My first DSLR: how do I deal with it? (Topic)

Learning how to use a modern digital camera is easy: you will quickly figure out where the shutter button is and how to upload a photo to your home PC. But what to do next? How to grow and transform from a beginner to a confident (albeit not very professional) photographer? The answer largely depends on your desire to learn how to be creative.

Try to spend at least 15 minutes studying the camera every day. This does not mean that you have to shoot if you don't feel like it. You cannot move forward without a good understanding of the theory of photography and how to operate the machine.

Watch YouTube Tutorials and Google Answers

Forget the paper instructions you took out of the box with the camera. The official instruction manual can be replete with complex terms, it will be difficult for a beginner to understand them all at once. Therefore, look for an understandable alternative source of information - forums, blogs, YouTube channels, etc.

Google your camera model plus the word "settings". You will find a lot of links where they will explain in an accessible language with examples what each "spinner" is responsible for. Take the camera in your hands and go through all the steps yourself: this way you will see with your own eyes what effect you can achieve by setting the settings in manual mode.

Sign up for beginner photography courses

After you get a little familiar with the camera and its controls, sign up for a private or group lesson.

As a rule, people interested in photography have a good visual and tactile perception. They also learn better in practice with an instructor than in self-study. Few have regretted their decision to take classes, but if there is no time to attend classes in person, an online course will do.

Before enrolling, check out the course content and meet the person who is delivering it. Make sure that you will be comfortable working with this person, because for you he will not be like a school teacher with a pointer in his hands, but a mentor and advisor.

There are many photography courses that vary in price and level. Start with a general course, then as you gain experience, you will be able to master more and more deep topics or even choose a specific direction.

Use your camera every day

One of the easiest and most effective ways to grow as a photographer is to take pictures every day.

Even if you only have 10-15 minutes of free time a day, with proper perseverance, you can make good progress in a year. Regular practice is a vital moment in creative work. No musician, actor, or artist would be successful if they did not do their own thing on an ongoing basis. And you will have the same.

Don't judge yourself too harshly

Creative people are often prone to excessive self-criticism. In fact, this is not so bad, but you cannot go too far. Remind yourself often that you are still learning and everything is ahead.

Compare your shots not with those of experienced photographers, but with those you have taken before. Very soon, you will start to see your technical skills, creative expression and style develop.

Take pictures of what you love

Start your first steps in photography by capturing things that are interesting and dear to you. For example, if you are gardening, take your camera outside with you. Love and keep animals - learn the nuances of shooting four-legged companions. In a familiar environment, you can easily find a theme for a whole series of photographs, perhaps it will be your first successful project.

In conclusion

There are many cases when, after purchasing an expensive camera, a person is disappointed, because it seems to him that he did not receive the expected quality and result. Do not hurry. Study the settings, practice, gain new experiences and analyze old ones. This is the only way to develop your skills in any field, including photography.

The Topic of Article: My first DSLR: how do I deal with it?.
Author: Jake Pinkman