HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR DSLR CAMERA

. A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER ISN’T JUST BORN OUT OF A GREAT CAMERA .

Photography is one of my most favourite things about blogging and my blog, I absolutely love to shoot pictures, i love the creativity of it, and I’ve definitely loved the challenge of getting to know my DSLR and find my own groove with it. In fact taking a good set of pictures is enough to put me in a  good mood for the day, I just love it.

Photography though, takes mastery, dedication and practice, it’s certainly not one of those things where the camera does all the work, and you simply just need to stand and press shoot. A photo is as good as the photographer, the location, the lighting, the composition, the creative eye!

I love photography and i’ve already written a lot of photography tips features which you can read here, but today I thought I’d share a little summary of everything and my top tips for getting the most out of your camera.

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR CAMERA

 

#1 LENSES

Firstly, it doesn’t really make a huge difference what Camera body you use, if you’re looking for a certain style of photography (bokeh & depth of field, or wide angled or fish eye) then it’s actually your lenses which are going to make the biggest difference.

For me, and my blog photos I shoot on a  Canon 5D Mark III body which I have to say is a revolution (I started with an entry level DSLR an upgraded a year or so ago as my love for photography spiralled), but my lenses are what helps me create the depth of field & street style photography that I love, i shoot on two mid range lenses (about £350 each), the Canon 50mm F1.4 & Canon 85mm F1.8, I love both of them A LOT.

So a top tip for getting the most out of your camera, is to understand the best lenses for the style of photography you’re looking for. Lenses come in all types of price brackets, so research is absolutely key!

#2 MANUAL

In every photography tips post i’ve ever written i’ve banged on about shooting in manual. An auto photo is average, a manual shot photo can be utterly brilliant. Shooting on manual allows you to capture a moment exactly as you want or even need to. From adjusting your lighting, to your shutter speed depending on what your shooting, and when or where your hooting. So learning how to use your camera on manual should be your number one priority.

#3 ISO / APERTURE / SHUTTER

That leads me to ISO, Aperture & Shutter speed – the key ingredients to a camera, and the three things that can make or break a photo. Not only do you need to understand them all individually and what they affect, but most importantly you need to learn how they all work together. It can take a little time, but once you do, you’ll find an incredible quality step up in your shoots.

I’ve written in depth tutorials on the topic which you can read here: mastering your photography & your DSLR and How to take good photos for your blog part 1 & part 2

 

#4 INSPIRED

I mentioned at the beginning that a camera is only as good as the photographer using it, and to take a good photo requires a whole lot more than just a camera & a lens, you need a creative eye, a vision, some inspiration. For me, the best photos I see are the ones that feel unique, they capture a moment in time, they’re quality and shot with a clear vision, and most of all they feel inspired.

I spend a lot of time browsing images, creating scrap books or pinterest boards, with all the photos that I love and feel inspired by. It gives you great ideas and spurs on your own creativity.

#4 PRACTICE

Finally, and most importantly, getting the most out of your camera simply takes practice. Practice makes perfect! Testing out lenses, experimenting with composition, lighting, settings & models, learning to master your manual settings & adjusting as you go, are all the things that’ll make you a better photographer, get incredible shots & help you get the most out of your camera.