Starting out in digital photography can feel overwhelming with all the gear, settings, and techniques to learn. But don’t worry—it’s much easier than you think. I started over 10 years ago on a whim while on a trip to Europe and was hooked! The key is to start with the basics and begin to understand the essentials such as the exposure triangle: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Once you have a basic understanding of these three pieces, the rest will start to fall into place. As you progress, practicing with the right gear will help elevate your skills and deeper understanding. As further inspiration, I didn't even pick up a real camera until I was over 40 years old and now I proudly have a portfolio of images that have hung in galleries and have been sold. (You can check them out here) With the right tools, you’ll be able to unlock your creative potential. Here are some tips to help you get started. Read till the end to check out some great suggestions on photo gear too! 

1. Mastering the Lighting Triangle One of the first things any beginner photographer needs to understand is the Lighting Triangle, which consists of three key settings: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. These three elements control how much light enters your camera and ultimately affect the exposure of your photos.

In order to truly understand these settings it is suggested that you take your camera out and experiment with these settings to help you gain control over how much light reaches your camera’s sensor. For example, a wider aperture (lower f-number) lets in more light, allowing you to blur the background, which is great for portraits. A slower shutter speed will capture more light, allowing you to shoot in low-light environments, but may cause motion blur if your subject is moving. On the other hand, increasing the ISO will make the camera more sensitive to light, which is useful for low-light conditions, but can introduce grain or noise. It all sounds so confusing at first, but the more you practice, the more you will understand until it just becomes second nature. 

 2. Understanding Aperture and Depth of Field  Aperture controls the size of the opening in your lens, affecting how much light enters and the depth of field in your photos. A large aperture (low f-number) creates a shallow depth of field, which is perfect for portraits where you want to isolate your subject from the background. This will also give you that beautiful "Bokeh" or blur that so many people love! On the other hand, a smaller aperture (high f-number) increases the depth of field, ensuring that more of the scene is in focus, which is ideal for landscape photography.
Once you understand how aperture impacts your images,  will begin to create more intersting photos and have more creative control. Once again, practice is purfect! 

3. Shutter Speed and MotionShutter speed determines how long your camera’s sensor is exposed to light. A fast shutter speed freezes motion, which is perfect for action shots, while a slow shutter speed captures motion blur, which can create a sense of movement in your photos.
If you're photographing fast-moving subjects like sports or wildlife, a faster shutter speed (such as 1/500 sec or faster) will allow you to capture sharp, clear images. Alternatively, slower shutter speeds (such as 1/30 sec) are great for creative effects like motion blur, where you can capture flowing water or light trails.

4. ISO and Low Light PhotographyISO determines how sensitive your camera’s sensor is to light. In low-light conditions, you might need to increase your ISO to ensure your photos are bright enough, but this can introduce noise (grain) into your images.
While a low ISO setting (e.g., ISO 100-400) works best in bright conditions, increasing the ISO (e.g., ISO 1600 or higher) allows you to shoot in dim environments. However, raising the ISO too much can result in a grainy image. Finding the right ISO setting for your situation is important in achieving a balanced exposure.

The concert photo above of Jared Benjamin was taken in a venue where the lighting was not great. This is an example of a photo that needs a lot of ISO  in the 2000-3000 range. The downfall is that it also creates a lot of digital noise (grain) on the photo. However, with todays advanced technology in both cameras and post processing software, you can usually eliminate the noise from a photo fairly well. 

5. Choosing the Right Lens for Different Types of Photography While your camera’s kit lens can take you far, investing in additional lenses will help you improve your shots and gain more creative control. For portraits, a 50mm lens is a classic choice, offering a beautiful background blur. For landscapes, a wide-angle lens is essential to capture the broad vistas.
A versatile zoom lens gives you the flexibility to shoot various types of subjects, whether you're shooting portraits, landscapes, or anything in between. Prime lenses (which don't zoom) are often sharper and allow more light into your camera, making them great for low-light conditions or achieving that dreamy bokeh effect.

Many photographers enjoy using a lens that allows you to shoot at a variety of focal lengths. Most entry level lenses often are zooms that do just that. The only downfall of an entry level lens is that it is limited at how shallow the depth of field can become (they often do not go wider than f.4). Optimally, to achieve a photo such as the portrait above, you will want a lens that can give you at least an  F stop of f2.8,  or even better f1.8 or f1.4.  Once you become more proficient, you may want to upgrade your lens and dive into better zooms or primes. My favorite zoom lenses that I personally use for everything from landscapes, portraits and even concert photography is the Tamron 35-150 F2/8. I shoot using a Sony a73 and Sony a74, however you can get this lens for almost any mirrorless camera. The aperture wide enough to get nice bokeh, but the zoom range is incredible. I also love a great prime lens (a lens that can only be used for one focal length. My go to portrait zoom is the Sigma art 105 1.4. It is a beast of a lens, but combined with my mirrorless Sony, the portraits are INCREDIBLE. 

6. Editing and Post-Processing After capturing your photos, editing them can enhance their quality and bring out the best in your images. Editing allows you to adjust elements like exposure, color, and sharpness, giving your photos a more professional and polished look.
A powerful editing tool like Adobe Lightroom allows you to make quick and precise adjustments to your photos. You can fine-tune the exposure, adjust the contrast, or enhance the colors to make your images pop. The best part is that Lightroom is user-friendly, making it perfect for beginners while still offering advanced features for those who want to dive deeper into editing.

