Photographer Valerie Jardin has put together a list of photographers’ most common bad habits in this article over at Digital Photography School.
I always try to learn from everything I run into and I thought these things wouldn’t concern me. I was wrong – I’m guilty of doing some of these things. If not on a daily basis, at least often enough to call them bad habits!
Settling for the good shot and not looking for more
You got the shot you came for? Great! Now look behind you. Another good shot? If you were shooting a sunset, the light on the landscape behind you is may be an even better shot, so go for that, too. Work the scene. Try other angles. Get your camera off the tripod and lay on the ground with it. Many photographers tend to shoot everything at eye level which quickly becomes boring and static. For more dynamic images experiment with different angles and perspectives – tilt your camera, shoot tall, shoot wide, get on the ground, etc.
Sleeping late and missing that good early light
This is a very common problem especially for those of us shooting in a cold climate. Try motivating yourself with commitments such as meeting other photographers early in the day. If you schedule it and others are counting on you to be there, you are more likely to get up for it!
Composing poorly or too quickly
It pays to take time and care composing a shot just as it pays to shoot from multiple angles. Learn to compose in camera and stop relying on post processing for cropping. This option will make you a better photographer. Train yourself to see distracting elements in your frame. Move a few meters closer or zoom in a bit tighter. Scan the edges of your frame. Remember that the best time to shoot a vertical shot is right after you shoot a horizontal shot. Hey, it’s digital, so it’s free! So, cover your basics because you never know which shot you will prefer once you get into the digital darkroom.
Self Doubt and waiting for others to say it’s a good photo
We all have self doubt! That’s just part of being a photographer. It comes with practicing the craft. However, you can make self doubt serve you by turning it into a positive motivation and a learning process.
If you are shooting for clients, naturally their preferences are your priority. Otherwise, please yourself first! Feeling good about your own images is what really counts. Sure, there is always room for improvement, and constructive critiques are beneficial. Just make sure you get feedback from the right people.
Experiencing sensory overload when traveling to a new place
When you try to capture it all, you may end up with lots of mediocre shots of random things and clichés. Instead, give yourself an assignment. This will help you focus and ‘see.’ Next time you’re feeling sensory overload, think outside the postcard, focus on your goal and create your own iconic images. And have fun!
Read the full article over at Digital Photography School.
Source: Digital Photography School
