Top Tips from Pro Photographers to be a better photographer

Improve your photography with these pro tips!

Follow these tips from the pros for how to be a better photographer, take better photos and get better results!

In this tutorial, Pierre T Lambert shares the best lessons he’s learned about photography from shooting with top photographers from around the world!

Lessons from the pros: how to be a better photographer!

These are the top tips from experienced photographers for how to be a better photographer, no matter what gear you are using. Spoiler: none of these tips have anything to do with having super expensive gear!

How to be a better photographer – Lesson #1: With Gear, Less is More

The more advanced or experienced the professional photograhers are, Pierre noticed the less gear they have. 

Why?

They bring less gear every time they go out to a photoshoot, because they have learned that it’s not about the gear. They know the gear they like, and they use the same or very few different pieces to get the shots they need.

What is really important is focusing on the storytelling from the cameras perspective. 

You don’t need a ton of lenses to tell the same story.

If you have mastered your craft, understand how your camera works, and know your technique, you will be able to take beautiful photos that tell amazing stories. 

How to be a better photographer – Lesson #2 Take breaks where you don’t take photos!

Spend some time not taking photos. Your mind needs a break to creatively refresh and refocus. 

Especially after you have done an intense photo shoot or season of busy photo sessions where you give 120% every time. 

It’s important to take some time, maybe focus on another creative outlet for a while, and then come back to your camera with a fresh vision. 

This allows you to be fully present when you are taking photos and feel less pressure. Your creativity needs a break sometimes!

Lesson #3 Master photography techniques

When people say ‘the gear doesn’t make the photographer’, this is what they mean. If you take the time to become a master of the technical skills in photography, it matters less what gear you are using.

Know everything you can about these skills, and no matter what camera or lens you pick up you will be able to make the necessary adjustments to get amazing images every time.

These technical skills include knowing your exposure triangle, or the elements that affect the light your camera will capture:

• Aperture – the width of the lens opening on the end of the lens that affects how much light is let into the lens
• Shutter speed – the length of time it takes your camera to take a photo; you can set your camera shutter speed at different lengths of time such as 1/1000 of a second or 3 seconds, for example. The longer the shutter speed, the more movement will be captured.
• ISO – like the sensitivity of the digital sensor in your camera for how much light information it will collect

You don’t have to be a tech geek but it is important to know these settings, how to use them and what each different technique does and affects.

This way you will be able to focus on storytelling through your camera and capture the best images.

Lesson #4: Finding light and stories

The art of finding the best light for your photos to tell the best version of the story you want to tell.

Being ready to get up at 4am, hike up a mountain in the rain, and know the location to capture the best photos.

If you don’t put in the effort to get the light and find the story in the scene, no one else will.

Don’t leave until you get the shot that you want! The pros are laser focused and won’t leave until they have the right light and the right shot to tell the story they want to tell.

These hard-learned lessons are not difficult to apply to be a better photographer!

Follow these tips to become better at your craft and get better photos as a result!

Which of these pro tips will you apply to your photography THIS WEEK?

Comment below!