10 beginner photography mistakes I wish I never made

I have reflected on the last 10 years of being a photographer and come up with the 10 beginner mistakes that I wish I never made. These mistakes are compiled into three categories. The technical mistakes, the gear mistakes, and the philosophy mistakes. I decided to share them with you so that, at least, you do not have to go through these mistakes as I did. By doing somewhat of the opposite of what I did, you might be able to go out and save yourself some time.

Subscribe to my Newsletter:

Here is the link to my blog post on this topic:

For a link to some of my Behind the scenes photography videos, click here:

Check the channel to see more videos about my photographic process

I am a partner with Luminar. The rebate information for getting the software, including discount codes is here

Use my link if you want to buy Luminar 4

To get a discount of 10US dollars on the Luminar 3 + Luminar 4 bundle use this code
JACOLM4

If you would like to buy some of my T-shirts, hoodies, and tank tops, click on this link

To know what I use, you can also go to my KIT page

My Amazon recommends page

To follow me:

-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-
Please watch: "Behind Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech. Why was it powereful?"
-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-

[dphphoto]

Thank you for this video! I am just now buying my first "good" camera and this helped a lot.

[martintolley]

Agree with you and @JonChan in the comments, about the last point - that's potentially the most difficult. I follow a landscape photographer on 'tube. He has the ability (is it a gift or dedication, or practice?) to look at what to me is a random heap of dirty stones and a couple of decaying branches by a muddy pool, and he puts a frame around it and makes a thing of mystery and beauty. The irony is that he hasn't "made it" - it was there all the time for him. I would have walked on by.
Thanks for the inspiration, and for showing some lovely portraits here.

[the_photarist]

Just found your channel and i am glad i did. Excellent vid. As far as the working out your art i heard a quote recently that said "art is not decoration, but exploration" this has me thinking much deeper than just getting the shot. You images have such attitude and style. Looking forward to the journey with you.

[Jon-Chan]

I can relate to a lot of what you said. My main problem is the last point you touched upon. What I'm struggling with is the "photographer's eye" or the lack of it; the ability to see things that others don't see, the composition, the visuals, etc. I want to move from where my end results just looks like snaps to something that can evoke or mean something. i guess this comes with experience, a lot of time and a lot of picture taking. That being said, I'm really enjoying the journey to becoming better!

[timskinnercanada]

Awesome insights Jacques. Well done sir.

[johnherzel]

Glad to see you back. You’ve been blessed with amazingly interesting and good looking models and subjects. Quebec suit you nicely and it shows. I watch because you embrace things like shadows, darkness and haze, as well as “proper” lighting. Interesting is always better than perfect. And remember “he who makes no mistakes, makes nothing at all” - some random “Casanova”

[dipont]

Although i am not in the same photo genre, there are a lot of similar mistakes. Except maybe on the zoom vs fixed lenses for travel and landcape photography... its interesting how developing styles and post processing came into accounts... thank you for sharing...

[RickMentore]

Images @7:50 and the last were my favorites. In your next "beginners mistakes" video you may want to add buying cheep tripods, camera brackets, camera bags and other related photo equipment. So I should have bought the 24mm insted of the 24-70mm, I learnt that the hard way and further erred by purchasing a cheep used 24-70mm. Thanks JG.

[batdroid]

Helpful. Why shutter before Apertures?

[pj]

I’d love to do travel photography, would zoom lenses still be worse than fixed focals?