If I Had To Learn Photography Again, This Is How I Would Do It.

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When learning any skill, I always find myself wanting to know the most optimal path to learn the critical mass of skills to be self-sufficient. This was definitely the case when I was first learning photography. This is that video. This is my suggestion of an optimal path for learning photography in both a categorical and chronological way.

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[mgranthenry]

The biggest thing that effected my work was starting to ask the question why. When I see photos that I like, I try to take the time to figure out why I like it, whether its the tones, lighting, composition, etc. Once I could figure out why certain images were "good" I could figure out how to replicate it and build technical skills from that which I can incorporate into my work.

[wcbert]

I will add some of the advice that I have given over the years

A - Learn from photographers regardless of the gear they shoot with. I am a Fuji shooter and Pat Kay is a Sony shooter. I still visit his YouTube channel and other photographers to hear their thoughts. When they go into specific brands I skip that Youtube vid. This is especially true when it comes to Street Photography because there are so many opinions on the lens they use and why. I will watch a Photographer's YouTube channel and not care if they are using Prime and I use Zoom when it comes to Street Photography.

B - I treat some aspects of my photography as work. When it comes to shooting and photo editing, just like a 9 to 5 job you have to get your work done by 5pm to leave on time. So before I go out to shoot, I make plans for the area. Take in travel time to get there and back home. How long do I plan to be in the area before I move to another location? This prevents me from what I call 'fishing for a photograph' and focuses my limited time on creating one. If I get one great photo for the day, I am a happy camper.

C - This also applies to photo editing in LR which I use. If you using 90% of your time to edit a photo, do you want to spend another 1/2 hour editing for that extra 10% and no one will notice or do you decide to never post the photo so no one will ever see it?

Time is a precious thing to use.

D - Develop a thick skin when it comes to opinions on your work. Because of the internet, there are plenty of jerks who in my view have a miserable life, and because of that, they want to make everyone life's miserable too. And this also comes to people who like your photo. Ok, you like my photo but can you tell me why. Sometimes what I see in my photo is not what they see. Feedback is valuable and likes are useless to me.

E - If you have the choice between new gear especially when it comes to an expensive camera body or lens, and the choice of going to a location you have never been to before or a workshop with a 'Pro' photographer, the best decision is taking a trip to a new location or workshop.

My recommendation for location is Lisbon Portugal, eye candy for you to shoot all day and night.

In a workshop with a pro, you have the chance to watch them go through their thought process when they shoot and ask questions. Go to the workshop with a mindset to take your photos to the next level. Do not do what I see some students do, shoot the next-level photos but are not prepared to shoot those next-level photos on their own. At the workshop, those questions can be answered by the pro, and your job is to make it happen.

F - Have a backup plan. Not a backup plan with life, but with your photos. If you are taking Pat's recommendation of the number of photos to shoot, you need a backup in case of hard drive failure. In my opinion, you need to do this earlier and find a backup method that works for you. Also, how you rename your photos. If you are using LR, what do the color and stars mean when applied to photos?

[grom]

I will give a few points for someone new to know what to think about, because when you are new you don't even know what to put emphasis on.

Know what you are getting into and that it could be expensive, depending on what you want to do, but you could need so less gear, that it is not that expensive.
Some basic important things:

Few examples- for landscapes you don't need fast autofocus- you can buy older or less expensive lower level camera. You don't need lenses that make the background blurry as well (f 1.2<blurry<f4>not blurry), so you can buy good zoom lens- 24-105 f4, still very good (bought used for very good price). Kit lens (one you get with the camera when you buy new and the lens is like a free gift, because it is cheap and not very good). So for landscapes- no need for expensive gear, but landscape gets expensive when you travel. Action- expensive body with good autofocus and expensive lens with good autofocus motor. Portrait- low f stop number.
If you want to shoot portraits and you want photos with magazine quality- you need f 1.8, f1.4 or f1.2 prime lens or f 2.8 zoom lens in general that are expensive

Aperture mode with auto iso and knowing if you want to freeze fast action like someone running- like 1/500s or higher number(1/1000 1/2000...) or someone static- like 1/250s (1/200 1/160...) and lower and if you want to blur the background- lower than f4 or have most of the background in focus- higher than f4

The bigger focal length (mm of lens) more of the background is getting pulled ( looks closer to the subject) and looks blurrier. It also changes the way things look (distorts them). The same is true about something like 16mm focal length and if you've only been shooting with phones, you are used to 16-24 focal length and with cameras you will most likely have to be further from the object to capture photo that consists of the same field of view.

