I Created 1,498,589 Photos &
Here Are the Top 5 Things I Learned

I’ve created 1,498,589 photos in the last 35 years and will share the top 5 things I learned so you can excel at photography faster than it took me…

which was years and years before I started creating amazing images.

Also, stay until the end for a bonus tip that all pro athletes and musicians do, which you should do.

Now, truth-be-told, I don’t know the exact number of photos I’ve created in the last 35 years.

It’s probably more than 1.5 million, with thousands and thousands of portrait sessions, over 500 weddings, and endless wildlife and landscape photos.

Who knows?

But the point is, in the last 35 years, I’ve learned a lot, and I want to share my knowledge with you right here, right now… are you ready… awesome let’s do it.

MANUAL MODE

First, Manual Mode… Is it Over-Rated or Is it Under-Rated?

So, confusing, right…

…especially since many photographers say you’re not a real photographer if you don’t shoot in Manual Mode.

Then some say Aperture or Shutter Priority is the only way to go.

So, which is it?

Well, what I learned back in 1989 is… drum roll, please… Aperture Priority was perfect for me, at least for the first few months, until I truly understood the Exposure Triangle.

Then, once I realized that my Nikon 8008 wasn’t 100% accurate… regarding exposures, I switched to full Manual Mode because I felt like I was smarter than my camera and wanted full creative control.

Nowadays, though, advanced digital cameras are way smarter than those from yesteryear.

However, old habits die hard, and I still shoot 90% of my images in Manual Mode, with one major exception, especially when shooting wildlife.

I use Auto ISO.

So, which should you use?

Manual or one of the Auto Modes. If you’re new to photography, I recommend Aperture or Shutter Priority, depending on your creative vision for the shot.

However, I recommend mastering shooting in Manual Mode sooner rather than later because I believe it will make you a better photographer in the long run.

And then, you’ll have full creative control and can choose any shooting mode depending on the situation.

GOLDEN HOUR

Another thing I’ve learned is that Golden Hour is overrated, or is it?

Well, when I was younger, you couldn’t drag me out of bed to shoot sunrise or during Golden Hour in general.

The thought of shooting an hour before sunset never crossed my mind since I had more important things to do.

Well, the fact that I never shot portraits, landscapes, or wildlife during golden hour, in addition to composition and exposure issues, was why most of my images weren’t that good back in the ’90s.

Now… 95% of my favorite images I create are during Golden Hour.

Nothing beats the color of light during those times, up to an hour before sunset or after sunrise… I’m always shooting during those times, whether for portraits, landscapes, or wildlife.

However, I’ve recently fallen in love with another time of day I like more than Golden Hour: Blue Hour.

Blue Hour

Blue Hour can last 30 – 90 minutes before sunrise or after sunset. At that time, the “color of light” is magically delicious, with its fantasy-like blues and purples.

Mmm… delicious, wouldn’t you agree?

COMPOSITION

Next up… Composition. What is it?

When I started, I had no idea, and I wasn’t aware that there were over 30 composition techniques and rules to create better images.

However, once I became aware of different composition rules and techniques, like the rule of thirds, leading lines, framing, and using light and colors, I finally started to see what made great images.

As an added bonus, using composition techniques made creating amazing images easier and more fun.

Train Your Brain

However, the last thing I learned was it wasn’t as easy to compose as I hoped, and I often made mistakes.

Retouching the negatives was too expensive for a starving artist like myself.

So, off I went to reshoot the project again and again and again. Since money was tight, I had to devise a new method for consistently creating amazing images.

As a young lad, I worked at our local grocery store. When my boss wasn’t around, or when I took my lunch break… I’d spend that time at the magazine rack.

So, at the time, I was doing headshots for models, actors, and many portrait sessions.

So, I’d skim through the glamour magazines… like Glamour and Vogue, which was around then… …anyway… people looked at me funny… and I just would reply I’m getting ideas for lighting and compositions,… and they’d look at me like you’re crazy.

But anyway, it worked. I no longer needed to think about compositions since I had thousands of impressions tucked away for the next photoshoot.

After a while, composing became second nature like it did after I practiced and mastered the exposure triangle and all my camera settings.

BONUS

Alright, here is your Bonus Tip… but first, think about your favorite musician or pro sports player.

What do they all have in common other than being filthy rich?

Well, let’s take Tom Brady, for example.

He’s won how many Super Bowls, six or seven, and what did he do after… Every. Single. Game?

He practiced.

And you should, too.

Practicing helped me become a better photographer faster, giving me the confidence to photograph clients since I wasn’t practicing during the portrait session or a wedding.

It also gave me the confidence to create amazing images at sunrise when time was of the essence.

For example, this image of Horseshoe Bend in Arizona was created 30 seconds after sunrise, the only time of day when the Vermillion Cliffs light up as they do in this image.

So, here’s how to practice photography to hone your skills.

As I mentioned, I studied a lot of images.

Then, I did something that most photographers frown upon: I copied those images.

Uhhh.., the horror of practicing great imagery.

The more you practice posing with family and friends, the more you practice with all your camera settings, and the more you practice composition by recognizing them in photos, movies, and TV shows… BEFORE… you go out and shoot, the more confidence you’ll have during the shoot.

I know you can do it.

But you have to work by practicing and practicing and practicing some more. But my next question is… do you want to create better images?

If so, watch this composition playlist to elevate your photographic skills, and then you can practice them until you consistently create amazing images.