also show you the current level of your photography skills, which can guide you in improving your craft.

Step 15 – Editing Photos is Never an Option

You should edit the photos you take. A photograph can be fantastic, but if you know how to edit it properly, it can be even better. Besides learning about photography, you should also learn about photo editing programs such as Photoshop to become a better photographer. The time spent learning the fundamentals of photo editing tools is much less than that spent learning the fundamentals of photography, and it is well worth doing.

Here’s a little extra advice…

As a writer never knows when a brilliant idea will strike for his next book, article, or column, you never know when you will have the chance to click the next “most interesting” picture. Regardless of where you go, make sure you take your camera.

How do you find work when you understand photography?

Here are the steps you need to follow when finding work after understanding how to learn photography for beginners.

Step 1 – Create a strong portfolio

When someone is interested in hiring you for photography work, they will ask for your portfolio first. Portfolios are collections of your best work that prospective clients examine to determine whether or not they should hire you. The best photographs you have taken should be included in your portfolio. Also, you should organize your work into different categories so that clients can easily navigate and find the work they are looking for.

It is my opinion that Behance is the best platform to make a photography portfolio, so you can use it to make yours. ‘Instagram’ and ‘500px’ are the other options. You should always keep an updated portfolio handy when you are contacting potential clients.

Step 2 – Build your network

If you participate in photography-related events like workshops, meetups, seminars, contests, or even online forums, you’ll find many opportunities to grow your professional network. Take advantage of these opportunities to expand your connections as much as possible. Building a strong network can benefit you throughout your life, as it may lead to job referrals, collaborations, and other valuable opportunities.

Step 3 – Freelance

If you work a full-time job as a photographer, you will continue to do freelance work side-by-side. Therefore, finding some freelancing gigs can give your photography career a boost. Find work gigs as a photographer on Upwork and Fiverr. During your starting days, seek out as many freelancing gigs as possible so that you can gain wide exposure working as a photographer.

Step 4 – Find jobs using job portals

There are many photography-related jobs posted every single day on popular job portals like Indeed and Glassdoor. Create a profile on a job portal of your choice and apply to jobs in which your skill set is a match. If you are good enough at photographing, have an impressive portfolio, and apply to jobs diligently, you will be able to find work very soon.

Step 5 – Join Facebook Groups

Facebook has a search bar that you can use to find photography-related groups. Become a member of as many groups as you can. Every day people post freelancing jobs, part-time jobs, and even full-time jobs in these groups. Identify the job that you think you could do well by reviewing all the postings that you see. Post a comment on that post expressing your interest in that position. The same process applies to all job postings you like.

Step 6 – Try Cold Emailing

Many small and medium-sized companies need photographers to take high-quality pictures of their or their clients’ products. Identify all such businesses and agencies in your local area, and send them an attention-grabbing cold email highlighting your services and how you can assist them. Set a daily target for the number of cold emails you want to send, and continue doing so consistently. If someone requires your services, they will contact you and provide details about the job.

You can accept the job if it interests you, or keep sending more cold emails until you find a job that suits your preferences.

Also check out,
5 Best Photography Course in Delhi with Fees & Duration

Conclusion

Congratulations on reaching the end of this ultimate guide on How to learn photography skills in 2024. Understandably, holding a professional camera for the first time can be daunting. You might feel like you’re in over your head. But don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal. After taking your first few shots, you may realize that they’re not as good as you had hoped. That’s okay! No one is a master photographer from the start.

Remember, everyone starts as a beginner. With dedication and practice, you can hone your skills and become an excellent photographer. Choose a learning method that suits you and stick with it. Consistent practice is key to improvement. Over time, you’ll make progress and eventually fulfill your passion for photography.

Frequently Asked Questions About How To Learn Photography