The worst mistake a beginner photographer can make is to assume that the camera will capture everything. There are many reasons for this, including lack of experience, fear and ignorance. The end result of such an error is usually a poor quality photograph, where everything is out of focus or badly exposed.
This is a mistake that we see novice photographers make on a regular basis. As a beginner, it’s natural to be concerned with capturing the perfect image. To help you avoid making mistakes, below are some common mistakes made by beginner photographers and the reasons why these mistakes occur.
What Mistakes a Beginner Photographer Should Know to Avoid
1) Not taking enough photographs – If you’re new to photography, you may not know how many photos you need to take. Many beginners think that one or two shots is plenty, when it’s actually quite different.
It’s estimated that at least 10 photos are required to obtain an average photograph. This means that you’ll need to take about 20 photos before you start to see any improvement.
2) Shooting in the wrong light – Most people don’t realise that light can be an extremely important part of their photo. A good rule of thumb is that the most important element of a photograph should be in sharp focus.
3) Making the same mistake over and over again – If you find that you keep shooting the same subject in the same position, you might be missing out on valuable creative possibilities.
4) Having a camera that is too big or heavy – If you’re using a camera that is too big or heavy, it will be difficult to use.
5) Putting your camera on a tripod – Most beginner photographers put their cameras on tripods, thinking that this will stop the camera shaking. However, if your camera is not steady, you won’t get sharp photos.
6) Choosing the wrong equipment – Many beginners choose a camera that doesn’t suit their needs. They often buy a cheap camera with a wide-angle lens, thinking that it will do the job.
7) Using the wrong settings – It’s important to be aware of the settings on your camera, and you should never use the automatic settings.
8) Shooting a subject that is out of focus – Many beginners focus on their subject without considering the background. They tend to focus on their subject in order to make the image look good, without thinking about whether the background is sharp or blurred.
9) Being indecisive – The best way to improve your skills is to be open to new ideas and constantly develop your photographic knowledge and style.
10) Relying on filters to correct exposure – Filters are usually used to alter the colour and tone of a photograph.
However, they aren’t an effective way to alter exposure. The best way to change exposure is to adjust the aperture or shutter speed on your camera.
11) Shooting subjects that aren’t interesting – Many beginners are tempted to photograph every subject, regardless of its beauty or interest. This approach usually leads to boring pictures.
12) Taking photos that are too dark or too bright – If you’re taking photos that are too dark or too bright, the overall impression of the picture will be affected.
13) Not taking enough time to edit – Many beginners believe that editing takes too long, but it’s actually a lot quicker than it seems. The best way to edit your images is to take a little time to consider what you want to achieve.
14) Photographing the same subject over and over again – Once you’ve taken a series of photographs, it’s easy to fall into the trap of photographing the same subject.
This can make your photography look repetitive and uninteresting.
15) Taking the photo while holding the camera too close to your face – Holding the camera too close to your face will make the image blur.
16) Taking photographs that are too similar in style – If you’re taking a series of images that look the same, your work will look amateurish and unprofessional.
17) Taking a group shot without planning the composition beforehand – Group shots are fun and can be a good way to introduce people to your hobby.
However, it’s important to plan the composition beforehand. This will ensure that the picture is appealing and the people in the photograph are all looking in the same direction.
18) Photographing people with their hands in the frame – People are not supposed to be looking through the camera.
When taking a picture of someone, their eyes should be directed somewhere other than the camera. This will make their expression look more natural.
19) Focusing on the negative space – If you’re photographing a landscape, it’s important to pay attention to the positive elements of the picture as well as the negative.
For example, you could include the sky in your photograph.
20) Photographing a subject that is too far away – To get a sharp photograph, you should be careful not to take photos that are too far away.
If you’re photographing someone, their face should be clearly in focus.
21) Focusing on the wrong object – When you’re photographing a subject, you need to make sure that the eyes are in focus.
Don’t focus on the hands, feet or other parts of the body.
22) Not adjusting the white balance correctly – If you’re photographing a white object, it’s important to use the correct white balance.
The best way to do this is to take a photograph of a grey card, which will be the best guide.
23) Failing to compose the picture correctly – When you’re taking a picture, it’s important to compose the picture correctly.
This means that you should take the shot from the best angle and make sure that the people are looking in the right direction.
24) Taking the same type of shot again and again – If you’re taking the same type of photograph over and over again, you may start to feel a little tired of it.
It’s important to try new things and keep challenging yourself.
25) No Planning
Planning is a very important part of taking pictures. If you don’t plan beforehand, you will have a really hard time taking pictures. We need to know what to shoot, where and how to shoot. Also, it’s very important to choose your favorite places to visit and capture moments to show the world how beautiful it is.
26) Losing Focus
Losing focus is another common mistake we usually make. When we click the shutter button of our camera, we must have full control over what we are capturing. So, focus on your subject first before clicking the shutter. If you have no idea how to use your camera, here are some suggestions.
First, use manual mode (M) and adjust the aperture and shutter speed, which is the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor.
Second, if you are taking pictures of people, use the autofocus (AF) feature to achieve the best shot possible.
Third, make sure to always have your camera and lens clean. Dust and dirt can ruin the image quality.
Fourth, turn your camera off and on to ensure it is not damaged.
27) Too Much Movement
It is not uncommon to have a blur picture when you take pictures of moving objects. For example, when we are taking pictures of fast moving objects such as a ball flying, we must make sure the camera is steady and the shutter speed is not too slow. If the shutter speed is too low, the camera will not be able to take a clear picture of the object.
28) Forgetting the Settings
When we are taking pictures, we must have complete control over the settings of our camera. Our camera settings can make or break our pictures. For instance, if you are taking pictures of landscapes, you should adjust the white balance, the ISO value and the exposure time to obtain a nice, bright picture.
Conclusion
Have you ever thought about taking pictures as a hobby? If yes, then I am sure that you already know the importance of a camera in our lives. We need to capture moments for memories, to express ourselves, share our happiness and sorrows with our loved ones. Moreover, we have been using these cameras for years to take pictures, which has turned out to be a great learning experience for us. Although photography is fun, it is not always easy and there are several mistakes we can make while shooting. So, I hope that some mistakes I shared will improve your photography skills and make you a better photographer.