Sometimes, it’s not about practising harder, but practising smarter. Over the past few years, I have gathered a few tricks that seem to consistently help me refine my skills. Here are the 10 takeaways. Consider incorporating them into your routine.

1. SELF LEARNING
You are your best teacher. Stop asking for tips and advise from others, start clicking yourself.

2. LESS IS MORE
Limit the number of photos you click per session to less than 10. This will push you to click only when you are sure that what you are clicking will result in a good photograph of not an awesome one.

3. INVEST IN DISCIPLINE
Like in every profession or practice, improvement only comes with discipline.

4. HAVE BETTER REFERENCES
Studying reference of photos clicked by better photographers always help to improve your analytical skills.
Don’t just admire the photographs, learn to examine the basics… number of light sources used, focal length, f-stop/ depth of field, shutter speed and lastly, the camera placement and the angle.
These may not become evident over the week, but over the years, will certainly help.

5. CHALLENGE YOURSELF
Challenges always push you to find a newer way to achieve the desired. It will also push you to try newer things and this will result in variety. Keep the ones you like and discard the ones you don’t. Both of these scenarios are essential to becoming a better photographer. This would mean, going to shoot with only one light or one fixed lens. Will share more on this as we progress.

6. AVOID POST PROCESSING
Getting the picture-perfect doesn’t mean one has to resort to post-processing. Attempting to get close to near perfection while at the location itself is a learning experience. Most of the pros don’t leave anything for the post. All the functions are available on tour camera itself, just reach early and fool around with the settings and the gear.

7. PERSPECTIVE MATTERS
Ideally, everything should be shot at eye-level. Which means, placing the camera at the spot that is most pleasing to the eye. This is usually where a normal eye would see from. Moving away from this rule also creates interesting pictures. An extreme low angle or a high angle shot too will bring in expected results.

8. LET’S UNCOMPLICATE
Sometimes the most appealing photographs are often the simplest. The content and the setting has to be powerful. Silhouette is a great way to start your journey.

9. KNOW YOUR GADGET
Understanding the functions the camera offer and how to go through the menus is the basic thing one needs to get comfortable with. It now only makes your life easier but will also help you discover newer opportunities.

Understanding the functions the camera offer and how to go through the menus is the basic thing one needs to get comfortable with. It now only makes your life easier but will also help you discover newer opportunities.

10. BE YOUR OWN CRITIQUE
Time gives you perspective. Scroll back through your past photographs of years past. You will realise that there has been a journey travelled. Your tastes and perspectives would have changed and hopefully for the better 🙂

I will cover more on the basics in detail soon. Getting to know stuff like ISO, shutter speed, focal length, which lens to choose from always helps. Happy clicking!