15 Photography Tips in Under 10 Minutes!

[@antistiolabeo8950]

This was honestly the best video about photography I've every watched. It's so refreshing hearing some honest, rational and yet ironic thinking out there. The fact that this channel only has less than 30k subscribers where greedy and pretentious people like many on YT have millions is just criminal.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Wow, thank you, Antistio, that is some high praise! I'll do my best to hold future videos to the same standard. Subscribers are awesome, but not my main goal for now - just testing out a variety of video styles to find something that's sustainable on a weekly basis, while still being fun to make.

[@antistiolabeo8950]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel Thanks for the reply! That's also refreshing to hear. I kinda suspect that the whole partnership-subscription system is the main culprit for the wave of embarrassing content on YT. The fact that you're pursuing other goals could be one of the reason behind the quality of what you offer. Please stay as you are ;)

[@joshuagharis9017]

Let's spread the word and get this guy known

[@joshuagharis9017]

I hope you blow up big on KZbin man. You're advice is so valuable, you deserve it.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Very kind of you to say, thanks!

[@SteveMillerhuntingforfood]

That is a fantastic checklist to taking better images. I need to print it and tape it to my forearm whenever I go shooting. I intuitively do most of that, but I forget something every time I shoot. I used to go out and setup in one spot and shoot till the light is gone. Only recently have I made a point to arrive early and scope out several potential comp's and try to shoot images from each. Of course; the light dictates what is shot and when. I'm always chasing the light. You guys have a fantastic YT channel, thank you for the effort in publishing this content.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you, Steve! Glad you like our channel. Your description of arriving early to scope out different compositions is a perfect case study in scouting. And it is all about the light, agreed. Find a location or even a specific composition you like, so that when the light is optimal, you know where to be.

[@NataliaSkorokhod]

Great tips! :) Also, love your humour.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you Natalia! Happy to hear it, I do have fun making these videos and like putting in a few jokes here and there :)

[@oscarlaz]

Awesome job. Thanks a million for teaching us and keep it simple.

[@user-dt9fq6re3n]

Great video! That first rule was for me. I’ve been blaming my camera (canon m50) on my results, saying that I should save up for a different camera and sell the one that I have cause I bought the wrong camera. “ Why buy more lenses when I can use that money for a more professional camera?” It looks like I just have to be patient with it and get out there more.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Quite true! The M50 is an excellent camera. I’ve been in the same position as you, with an older Nikon camera that I blamed on my missed photos. And though it wasn’t the smoothest to use, my skills were the real culprit. Give me the same camera today and I’d be quite happy with it! Funny how that is. Best of luck with your photography!

[@oleksandrbasov9049]

These are really the things we all need to keep in mind when taking good photos. Thank you so much!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Oleksandr, very happy you liked it!

[@warwickgreen7358]

Probably one of the most helpful vids i've watched yet, really enjoying your channel Spencer :)

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you, Warwick!

[@stevethornes4893]

Great advice. Many thanks.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Happy you liked it, Steve!

[@OMGYama]

Thanks! These tips helped a lot for me and my toy photography ( i usually review and make comics out of them ) and these simple yet direct tips helped me on my way to improvement.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Very happy to hear it!

[@jaranillajadeashceg.2798]

Thanks for the information Sir. As a beginner in this, my courage to fulfill this (as something new that I want to try) and explore more makes me even more excited in this journey. I've been reading your blog and try to learn more about it. And I wish before I get to buy a dslr camera (which I got an idea in your blog about cameras that suits for beginners) I learned and applied those things you that you taught🙂

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

That’s wonderful! Good luck with your photography, and glad I could be of help!

[@Kerouac2k1]

Love the channel and your website. You have some absolutely fantastic tips and info for the aspiring photographer.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Much appreciated, Jack!

[@brittanysutton4959]

Really enjoyed this as a beginner photographer! Thank you :)

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Brittany, sure thing! Glad you liked it.

[@pauldowney7130]

Thank you - made a snapshot of the tips for my phone - quick reference reminders to get busy! 👍😃

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Nice going! It's a good reference to keep, that's exactly why I put the list at the end.

[@matthewgoetzka8855]

As a 20 year old who just bought a camera for the first time, I very much appreciate this.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Awesome! Good luck with your new camera, and glad this video could be of use!

[@rimzyjaansalvy6539]

Congratulations|what camera did you buy? 😇

[@matthewgoetzka8855]

@@rimzyjaansalvy6539 Thank you. It's a refurbished Canon Powershot sx730 hs. Great for videos and pictures

[@rimzyjaansalvy6539]

@@matthewgoetzka8855 good, 😍

[@joshuagharis9017]

Tripod is great, I recommend getting your tripod out after the level of your shot is established so that you don't get locked into one perspective, ie eye level shots. Good tip

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Nice, good one and glad you added it. Too many photographers set up their tripod early and get locked into the wrong composition. Figure out a rough composition first!