Editing is important for how the photo looks and you will have to edit on PC/laptop or tablet/phone to get better results- make colors pop and so on. This requires time and effort. Adobe Lightroom (program to edit) is not that hard, so I think everything boils down to willingness and effort, but costs subscription money. There are free programs as well.

Different camera brands have different mounts (openings on the camera that the lens attaches on) and you can't use different mount lens on another camera and expect normal functionality- there are adapters, but native lenses work better. So research brand bodies and lens selection, before you decide what to choose and loose money if you switch.

Mirrorless cameras are the last technology and you can upgrade bodies and keep using the lenses, you can sell easier than old gear- DSLRs. More and more people want to sell DSLR cameras and lenses to upgrade to mirrorless.

Mirrorless cameras have autofocus algorithms that follow objects and capturing images is easier than DSLRs in general- Sony A7 III and upwards, Canon R5/R6 and upwards and Nikon Z8/Z9 and upwards, all have good autofocus.
Shooting experience in mirrorless between eye viewfinder and display is the same.
No fast autofocus when using the display in DSLRs.

There may be some exceptions to what I've written, but more or less this is how things stand.

[namukolosiyumbwa]

I've been a photographer for almost 7 years now and lately I have been feeling like I've hit a rut, and I want to relearn photography. This video is perfect for my journey, so I want to thank you for making it.

[rafasaphotos]

Amazing how you did a masterclass in 20 minutes. So helpful for beginners but also to remind photographers not as begginers, very well explained. Thank you, Pat!

[christopherberry]

My first tip would be to make a plan on what to photograph when you can and can't go outside because of weather, light - whatever.
For most beginners, I'd say look at your south facing windows and video lights as a backup - especially video lights for winter so you can shoot all night, play with gobos, walls, backgrounds etc.
100% of the time you're making excuses, you're in the way of your best shot.

[foaddd.k]

You are such a good teacher, great job

[BGTuyau]

A thoughtful walk through some of the early stages of learning and development as a photographer, with some specifics about milestones —concluding with some savvy remarks regarding feedback and sources of it, and a caution about social media.

[bittertruth]

Excellent presentation. Very comprehensive and there is hardly any step that a serious learner could disagree.

I am in photography as an amateur for the last 30 years. Now 73 years old and drawn to photography after 8 years of absence again primarily due to Monochrome camera introduced by Pentax K3 miii at affordable price. To me, photography is always about B&W. conversion from colour (that's what I had been doing) to B&W has no standing and no comparison.

[vtrip_]

It was rough at first when shooting like 2 rolls and after developing them finding out they are over exposed or out of focus.
I learned to shoot back ups with slightly different settings for certain shots.
Today with digital I turn off the preview and don’t find out what I shot until the end of the day.
I also limit myself to 24 exposures. So when I go out shooting I have to make each shot count.

[by.othman]

A great and thoughtful reminder for beginners and experienced photographers alike, fabulously done...

[ElisePruissen]

I have always been interested in photography as an art form, but never interested in picking it up myself. I recently had an idea for a story I want to tell (step 10) but had no idea how to get from Point A to Point B until this video! Thank you so much for this because it was so daunting to dive in until you broke this down step by step.

[DametteLinda]

I was a little worried with the title but as always, great advice. I couldn’t agree more with the color thing “it’s an undulating process, strap in for the ride” 😂

[jvstn]

Super valuable and high quality video, Pat!

I have several years of experience and I definitely went through that honeymoon phase you describe.

But you've inspired me to really focus on nailing my fundamentals and developing my style.

[eugeneBai]

Thank again, Pat! You have the best educational photography channel on youtube! I clearly see your programming background in a way how you organise everything in some sort of algorithms :) I love that! :)

[peterdimitrov]

Pat has hands down my favourite photography channel, I would only suggest to try editing earlier..
Just to add some joy to your experience, a satisfaction of seeing a finished picture rather than thousands of blend ones.
In any case, this is an exceptional video, thank you!

[ramdogproductions]

All these vids are extremely helpful. Excited to shoot, learn and share

[nganhoang]

This video is so helpful. It's all I need as a beginner but don't know where to start. Thank you so much, I will follow the guide!

[niikhilnayar]

Great video Pat. Informative and well structured.

[enmachs]

I had learned a lot of uncommon stuff from this channel, keep up the good work!!!