7 Photography New Year Tips

The new year is a great time to reflect on your past year’s achievements and set new goals for the coming year. If you’re a photographer, this is the perfect time to learn new techniques or brush up on the basics. This blog post will share seven tips to help you improve your photography in the new year. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, these tips will help you take your photography to the next level!

Find Your Light

One of the most important elements of a great photograph is good lighting. Natural light is always preferable, as it creates more dynamic, interesting images, but in some cases, you may have to resort to artificial light to accomplish the desired effect. When shooting in natural light, be aware of the source and direction of the light and the shadows it casts. Pay attention to the light temperature, which can affect the overall mood of the photo. Experiment with light to get the most out of your photos.

Get Closer to Your Subject

One of the easiest ways to take better photographs is to get closer to your subject. By getting physically closer to your subject, you can capture more subtle details, create a more intimate portrait, or frame the shot more effectively. You can also experiment with different angles, perspectives and foreground elements to enhance your composition.

Move Your Feet

Much photography boils down to perspective; the best way to change your perspective is to move around! Take the time to move to different spots to explore different angles and framing options. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your shots, as this can often yield the most interesting results.

Shoot in Manual Mode

Learning manual mode is a great way to level up your photography this new year. Generally speaking, manual mode is preferable to automatic mode as it allows you to control your camera’s settings more precisely. When shooting in manual mode, you can experiment with depth of field, shutter speed, ISO, and other settings to get the exact effect you’re looking for. Why not attend a Switch to Manual workshop if you’re afraid of all those buttons and dials on your camera?

Edit Your Photos

Editing software can give you a lot of creative freedom and help you get the most out of your photos. Even the best shots need a bit of editing to truly shine. Spend time learning to use editing software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop to adjust your photos’ contrast, colour, exposure and other settings.

Shoot something different

It’s easy to get into a rut if you photograph the same thing day after day. You can get a creative boost by trying something new. An excellent way to find inspiration is to join a photography challenge group. You’ll be given a theme to shoot each day, week, or month. Don’t treat these challenges as a competition against others. Instead, treat it as a competition with yourself to find as many ways as you can to meet the brief. I run a monthly challenge on an Edinburgh Photography Workshop Facebook group. All you need to do to enter is to agree to a few rules and post your pictures during the month to the theme pinned to the top.

Shoot every day

The more you do something, the better you usually get. If you are serious about improving your photography, then you will need to practice. How about improving your picture-making by taking a photograph a day from the start of the New Year to the beginning of the next? You can sign up to a site like Blipfoto, where you can document your improvement over the next 365 days.

By implementing these simple tips for improving your photography in the new year, you’ll be on your way to capturing amazing shots and taking your photography to the next level. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer, these tips will help you make the most of your photography this year.

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About the author

As well as running Edinburgh Photography Workshop, Rich Dyson is a professional photographer. His photographs are regularly used in newspapers such as The Times, Guardian and Daily Telegraph. He also had two solo exhibitions and was featured in a members-sponsored exhibition in the Scottish Parliament. You can see and buy his photography at richdysonphotography.com.