[@nellychatziathanasiadou7962]

Great video!! Thanks a lot for all the information!!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@HR-wd6cw]

The first tip is very good. And to go further, beginners especially need to realize that the camera is just a tool, like how a brush is to a painter. Much of what makes up a photograph is based on the photograph themselves (their creative ability to "see", to understand the basics of photography and exposure, and composition, among other elements). When new beginners ask me if they should buy a FF camera to upgrade from their entry level camera because they're not happy with their photos, I often tell them that unfortunately, if they aren't happy with their photos, it's not the camera. And they can buy a better camera, but they're still going to be unhappy with their photos, because what they need (knowledge, experience, and creativity--the ability to see and compose) they can't buy from a store.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

100% agree! Very well said. Naturally, a better camera can reduce some pain points (like adding more custom buttons/dials), and certain lenses can potentially extend your capabilities (like someone’s first macro lens) - but fundamentally, the only way to take better photos is internal. Buying expensive gear won’t turn a bad photographer into a good one, any more than buying an expensive set of brushes would turn me into a great painter :)

[@LuciaDErrico1]

Great video, very refreshing! I just ordered my first camera, and it's actually good to hear it's the best I could get. (I am a musician, and I subscribe 100% to your criticism of "gear talk").

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

That's awesome! Welcome to the world of photography. Well, I'm sure you took photos with your phone or something else beforehand, but it still feels right to hold a "real" camera in your hands when there's something interesting to photograph.

[@markferrell2470]

Awesome, practical, useful thank you. Did you take any school/book or classroom training? I’m glad you said why you did about using the camera you have. Just like cell phones they just run out of ways to improve things every year.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you, Mark! I have read a ton of books about photography, especially when I was starting out. Haven’t done any photography classes, aside from a darkroom and film development class a couple years ago.

[@bleujaii]

I loved this AND loved that you reply to comments!!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you! Yes, I always try to respond to comments, happy to hear you like that.

[@elaineroot7196]

Was wondering if it is bad to shoot in the P mode on the camera for portrait photography. I believe that’s the mode where all you adjust is the iso which is nice if you are moving around a lot and getting different amount of light coming into your lens.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

You can adjust ISO in modes other than P (Program). I prefer shooting in aperture priority most of the time, or manual mode if I need my settings to be constant across a series of photos. The real key is to have a deep understanding of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, no matter what subject you’re shooting. Program wouldn’t be my first choice, because you lose a bit of control over those three settings, but at least it gives you more control than Auto.

[@joshuagharis9017]

The Eos m50 low light makes photos difficult though. Even iso of 640 is horrible, just my opinion. That said, I agree, and the EOS R is doing very well for me. I love your previous tip of stopping down to get the star effect on the sun

[@davidjones8070]

Nice job..very competent advice.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Much appreciated, David!

[@ralucatamas141]

great tips . tks

[@bm6891]

1: use the camera u already have 2: chose the best lighting for your picture 3: don’t over expose the highlights in the picture 4 put thoughts into ur photos and change camera settings. 5: if ur subject isn’t moving then always use a tripod. 6: know when to use ur flash best time is on a sunny day. 7:look behind you Look for other opportunities. 9: keep ur front lens clean. 10:

[@carljarvinen1189]

Nothing new in any of the tips, but always good to hear them now and again until they all become second nature. Especially #15 Practice, Practice , Practice...thanks...

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

You are welcome Carl! Absolutely, it's all about repetition - even the basic tips can be useful just to emphasize how important they are.

[@SniperPhotography]

Great presentation.Glad that I have found your channel. Sniper Photography

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you Sniper!

[@papersacktan]

First I would like to say I truly enjoy your videos and tutorials. They pack plenty information. But I'm have trouble with making my photos interesting. I know one of my problems is my settings. I having trouble with choosing the correct ones. Could you please offer any suggestions on this for me? I'm open to any!!

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Sure thing. If you want to pick the right settings, the three most important are shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. They control how much light you capture and how bright your photo is. Part of understanding them is about reading/watching tutorials, but the other part is practice. I recommend using manual mode to adjust those three settings, looking at the results and then seeing exactly how the photos you take match what you've read or watched. It's about building that groundwork and familiarity at this point, so that when you're taking a more important photo later, you don't set (or allow the camera to set automatically) something that wouldn't make sense. Hope this helps, Tracy and let me know if you still have any questions!

[@silviasanchez648]

Something I noticed when playing with my camera at home (so my subjects won't move xD ) is that light can highlight or totally erase something from the view.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Silvia, absolutely. I find it far too easy to forget sometimes, but photography *is* capturing light. That’s not just a nice saying; it’s the essential truth of photography. So your observation is very accurate. Everything from little textures to entire subjects can be erased depending on the light.

