The best tips for aspiring photographers from Instagrammers who have made it.
The Through My Lens Canon's website shows the photographic journey of eight photographers who now have two million Instagram followers. But they didn't just get it. By working hard and learning from the many lessons during this process, they slowly mastered their profession, causing loyal followers to sign up. Read their short tips for aspiring photographers here.
Kristina Makeeva
"Instagram is a great tool for photographers. Direct feedback from followers gives you an incentive to take photos every day; and each photo must be more beautiful than the last. Take a look around: there are so many talented people on the platform that you can collaborate with or draw inspiration from. You need a good work ethic. You have to study, work and look for information. As a self-taught person, I continue to learn every day. Try to find and apply the right information, take your time and remain patient."
Emilie Ristevski
"The most valuable thing you can do is discover what kind of photos you want to take and why. Playing with different media and photography styles is a good start.
Things usually don't go as planned on a shoot, but those additional incidents can often lead to a project going in an even more exciting direction than originally planned."
Scott Rankin
“Practice with your equipment. Take as many photos as you can. In travel photography, look for the little things around you and the way objects and the environment interact. Try to capture that interaction in as many ways as possible. Buy the best equipment possible, but your vision is the most basic tool.
Take inspiration from your favorite photographers and try to incorporate aspects of their images into your own photos. This can include style applications, framing, subject matter, use of light and shadow, etc. If you do this with a wide variety of photographic styles that inspire you, it can help you create a look that best reflects your own vision.”
James Relf-Dyer
"Try to work with the 'Rule of Thirds' in all the photos you take. Imagine dividing your photo into thirds horizontally and vertically, giving you nine segments. Place the main elements of the photo along the horizontal and vertical lines. In many striking landscape photos, the horizon is in the top third and the rest of the image falls below it.
It is important for any beginning photographer to learn to avoid camera shake. Use a fast shutter speed and make sure the camera has sturdy support, for example with a tripod.
As a rule of thumb, keep your ISO between 100-500 when shooting outdoors. Try to keep within 1600 while shooting. At night, keep the ISO lower than 1000, use a slower shutter speed, and use a tripod as a counterbalance."
Jessica Bubb
"Just start shooting. Practice makes perfect! It's easy to start copying the big influencers on Instagram. But the best advice would be to develop your own style. If you have a DSLR, stop shooting on auto and use the manual settings. You'll have much more control over the end result."
Loïc Lagarde
Shoot in RAW. Especially if you are a beginner. You will then be able to edit your photo and make corrections if necessary. Do not shoot in automatic settings. Get up early for the best light and atmosphere, whether you're shooting landscapes, cities or people."
Harry Sinclair
"Avoid crowds - sometimes getting up early is the best option to get the shot. Don't leave the location until you're happy with the shot. Tell yourself that something needs to be created and it will and you'll get that feel-good buzz."
Carmen Huter
“Use it light. While you can still get a great photo in the middle of the day, the hours before sunrise and after sunset give you the best chance to take great photos. Although it may sound counterintuitive, put down your camera every now and then and experience a location with your eyes first before looking at it through the viewfinder."
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Translation: © Fotografie.nl, text Hannah Waters
