Lately I’ve had a few other, newer photographers reach out to me.  Like I’ve said before, it’s an honor to have anyone even come to me and ask me questions!  I feel like I’m still learning everyday new things.  At first this made me a little intimidated sharing any of the knowledge that I do have, but then I realized that I should never really reach a point where I stop learning!  So today, I’m sharing four tips for getting started:

1. Learn your camera.  You can’t take photos until you really learn your camera and how it works and reads light in different situations.  This takes practice!  You also should be able to use your camera manually.. a lot of people will give you that tip, but they might not always explain why.  Why do you need to shoot manually?  Well, you need to know how to go from shooting in a dark church to bright outdoor portraits to a dark reception!

2. Get connected.  There are tons of incredible groups on Facebook that are open to sharing tons of information with newer photographers.  I am a part of Shoot & Share groups and I love them!  The whole purpose of the group is to connect photographers so that they can ask questions and get answers.. fast!  These groups connect you not only to photographers all over the nation (and internationally) but also to local photographers.  This yields referrals and opportunities to assist!

3. Go to networking events. One of the best ways that you can get connected is attending networking events.  This allows you to meet other photographers or people in the industry you are a part of.  For example, I met a ton of incredible vendors at one of the Annapolis wedding industries’ that I get to work with next year!

4. Invest in education. There are tons of things that I’ve done for my business that have yielded growth, but one of the best things I’ve done is invest in mentoring with my sweet friends Katelyn and Natalie.  I was fortunate enough to have them share their knowledge with me and allow me to think in new ways about my business.  This is really one of the best things you can do!

So, I hope these tips helped!  Seasoned photographers, what other tips would you give to people just starting out? Oh, and thanks Katelyn for the photo.