How to improve or get inspired

[truephotoga]

Hello all,
I am wondering what the rest of you do to keep improving or keep inspired in photography? For those of you who are not pro photographers and not in the business full-time, what do you do to keep your skills in check? Do you schedule photo sessions for clients on the weekends? Do you go out with ideas for shoots on the weekends? If your a "part-timer", do you do any marketing with ads or gain clients via word of mouth? Thanks.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I read, read, read, and look at a lot of pictures.

 

[Espike]

^ This. Plus watch youtube to learn new techniques.

 

[photo_joe]

Go out and shoot. on top of what other people said.

Shooting and then looking at what you got if you get a good shot then you can work to remember what you did to get the shot.

 

[arkipix1001]

same as bitter...read alot of books and magazine...browse photography sites on the internet...

 

[Eveamlizya]

I love deviantART.com for this...I get on there at least twice a day to browse the "daily deviations." I also find photography blogs and follow those or sign up for their email list. Since I don't get out of the house much having a newborn and all, I scan old photos and work on my editing skills in photoshop while breastfeeding or while my daughter is napping. Lol. Anytime I do get out of the house, I take my camera with me and just snap photos of random things I find interesting.

 

[KmH]

I don't like the commonly given advice to go out and shoot, shoot, shoot.

When you go out to shoot, it really helps if you do so with some photographic goals in mind.

You have to understand what makes a photo "good", and you have to know how your tools work (camera/lens) so you can use the tools effectively.

Most important is the light, the composition, and exposure.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...-forum/267492-info-those-new-photography.html

A major difference between a neophyte and an advanced photographer, is the amount of detail checked in the camera viewfinder before the shutter is released. Not just scene detail, but also checking the camera settings that are displayed in the viewfinder to verify the DoF will be as desired, that motion stopping is controlled as desired, that focus has been achieved, that white balance is properly set, and that exposure and exposure compensation are properly set, etc.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Take a thousand photos, post what you feel are your best ones up here for honest critique, then try and improve on what you are weak in by reading, wtching studying and practicing. That's what got me all the up the skill-set ladder from rank beginner to rank amateur.

 

[timputtick]

To keep inspired I like to find new landscape photographers that create a mood in their images, and make you feel as if your there especially tranquil shots. that's me personally, everyone's different though.

 

[Kbarredo]

To keep inspired I like to look at different effects and photographs. Then I try to emulate the look I like in my shoots. Right now I just got my vagabond mini and I am having lots of fun doing outdoor strobist work. Like KMH said don't just go out and shoot. Set a goal and try to achieve it. If all you do is shoot without a goal in mind you usually don't improve much.

 

[Infidel]

I don't like the commonly given advice to go out and shoot, shoot, shoot.

When you go out to shoot, it really helps if you do so with some photographic goals in mind.

You have to understand what makes a photo "good", and you have to know how your tools work (camera/lens) so you can use the tools effectively.

Most important is the light, the composition, and exposure.

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...-forum/267492-info-those-new-photography.html

A major difference between a neophyte and an advanced photographer, is the amount of detail checked in the camera viewfinder before the shutter is released. Not just scene detail, but also checking the camera settings that are displayed in the viewfinder to verify the DoF will be as desired, that motion stopping is controlled as desired, that focus has been achieved, that white balance is properly set, and that exposure and exposure compensation are properly set, etc.

Fantastic advice! This is perhaps the sole drawback of digital (vs film) for learning...it's too easy (cheap?) to just blast away without thinking about each shot. Of course, the "spray and pray" approach will occasionally yield a great photograph, this usually occurs by happy accident and the beginner has learned nothing about how to reliably reproduce that success.

 

[WilliamDSLR]

YouTube is a great way to learn new techniques. There are several books out there you could read which is great to find inspiration from other photographers and their work.

Even by simply looking at great pictures can be inspiring in itself. I'm sure you will find your own way that works for you to gain that extra motivation/inspiration.

 

[gsgary]

I read, read, read, and look at a lot of pictures.

+1 look at the old masters, this is one of mine inspired by and old master

 

[jwbryson1]

I don't like the commonly given advice to go out and shoot, shoot, shoot.

When you go out to shoot, it really helps if you do so with some photographic goals in mind.

I know nada, so take this with a grain of salt, but I agree with Keith on this one. It's like golf--many people go to the driving range and just hit balls aimlessly instead of picking a target and aiming for that particular target. How are you going to know if your getting better or not if you don't pick a target to aim at?

 

[Aayria]

It helps me to go out and shoot with a speciffic goal in mind. It's too easy to go with a mountain of ideas and end up with a hodge-podge mediocre mess...So choosing just one element to focus on at a time really simplifies things.