I want to learn how to be a photographer

So, you're eager to delve into photography and don't know where to begin. Well, before you consider investing in camera gear, remember that your smartphone, whether Android or iPhone, is already a powerful camera.

I suggest using your phone to begin your photography journey because I've seen many wannabe photographers invest heavily in expensive gear, only to change their minds after a couple of months and realize there's much more to it than just pressing a button. Photo gear is pricey, so start by capturing images of what truly inspires you: your loved ones, surroundings, and daily scenes that catch your eye. This personal connection will fuel your creativity and keep you motivated.

When I was around 12 or 13 years old in the late 1970s, my uncle passed away, and I was given a Canon FTb, my very first SLR camera. It took me a little while to find my way around, and my first photos were often blurry or blank, or sometimes I just didn't load the film in the camera properly.

In my senior year of High School and my first couple of years in college, I realized I preferred photographing people, especially women. However, I found it challenging because we often don't think we look good enough in photos. No matter how good I thought the picture was, the model would always find something wrong with the photo, which drove me even more.

I never hired professional models; I wanted to challenge myself and couldn't afford to hire one. Instead, I reached out to everyday people, the girls you see wandering the streets or on my college campus. These girls were not vain, but we are all our worst critics.

The takeaway is to go out there, make mistakes, and learn from them. Don't make the same mistakes, obviously, but learn from your mistakes. Second, learn your craft; truly understand it. Not just the technical stuff to impress other photographers; they won't be your primary audience. But understand the nuances of your craft, get to know your tools, and practice it.

When you've learned enough or think you've learned enough, practice more because you never stop learning! There's an adage: " You must first learn the rules before you earn the right to break them." This holds true for anything in life, but you have to go through the yuck that is sometimes the basics. It's a necessity!

My biggest challenge at the beginning was exposure. I just couldn't figure it out, and then I didn't know how to use a meter or what the metering system was in my particular camera. I didn't even know why my Kodak Instamatic took better pictures. I realized later on that the camera was doing my exposure work for me. These are the sort of lessons you have to learn on your own. Thankfully, YouTube and social media are great teachers these days, so do a little research; it'll only help!