Guest blog post from an expert....

Greeting my lovely readers....

This next post is has been written by Jude Middleton, a fantastic wedding and portrait photographer, so if you are serious about improving your skills please have a good read.

I asked Jude if she would write some guidance notes for the absolute beginner, a "where to start" kind of thing... As per usual she has come up trumps.

After reading please visit her website HERE and her own superb blog HERE

Thanks again Jude.....

Hi! My name is Jude and I’m a professional photographer. I spend most of my time working on weddings and portraits. One thing is for sure about photography – you can never stop learning.  With that in mind, Matt has asked me to write a few words about tips for beginners, so here goes –

Tip one –

Light and composition make images, so learn as much as you can about them both. 

Controlling light means not over or under exposing your images, having the subject well lit and defining the focal point of your image with light.  Sound confusing? It can be, to the point where very large tomes have been composed on the subject. Don’t let that put you off! Buy a beginners book and learn how the settings on your cameras affect the exposure of your images.  Decide how you want your image to look and take a few pics of the same thing, using different settings and see what is different about each one. 

Composition is how the components of your image are arranged so that they are pleasing to the eye and interesting to look at. Rule of thirds, S bend, Centre... Google the subject – it’s pretty in depth but again, an integral part of your images. 

You can set your camera to auto and put all your subjects into the centre of your picture and every now and again you will get a good shot.  Learning to manage these components gives you greater control and means that you will get great images more often than not and they will be your art, not an accident.

Tip two –

Depth of field affects both light and composition.  Learn what it means and how to use it to enhance your photography.

I won’t go into this further than to say this is your ‘f’ number.  It’s an in depth subject, but also vital to understand.  Google is your friend here.

Tip three-

Learn about your equipment.

This means making friends with your instruction manual and/or buying a companion book for your camera.  The first time you read your manual, it may just go over your head, or a few things might be recognisable to you.  Don’t panic.  After you’ve used you camera a few times and taken a few pictures, you should pick the manual up again and read the sections about the parts of your image you want to control.  You should be able to relate a little better to the language. If not, buy a companion book.  They usually use more friendly language and relate technical points to everyday situations.  If you have invested a lot of money in your camera, you owe it to yourself to understand how it works.  Modern SLR’s are very sophisticated, even at entry level.  To get any kind of value for money, you need to understand your equipment.

The same goes for your lenses J

Tip four-

Buy one lens with an aperture of at least f1.8, probably 35mm. 

Once you understand about depth of field, you will know why.  They are not incredibly expensive (usually around £150 or less), but they enhance your creative potential infinitely.

Tip five-

Find some photography friends.

Go on twitter, join a local group, follow some blogs.  Talk with other photographers of all experience levels about your craft.  Chat about your equipment and ask questions about things you don’t understand. Analyse each other’s work and use the critiques to hone your skills. Give your opinion freely, but make sure you base what you are saying on sound concepts and always be constructive.  Think about how you would like a particular opinion expressed to you. Peer groups can be your best and most effective way of growing as a photographer, so long as you keep them constructive and always about the image.

Now, what are you waiting for?  Get out there and take some pictures! This time, the pictures you want to take, not just the ones you end up with.

Jude xxx

(Many thanks again Jude.... Matt)