[@bewbtewb]

I’m a beginner and I have come across plenty of pros who recommend UV filters for permanent use on lenses. What about them affected your photos negatively? Are there particular brands and models to stay away from?

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

The cheap ones will lower sharpness significantly, especially in the corners. The more expensive ones don't do that, but they still increase the amount of flare (and decrease contrast) when you're shooting in backlit scenes. Even the best on the market do that, albeit less and less with the higher quality filters. It's not a specific brand thing, more of a price issue. If you do buy a UV filter, make sure to get one that is multicoated. However, oftentimes a lens hood will protect the front of your lens just as well, and *improve* your image quality by decreasing flare.

[@briansquibb999]

Does "use the camera you have" apply to Nikon point and shoot cameras?

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Absolutely! The only case where it doesn’t apply is if you continually hit very clear situations where you cannot get the photo you want, no matter what you do, with your current camera equipment (and your skills aren’t to blame 😄). There’s nothing wrong with upgrading if you’re hitting the limits of your current setup, but it’s clear to me that many more people *think* they’re hitting the limits rather than *actually* doing so.

[@briansquibb999]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel Thank you. In my case I'm upgrading from a Nikon B500 to a Nikon P950 to help with bird photos with the increased zoom capabilities.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

@@briansquibb999 That’s a great camera, and an off-the-charts zoom for bird photography! Should be a lot of fun to use.

[@rimzyjaansalvy6539]

Thanks

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Sure thing!

[@saeed904]

I like this very much

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Thank you, Mohamed!

[@Richie5480]

Like trying to capture motion.

[@AceHardy]

📸🎬🎥

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

🌄🌌🏞

[@Ali.lensman]

My big advice for photographers, please treat your gear well, and always keep camera and lens clean.

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Good tip!

[@kennethlee5102]

What tips do you have for a newbie photog with a smartphone camera taking pictures of the sunrise/ sunset?

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

With a smartphone, the sun will usually be too bright when it's in your photo, unless it is a very hazy day. If the composition allows, I recommend framing your shot so the sun is just out of frame. You'll still get the good colors, but the dynamic range will be a lot better. Other than that, try to use the composition techniques I talk about in this video to your advantage: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmLUn4uErcmlqq8

[@MrRonRobertson]

What is your thinking about having photos with the same file name? Why is that a bad thing?

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Good question Ron. The issue is if you put two files with the same name into one folder on your hard drive. The computer will wipe out one of them - and though it will give you a prompt first (some “duplicate file name” dialog), it is very easy to click the wrong answer without thinking, and there may be no way after that to get the file back. (Sometimes it is possible though, but often only if you realize fairly soon after). But given how easy it is to set up custom file names that don’t repeat, it just is not worth the risk.

[@codyjones3608]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel I came across your video and this is the first time I've really thought about the duplicated file names issue. For example, I have a Canon camera, and the images save with a default name like IMG_5482. Right now, this isn't a problem, however I realized if I ever get a new Canon camera, it's probably going to start over at IMG_0001 and then I'll have conflicting file names at that point. What do you recommend I do for 1) my existing photos/their file names since they all have this format, and 2) for future photos?

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Cody, do you use Lightroom or something similar to organize your images? It’s fairly easy to batch rename pictures in most software - should be able to find some quick tutorials online for that. As for future photos, you can create import presets in most post-processing software to change the file names. If you batch rename and set your import preset to something like year-month-day-original file name, you should be good. I also set each of my cameras to name them differently - my Nikon Z6 is NZ6_1234, for example. Hope this helps!

[@glennjaso]

Is it true that editing your pictures is cheating?

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

Definitely not! Every digital photo is already processed by your camera’s JPEG engine or your software’s RAW processor, and every film photo looks different depending on the brand/line of film you use. There’s no such thing as an “unedited” photo. Some publications do have ethics rules about which types of post-processing you can do (especially for news and reportage). Most photographers have their personal “line in the sand” too. For example, I’d never swap out a bad sky with a good sky from a different photo. But even for photographers who *would*, calling it cheating seems harsh to me, so long as the photographer’s intent was not to deceive, and they’re open about how they edited the photo. The main thing I see as cheating is breaking the rules of a publication or photo contest. If they specifically say you can’t do spot-healing, and you knowingly try to submit a photo with spot-healing anyway, that’s obviously wrong. Same goes with lying to a viewer about how a photo was captured, and/or trying to mislead them.

[@glennjaso]

@@PhotographyLifeChannel thank you so much for enlightening me up. I will now continue my photography😉

[@PhotographyLifeChannel]

@Glenn Jaso - Sweet! Good luck!