Photography 101 - Five Important Photography Habits To Learn

Photography is an art, similar to drawing or painting. There will always be talented artists that are naturally gifted in one art form or another, while the rest of us have to figure out ways to keep up. One of the best ways to match the photographs of great photographers is by adopting a few of their common practices. Here are five important habits that most great photographers all have in common (in no particular order):

Bracket Your Shots

Bracketing is simply the act of taking various exposures of the same picture. Any time you're taking pictures and the end result is important, you should bracket your shots by shooting one normal photo, then one below the recommended exposure as well as one above. This way you'll have more options for selecting the best picture and will also help minimize over and and under exposure. With digital photography, there is no reason not to bracket since you don't have to worry about burning your film.

Maintain Your Gear

A camera lens can give you a near-perfect representation of what you see through the lens but only if it is clean. Although it is easy to touch up your images using a photo editor, it is easiest just to use a cleaning kit and properly clean your gear before shooting. In addition, you should always protect your photo equipment in a bag or case so you can minimize the amount of dust buildup and avoid accidental damage. And always remember to charge your battery!

Tell a Story

One of the key differences between a good picture and a great photograph is that a photograph has a story to tell. Every shot you take should convey some sort of narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. Although this may seem hard to do, once you get the hang of it, it's gets easier to do with every shot. When shooting a sequence of photographs, try to tie them all together with one theme; this will increase their emotional impact.

Get the Image Right in Your Camera

Professional photographers, for the most part, will agree that if you can do something in-camera instead of in the editing room, that's where you should do it. By learning how to work with your camera to get the results you want, you'll become a much better photographer than spending all your time editing. When it comes to using photo editing software, you should consider it like a safety net so you only use it as a last resort.

Learn Your Craft

As with any other skill, if you want to become a better photographer you should do everything in your power to learn about your craft. This means you should look at the works of great photographers whenever you can and also spend more time learning and practicing. The more you know about what makes a photo really good, the more consistently you'll be able to take quality pictures. Additionally, join a photo club or website and take a look at their forums - there are always useful tips to be found in places like this.

There is no great mystery or untold secret to becoming a great photographer. As you get more comfortable with looking through the viewfinder, you'll get better at spotting scenes that will make great photographs. These five habits can help you to reach this point sooner, especially if you're shooting as much as you possibly can. When it comes to photography, practice may not make you perfect but it will definitely make your pictures better.