1 Thing ALL Beginner Photographers MUST Do!

TL;DR

Beginner photographers should shoot with another person, or even a pet, because using a subject helps them explore techniques and find their preferred style faster. David Hammond recommends this especially during the first one to three months, when a friend can become the subject for portrait, landscape, adventure, and macro experiments. Read on for practical subject choices and the experience that led Hammond toward wider landscape images.

Transcript

what is going on YouTube David Hammond beautiful mother nature and in today's tutorial we are speaking of one thing all beginner photographers should do beginner as in legit your first month to two months to 3 months of shooting photos ok this is exactly what I did unconsciously like without knowing but I'm so thankful I did when I first started ta... Read More

Key Insights

• Shooting with people accelerates learning by exposing beginners to various photography styles, such as portrait, landscape, and macro photography.
• Working with subjects, whether friends or strangers, helps photographers quickly identify their preferred style and niche.
• Experimenting with different techniques on live subjects provides practical experience and immediate feedback on what works and what doesn’t.
• Photographing strangers can be a valuable exercise, offering unique opportunities for candid and spontaneous shots.
• Engaging with subjects, even pets, encourages creativity and helps develop a photographer’s personal style and vision.
• Shooting with others challenges photographers to adapt to different environments and lighting conditions, enhancing their technical skills.
• New photographers might initially feel more comfortable shooting alone, but collaborating with others offers broader learning experiences.
• The practice of shooting with subjects is recommended for beginners to gain diverse experiences and refine their photographic techniques more efficiently.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the one thing all beginner photographers should do?

David Hammond recommends shooting with someone during the first one to three months of taking photos. A friend, pet, or stranger can serve as a subject, helping the photographer learn more techniques and identify a preferred style faster than when shooting alone.

Q: Why does David Hammond recommend shooting with people?

A person gives a beginner a subject with whom they can try several photographic styles during one outing. Hammond says this accelerates learning and makes it easier to discover a personal niche.

Q: Who can a beginner photographer use as a subject?

The subject can be a friend, a dog or other pet, or a stranger. Hammond suggests taking a friend on a trail or downtown, while a pet can accompany the photographer into the forest.

Q: What photography styles can beginners practice with a person?

Hammond names portrait, landscape, adventure, and macro photography. Using one person as the subject lets a beginner experiment with these different approaches during the same shoot.

Q: How can shooting with someone help a photographer find a niche?

Beginners can compare what they like and dislike about different techniques while photographing the same subject. Hammond discovered that he liked wider, more landscape-oriented shots featuring a small person in the scene.

Q: What did David Hammond learn from photographing someone in a forest?

He quickly recognized which aspects of portrait photography appealed to him and which did not. That experience steered him toward wider landscape images with a small person included in the composition.

Q: What can a beginner do if no friend or pet is available?

Hammond suggests photographing a stranger, although he describes this option as trickier. A stranger might appear sitting in a chair, using a kayak or canoe, or walking along a trail; for portraits, he also mentions using a zoom lens or approaching the person and asking.

Q: Is shooting alone still useful for learning photography?

Hammond says he now shoots alone most of the time, but he is glad he photographed someone when he was beginning. In his experience, working with a subject revealed styles and techniques faster than shooting only by himself.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• David Hammond emphasizes the importance of shooting with people for beginner photographers. He shares personal experiences that highlight how photographing friends, pets, or strangers can expedite learning different photography styles and techniques. This approach helps new photographers quickly discover their style and niche.

• By photographing subjects, beginners can explore various photography genres, such as portrait and landscape, gaining practical experience and immediate feedback. This method allows photographers to experiment creatively, identify their preferences, and develop a personal style more efficiently.

• Hammond suggests that while shooting alone is common, collaborating with others is beneficial for learning. Photographing people, whether acquaintances or strangers, enhances technical skills and creativity, offering a broader range of experiences and opportunities for growth in photography.