Figuring out where to start when you begin your photography journey can be quite overwhelming. There is SO much information out there. It is hard to know where to start.

I wanted to create a guide I wish I would have had when I started. I picked up my camera to take better photos of my kids. I wasn’t looking to create pieces of art or anything I just wanted some awesome photos of my kids. A list like this would have been really helpful for me.

This is just a guide. It is not a rule or to say you have to learn everything in one stage before you move to the next. Think of it like a syllabus for a class.

Stage 1:
– Learn manual mode
– Get the photos correct in camera
– Focus on understanding aperture, shutter speed, and ISO and how they work together
– Nailing your focus
– Understanding Depth of Field or DOF
– Basics of natural light like window lighting
– How to achieve catchlights
– Understanding white balance and how it affects your images
– Basics of composition – incorrect limb chops, rule of thirds, looking into the frame

Step 2:
– Backlighting
– Dramatic lighting
– Split lighting
– Negative space
– Back button focusing
– Using shutter speed to show motion
– Showing movement in your image with composition
– Editing

Step 3:
– Knowing when to break the rules
– Finding your style or voice
– Shooting in full sun without overexposing your subject
– Advanced composition guides – golden ratio, golden spiral, golden triangle
– Looking to other forms of art for inspiration

If you are around Stages 1 or 2 check out our 30 day challenge to improve your photography.

There is so much more to learn about photography and the more you learn the more you will realize you have to learn. I feel like I can’t absorb enough information when it comes to photography. Remember, this is just a guide, a place to use as a starting off point or if you get stuck in your journey.

Don’t worry how long it takes you to learn one of these skills. Who cares if people learn them faster than you. You are on your OWN journey.