How to become a better photographer in 2022
If you're like me the art or photography school you went to left you with an abundance of gaps in your knowledge, or maybe you're a self taught photographer and you need help up skilling. This post is full of all the different things I do to help me become a better photographer and they are all either free or cheaper than going to a traditional art school. I'm a big believer in we're always learning and growing, there's always room to develop your craft more and if you put in the work you can do anything.
Assist other photographers
Working directly for an established photographer will give you a fantastic opportunity to learn their approach and see how they run their business. You can see what gear they have and how they use it, the type of clients they have and areas of the market you may not have known about.
It's also a great way to see what areas of photography you aren't as interested in. For instance I personally find shooting interiors a bit dull, I'd rather work with people and small businesses because that's more interesting for me. I learned this while assisting an interior photographer, I still learnt a lot from doing those shoots with her but I now know it's not something I want to pursue.
The mentorship you can get from this type of working relationship is invaluable. It's someone who can answer any questions you have, give you advice on your photography as well as your business. You can ask for feedback on your latest work. Being a photography assistant is also a legitimate job so while you might assist a few people for free to begin with to gain some experience you can make assisting apart of your income, so you're actually making money while you're learning.
At this point you might be thinking great how do I actually find someone to assist, and there are a few different things you can do. Cold emailing photographers in your area may seem painful but if you email enough people you will find someone who needs help. Join creative Facebook groups dedicated to photographers and models and when people post looking to set up a shoot (if you like their work) there's no harm in dropping a comment asking if they require an assistant. Most of the shoots that come up in those Facebook groups will be for free but they are still worth doing because of the experience you're getting and the potential connections you can make not only with the photographer but also stylist, makeup artist and models. Those people all work with other photographers so they may give you people to contact. Instagram is another place to find assisting work, often photographers will post in their stories if they need someone. I got one of my most regular assisting jobs from being tagged in an instagram post, I then sent her an email and now I have more experience and a working mentor relationship.
2. Do an online class or workshop
Youtube is a fanatic resource for photographers but it's also very cluttered and it can be hard to feel focused while you use it. This is the only step that I'm going to recommend that cost money. If you know you have knowledge gaps in a particular area of photography doing a paid online course is a great way to educate yourself. I did a photo retouching course and it really helped me learn how to use photoshop in smarter and more creative ways. I wasn't getting distracted going through the modules and I'm now more confident with how I edit portraits. There are heaps of different courses and companies that offer classes so do a bit of research to find one that works of you, also keep your eye out because these courses go on sale ALL THE TIME.
3. 100 photoshoots in a year
At the start of the year one of my resolutions was to do one hundred shoots in a year, the reasoning behind this challenge is to push me to practise and practise a lot. Constantly taking photographs is without a doubt the best way to improve. You will learn so much by actually getting out there and doing. Planning out the different creative elements you're interested in and testing out various aspects of your shooting style. It's a fantastic way to prepare yourself to solve problems which is a big part of photography.
Now the goal isn't to have 100 clients in a year, while that would be great it's more important to do as many shoots as you can paid or unpaid. I have done so much unpaid work and I still do a lot for stuff for free if it's going to help nourish me and refine my craft. If you're doing work for free do make sure it's benefiting you. Most of the shoots I do for free come from me asking people to participate in a shoot idea that I have rather than the other way round. When I say to work for free I don't mean let people exploit you.
4. Try different types off photography
I started shooting on film a few years after I became a photographer and using a film camera helped me learn the mechanics of a camera and how to have more control over how I'm shooting. It's also just a lovely slow way to make work that feels special and nostalgic. Sometimes I edit digital photos to have more of a film personality, it's a soulful influence to have and I think it's valuable to do both.
Another example of using different types of photography to influence the other is headshot and beauty photography. Especially for actors, headshots need to have a soft glamour about them, so having knowledge on how to shoot and edit beauty and makeup photography is helpful in creating a higher end look. Using similar lighting or lenses will elevate the final images.
5. Reach out to photographers in your area to build community
I have met some wonderful people by reaching out to them on instagram and asking if they wanted to grab a coffee or have a video chat about their photography. Message people who are a little bit further along then you are but who you can still add value too. I've found some of the friendships I've made this way have been nothing but positive and nourishing. It's so valuable to have people who you can talk to about your photography and business, who actually know what you're talking about and more often than not people will want to help you. I love talking about photography and my business, I love hearing about other peoples approaches to what they're doing. Having these relationships and conversations can be motivating and inspiring, they can get you super excited and help you push yourself. It can also force you to do things that aren't as fun but ultimately are good for you. For example I have a wonderful friend named Emma she's also a photographer and she has told me off for not sending contracts when I have bookings, I can find sending them a little awkward but they set the expectations for the shoot and outline some very important boundaries. In the same vein I have given her feedback that she should write out a business plan to clarify some of her goals and ideas. We have a reciprocal relationship that benefits both of us, beyond that we genuinely like spending time together so it never feels like we're using the other because that's not what either of us wants to do. We both want community.
I'm all about community over competition because having an abundance mindset will serve you more than a scarcity perspective. Also to use Emma as an example again she and I are very different photographers, we have styles and aesthetics that are unique to us, we're at different price points and also we're from unrelated backgrounds so our word of mouth circles are going to vary. So she and I aren't going to attract the same clients.
Putting in the time and effort to be proactive about improving your photography is the most beneficial thing that you can do for yourself. The work I'm making now is significantly better than two years ago. There's even been an improvement in the six months. It's important to do that reflection and see how far you've come and thank yourself for putting in the time, engery and often money to get to where you are now. There is always going to be room for you to grow and get better and by taking lots of small steps everyday you will eventually get to where you want to be. Maybe it's more of a slow burn journey but those tend to be more sustainable. Just don't give up.
