Like many professions, photography is a skill. It’s like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it becomes.
As a professional photographer, it behooves you to invest time, effort, and even money into developing your skills. Doing so can lead to more business as well as better, higher paying jobs. It can also reduce the chance of legal action being taken against you should a disgruntled customer be unsatisfied with your work or services.
There are so many things you can do to improve your photography, but here’s a short list that we’ve put together just to get you started.
6 Ways To Improve Your Photography
1. Practice Regularly
They say practice makes perfect… and it’s true! Remember what we said earlier about skills being like muscles? Well, your muscles don’t get stronger without exercise, and the more exercise you get, the stronger those muscles become. In similar fashion, you can strengthen your photography skills by working on them as often as you can.
One great way to do this is to dedicate a little bit of time every day to practicing your craft, even when you don’t have client work to do. Whether it’s playing with your camera settings, getting used to a new lens, or honing your editing skills, the more time you spend perfecting your photography, the better off you will be in the long run.
2. Try Something New
The photography industry has many disciplines. While it often pays well to become a master in one discipline, you can still learn a lot by occasionally branching out into other fields. A wedding photographer, for instance, might be inspired by their study of macro photography to try new kinds of photos at a reception.
As professionals, it can be easy to stay inside the box. But by going outside your creative comfort zone, you can learn new things and grow in your abilities. So what are you waiting for? Throw that new idea against the wall. You never know what might stick!
3. Look for Inspiration
Do you ever find yourself in a creative rut? As an artistic profession, photography can be hard, and improving your photography can sometimes be even harder. One great way to expand your creative vision is to seek inspiration in the world around you, especially from the work of other photographers.
There are many places where you can view the work of other creatives, including social media sites like Instagram or Facebook, where you can follow particular artists and even join groups where you can collaborate and be inspired. If you find someone’s work that you particularly admire, try emulating their style. You may just learn something that makes your own work better!
4. Take Photography Lessons
Did you know that after almost three decades of playing drums for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, Rush, Neil Peart took lessons from jazz drummer, Freddie Gruber? You may be asking yourself why one of the world’s best drummers thought he needed lessons. His answer was simple: “I wanted to push myself and open up [a] whole new frontier … You have to challenge your own limitations and your own expectations of yourself.”
Even if you are a seasoned photographer with decades of experience under your belt, there’s always something new to learn—and new experiences to gain—from other people. If you don’t know where to look for lessons, consider reaching out to local photographers in your area or enrolling in a service like Masterclass, which offers several insightful online photography courses.
5. Seek Professional Feedback
There’s a whole planet full of photographers out there. With modern technology, it’s now easier than ever to network with, talk to, and seek advice from fellow professional photographers. If you ever want to push yourself creatively, consider reaching out to others via social media, online forums, or through local networking events. You may be surprised at just how many people are willing to provide feedback or advice free of charge!
6. Buy Some New Equipment
Now, I’m not saying that getting a new camera instantly makes you a better photographer, but at the same time, experimenting with new and exciting pieces of equipment can spark your creativity and teach new techniques that, with time, can strengthen your skills. Plus, sometimes it’s just plain fun to play around with a new filter or lens.
Improve Your Photography Business With Full Frame
Of course, there’s more that goes into running a photography business than simply being a good photographer. One modern day necessity for professional photographers is liability insurance, which can financially protect your business if it ever causes or is involved in an accident or if legal action is ever taken against you.
If you do not currently have photography insurance, we recommend you check out Full Frame’s photography insurance plan. It provides comprehensive coverage—including camera equipment and errors and omissions insurance—to protect you and your business from claims. It takes less than ten minutes to get started, so what are you waiting for? Protect your business with Full Frame today!
