5 things they don’t teach you in photography class
1. See a Shot, Take the Shot, and Then Take Five More
I mean exactly that.
When you’re pulling out your camera for the shot you’ve been waiting for, don’t stand there, take the photo and then walk away. No matter how satisfied you are with that photo. You dragged your camera out there, let’s use it. This can be applied to any type of photography but I am referring to outdoor photography.
Be in that moment, see and feel the movement around you, play with angles, lighting, settings, camera filters and take at least 5 more photos (challenge #1).
Some of my favorite photos have been once I was more settled in my surroundings or just simply waited for light to change around me.
2. Expect the Unexpected
Sounds like something you’d see inside a fortune cookie, but, I mean it.
Your photography experience can be as fluid or solid as you want it to be. Personally I choose to keep my sanity and go with the flow. By which I mean, accepting weather that can create lighting challenges, literal road blocks that will lead to a different destination, or arriving at a different time other than golden hour. These road blocks have often lead me to some of my favorite diverse visuals. I put this one in here because it’s lesson that I’m continually relearning. It’s ok not to have pristine conditions all the time and just to enjoy what that day gives you. Back when I first started, I wanted to always be in control of the uncontrollable, if it wasn’t going to be exactly how I pictured it in my head I didn’t want to go. But I promise this will only limit you and your ability.
3. Your Style Will Find You
My second challenge for you is to grab your camera right now. Phone, digital, film, a disposable, I don’t care. Take 5 photos of the current room you’re in. Find YOUR WAY on how you’d portray where you are currently. I challenge this is because in many cases you have to create the beauty within something that may seem mundane. Have you ever seen gorgeous photos of a location & then been taken back when you see the location in real life? This exercise will also help YOU shine through your artwork the most. If you do this exercise everyday for a month I PROMISE you’ll start to see your own personal style emerge.
It doesn’t stop here either. You’ve captured the photos and now it’s time to really put your own spin on building the final image with editing. This can be as extreme or as simple as you’d like it to be, the best thing is there is no wrong answer, editing has always been very therapeutic for me, it’s a way I express how I feel when words don’t seem to come.
*BONUS* Create a Vision Board
I love love inspiration from other photographers, hop in Pinterest and create a vision board full of styles and color schemes that resonates with you the most. There is quite the difference between inspiration and copying. If you just copy an image we are missing out on YOU. Which is the whole point.
Don’t copy- be inspired.
4. Being Present Will Be Your Biggest Asset
This mindset has been the one that has kept me from burning out. Time and time again I’ve seen people who care about only one thing, the shot. That one shot and leave before any experiences or stories can be created. Not only does that hinder you from possibly getting a better shot and hour from now (yes, photography requires a bit of patience) but I also think you owe it to yourself to be living in present moments. Try breaking the mindset of only looking forward to that 1/1000 of a second when your image is taken. My third challenge for you is to go and explore and create a story for yourself FIRST, and then pull out your camera to document. Your photography is ultimately a reflection of you, and being present in whatever you’re photographing shows through your lens.
5. There is Room for Everyone, Including You.
When I was a teenager I remember talking to my Dad about how I didn’t want to be a photographer because that world was over-saturated with photographers everywhere. I loved photography and I was good at it, but there was no way I could compete with the art world and make a name for myself. That was over 13 years ago. Can you imagine where I would be right now if I thought at that age that there was room for me here? People a lot younger than me have risen to the top and they keep on coming. Do not limit yourself to the belief that you, or anyone else for that matter, can’t share the space in the photography world.
Thank you for taking the time to read this journal entry! I really appreciate you turning to me for advice. If you do any of the challenges above or have any take aways you’d like to share with me please send me a DM on Instagram, @embarkwithember, or use the hashtag #embarkwithember in your created posts.
Thank you for being here. xoxo Madi & Ember