Suggested Photography Gear for Beginners: As you begin your photography journey, here are a few pieces of gear that can help you improve your skills and create stunning images:

1. Camera:
   • Entry-level DSLRs or mirrorless cameras (e.g., Canon EOS Rebel series, Sony Alpha series) offer a good balance of features and affordability.
2. Lenses:
   • 50mm f/1.8 lens: Ideal for portraits and low-light situations, with a beautiful background blur.
   • Wide-angle lens: Perfect for landscape photography or capturing large scenes.
3. Tripod:
   • A sturdy tripod is essential for long exposures and low-light photography, ensuring sharp images without camera shake.
4. Editing Software:
   • Adobe Lightroom: A must-have for beginners looking to edit and enhance their photos, with intuitive features and powerful editing tools.

By understanding the basics of exposure and using the right equipment, you’ll be well on your way to capturing stunning images. Remember, practice makes perfect—so get out there and start experimenting with different settings to unlock your creative potential! Happy shooting!

If you are a photographer and are interested in learning the process of photographing in the box and talking with other creative, like minded people, then consider joining the THRIVING Facebook Page: INSIDE THE PHOTO BOX PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOSHOP. This is the largest Box Photography Page on Facebook, with over 20,000 members learning Box Photography! Isn't that amazing! 

Photo Box Designs and the Facebook Group "Inside the Photo Box" also give away a FREE 3 BOX TEMPLATE along with guidelines on how to build the box and edit the photos. Grab your FREE template here: Photo Box Designs Store.

Join here: Inside the Photo Box Photography and Photoshop
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and found it helpful in your endeavor to create amazing Box Photography Composites!!
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All photographs are the property of  © Photo Box Designs. Reproductions and downloads without permission is prohibited. 
However, you are welcome to share this post on your own site or through social media. ​

4. Invest in Comfortable Camera Bags
A good camera bag can make or break your photography trip. The Peak Design Everyday Backpack offers plenty of compartments to organize gear while staying sleek and comfortable to carry for long hours. Peak Design and the products that work seamlessly together has become my personal go to system. However, if you are looking for a more budget friendly bag, then the Tarion Small bag is a wonderful alternative. I love that it even comes with a plastic weatherproof covering! 

As an amazon affiliate, I may earn a small commission on qualified purchases at no additional cost to you.

If you are a photographer and are interested in learning the process of photographing in the box and talking with other creative, like minded people, then consider joining the THRIVING Facebook Page: INSIDE THE PHOTO BOX PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOSHOP. This is the largest Box Photography Page on Facebook, with over 20,000 members learning Box Photography! Isn't that amazing! 

Photo Box Designs and the Facebook Group "Inside the Photo Box" also give away a FREE 3 BOX TEMPLATE along with guidelines on how to build the box and edit the photos. Grab your FREE template here: Photo Box Designs Store.

Join here: Inside the Photo Box Photography and Photoshop
I hope you enjoyed this blog post and found it helpful in your endeavor to create amazing Box Photography Composites!!
​
Follow Us on Facebook and Instagram.
All photographs are the property of  © Photo Box Designs. Reproductions and downloads without permission is prohibited. 
However, you are welcome to share this post on your own site or through social media. ​

Senior and graduation photoshoot are some of the most popular and lucrative types of photography out there. But how do you get those client? Here are a few tips and tricks.

It may be the parents that pay the bills, but it's the seniors who will want this shoot. Use social media to your advantage! Have a few graduating senior "models" pose for you. You give them  pics and in trade they will post them all over social media (make sure they are willing to do this as compensation). A good social media buzz is worth a lot more then any facebook paid ad you can create.

I know what you are going to say...but we are usually not allowed to advertise in these groups. True..YOU are not allowed, but a parent is allowed to share. Ask your clients to share their kids photos on social media and express how happy they are with you in the Mom's groups. Also, ask them to refer you every time they see a questions about photographer's in those groups (sometimes I feel like I see a photographer inquiry every day!). 

Create a style or shoot that is unique and screams out YOU and your branding. Stand out among the others and your work will speak volumes!

Photography: Alissa Beth Photography

Establish a real connection with your parents and Seniors. Don't push too hard, but let the connection evolve. Your photography clients are looking for a great photographer who they can connect with and who they feel confidant will bring out the best in their graduating senior to create images and memories that will last a life time! 

Use Facebook to target the parents, Instagram and of course Tiktok. Use reels to show how much fun a photoshoot will be and wow them with photos of the end result!

You don't need to show everything! Make sure the images you use in your marketing is powerful and consistent and has your photos style written all over it! 

Photography: Alissa Beth Photography

Choose your templates wisely and make sure they reflect your photography style and branding. You can create your own templates and marketing material on free sites like CANVA or purchase pre designed templates like the ones below at sites like our shop Photo Box Designs.

Have fun, enjoy the process and make the event enjoyable for your clients. Your photo clients will not only remember the photos you took for them but the experience as a whole. 

3. "Say POOPY" - Melissa Miller of Bitt'O"Honey Photography Melissa says this makes kids laugh all the time. I would guess it would make the adults laugh too! 
​4. "Pretend you have been stuck home in the house for months because a crazy virus is attacking the world and all you ant to do is drink wine and clean!" Photo Credit: Alissa Beth from the Facebook Group Inside the Photo Box Photography and Photoshop

7. "Check out the party on the balcony above/next/below you - jokingly "don't get caught" - gets them to lean out and smile usually"- Keri R Duesing-Fowler 
8. “Look at your belly and think about how you’ll tell your baby about how he got his name”- Cynthia Russo of Original Cyn Photography