Three Reasons to Use Your Camera Every Day

I saw a quote yesterday that said, “the only photographer you should compare yourself to is the one you used to be“.  How true is that?  I am actually a part of a few photography groups on Facebook and some of the people are absolutely amazing.  Sometimes it is really hard not to compare my pictures to theirs, and there are many times that I do.  But I know that they’re good because they’ve put in countless hours of practice, and I’ll get there one day just like they did.

There are many ways to get better at photography, but the best thing you can do for yourself is to use your camera every day.  They say practice makes perfect and who doesn’t want their pictures to be as good as they can be?  When I first started using my camera, I really wanted to learn how to be better.  So, I put together a list of the three things I did (and really recommend) to help you master those camera techniques!

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Master the basics

The only way to truly get better at taking pictures is to practice, practice, practice.  If you make the decision to use your camera every day, you can focus on one setting (ISO, shutter speed, or aperture) and continue using it until you feel comfortable with it.

Finding your light

Light is the most important part of photography, and it can make or break your photo.  Use each day to take pictures at different hours to find out which is your favorite to shoot during.  I’ve found that I love shooting in the late afternoon when the sun is going down because I love sun flares and the beauty they bring to a picture.  Blue hour is another time (right after the sun goes down) where you can get beautiful and unique pictures.

Everyone is different though, so take the time to find out which hour is right for you.

Find your favorite “type” of photography

I think ti’s no secret that my favorite type of photography is Disney (and landscapes!). It took me a while to figure out that type of photography is what I feel comfortable shooting and is what I love.  Practicing every day will help you narrow down what subjects you are comfortable shooting.  For some, it’s people.  For others it’s animals.  And sometimes it’s landscapes.  There is no right or wrong type to love!

My favorite ways to practice are to join a 365 day or a 52 week photography project.  There are so many that just started right now, so it would be super easy to join one!  One of my favorites is from Sixth Bloom, and even though I’m not doing the 365 version I’m still taking her tips for a yearly challenge to heart!

What do you think?  Did you get a camera for Christmas and want to learn how to use it better?  Would you consider joining a photography challenge to help you with that?

If you’re looking for more photography posts from me (and my contributor Madison), you can check them out here!