Planning on starting your photography journey? This beginner-friendly guide provides photography tips on what gear to get, must-have accessories to carry, shooting locations and what to expect. Whether you’re using a smartphone or a camera, this practical guide will help you take your first steps into photography with confidence.
1. Essential gadgets for beginner photographers
Cameras for beginner photographers
- If you don’t own a camera, you can start taking photos with your smartphone camera then gradually progress to entry-level cameras
- Entry level cameras : Nikon, Canon, Sony and other camera manufacturers have a lineup of camera for different skill levels.
TIP: I started my photography journey with Canon PowerShot A520. I used it so much that I think I reached its maximum actuations (total number of shots). I even started shooting in manual mode on that camera.
Best lenses for beginner photographers
(the lenses listed below are recommended lenses for beginner photographers, there are wide variety of prime, wide and zoom lenses to choose from for advanced level photographers)
- Kit Lens: Comes with most cameras kits and are versatile for everyday use.
- Prime Lens (50mm f/1.8)
- 50 mm -Great for portraits and low-light conditions.
- Wide-Angle Lens
- 35 mm – Perfect for landscapes and architecture photography.
- Zoom Lens
- 70-300 mm – to cover a range of distances.
TIP: You can start with your kit lens and one zoom lens. Kit lenses are excellent for capturing portraits, landscape and street shots. Zoom lenses are for scenarios were getting close to your subject isn’t possible.
Essential Accessories for Every Photographer
TIP: must-have accessories for photography largely depend on the type of photography you plan to pursue.
- Camera bags – Personally, I prefer backpacks for camera bags over shoulder bags. While shoulder bags can be convenient for quick access, they tend to strain your shoulder after a long walk. Backpacks, on the other hand, are more ergonomically designed providing better support for your back.
- When joining Photo Walks or traveling, I use my 32-liter Jansport backpack to carry my gear. For added protection, I securely place my camera inside a small-sized Peak Design Camera Cube V2 within the backpack.
- Memory cards – There are different kinds of memory cards. Professional photographers prefer high-performance memory cards who need reliability for high-resolution images and videos. As a beginner there are variety of affordable memory cards to choose from depending on your budget.
TIP: Optional Accessories for unique Situations
- masking tape – if you need to paste cheat codes on your camera
i.e. aperture, shutter speed settings
- camera rain covers and poncho – to protect you and your camera and keep you continue shooting under the rain. There can be lots of good shooting opportunities when it’s raining.
- This improvised lens cover using a zip-lock bag allowed me to continue shooting one rainy day in Paris. I have a proper camera rain cover now but still have a zip lock bag in my camera bag in case of emergency.
2.Best places for beginner photographers to practice
- Parks and Gardens – for landscapes and nature photography
- Street corners and markets – for candid shots and street photography
- Mountains and Beaches – for landscapes and nature
- Festivals, community and family gatherings – candid and portrait photography
TIP: Join a Photo Walk if you can. It’s more fun to take pictures when you are in a group and you can compare notes. Sometimes more experienced photographers join Photo walks and this is a great opportunity to learn and get great tips from a Pro. I still join Photo walks whenever I can.
3. What to Expect
Photography learning curve for beginner
- Understanding Your Camera: Start with auto mode and gradually learn manual settings like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
- Learn the rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry to improve your shots.
- Enhance your images using tools like Adobe Lightroom or Snapseed.
TIP: As in everything, practice is important. Try to shoot as many photos as you can every opportunity you get. It’s easier to understand the different settings of your camera when you take time to experiment and try different shots.
Challenges
- limitations: Work with what you have and focus on learning the craft. Regardless of what type of camera you have, you can create stunning photos by being creative with your shot selections.
- Common mistakes beginner photographers make: Blurry photos or overexposed images are part of the process. Learn from them.
TIP: like I mentioned earlier I started my photography journey with a simple point-and-shoot camera, I experimented with manual mode on it to learn the fundamentals. As I progressed, I purchased my DSLR cameras on Kijiji. My first camera was a Nikon D80. When that gave after several years, I bought my second camera a Nikon 300s. I used my cameras extensively always experimenting, trying something new, redoing shoots until my cameras gave up and eventually stopped working.
- Tips for Success
- Explore Different Genres: Try portraits, landscapes, macro, and street photography to find what you enjoy most
- Stay Inspired: You can follow photographers you admire and draw inspiration from their work.
TIP: I draw inspiration from a variety of sources, including free magazines I pick up at supermarkets and other local spots. I follow other photographers on Instagram because I like their work not because they are well known or famous. However, it’s important to develop your own unique style while appreciating the work of others.
- Keep Practicing: The more you shoot, the better you’ll get.
- The most important thing is to enjoy and capture whatever inspires you.
Embrace the learning curve, experiment with new techniques, and, most importantly, enjoy the process. Share your first photos or questions in the comments—we’d love to see your progress!
Definitions of Key Terms :
- Common Camera Settings
- Aperture: Refers to the opening in the lens that allows light into the camera. Measured in f-stops (e.g., f/1.8, f/3.5). Smaller numbers (e.g., f/1.8) allow more light and create a shallow depth of field (blurry background).
- Shutter Speed: Determines how long the camera shutter remains open. Faster shutter speeds (e.g., 1/500) freeze motion, while slower speeds (e.g., 1/30) allow motion blur.
- ISO: Controls the camera’s sensitivity to light. A low ISO (e.g., 100) is ideal for bright conditions, while high ISO (e.g., 3200) helps in low light but can introduce noise.
- Photography Techniques
- Aperture: Refers to the opening in the lens that allows light into the camera. Measured in f-stops (e.g., f/1.8, f/3.5). Smaller numbers (e.g., f/1.8) allow more light and create a shallow depth of field (blurry background).
- Shutter Speed: Determines how long the camera shutter remains open. Faster shutter speeds (e.g., 1/500) freeze motion, while slower speeds (e.g., 1/30) allow motion blur.
- ISO: Controls the camera’s sensitivity to light. A low ISO (e.g., 100) is ideal for bright conditions, while high ISO (e.g., 3200) helps in low light but can introduce noise.
Resource links:
Cameras for beginners:
- Nikon – Nikon D7500
- Canon – Canon T7 EOS REBEL T7 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III
- Sony – Sony Alpha a6400
Camera Lenses:
Essential Accessories for Every Photographer
“Once photography enters your bloodstream, it is like a disease.”– Anon
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