How to write a photographer's growth action plan
Learning photography is overwhelming. You see something on Instagram you want to try. Someone at camera club tells you to learn a particular technique. The photography magazines want you to perfect a new trick. You are vaguely aware you should get around to mastering the basics.
The problem is there is no official curriculum for photography. There’s no universally recognised list of things a photographer should learn, let alone in what order they should learn them. So I’ve written one.
This list is not exclusive – you can add your own things on – and it is not for everyone. But if you enjoy methodical learning and a way of tracking your progress, this is for you.
Before we start: if you want a step-by-step, professionally written, tried-and-tested curriculum to get you off auto mode once-and-for-all, sign up for my free online beginner’s course, A Year With My Camera:
How to use the list
Start at the top and tick off the things you can already do. Then use the list to develop your own photography growth plan tailored to your interests and enthusiasms. I’d suggest only choosing about a month’s worth of tasks to tackle at a time to avoid overwhelm. Write your plan down and be sure to cross things off as you master them so you can see how far you’ve come.
This list is taken from my book, A Creative Workbook for Photographers, which will be published in October 2020. If you are reading this after that date and are interested in purchasing, search on your local Amazon store to buy.
Once you can do all these things you are no longer a complete beginner:
switch camera on
charge batteries
format memory card
transfer photos to computer
take a photo on factory settings
Once you can do all these things you are no longer a beginner:
switch between manual and auto focus
achieve correct focus
understand what the sensor does
be aware of the exposure triangle
know how aperture affects depth of field
know how shutter speed affects motion blur
know how ISO affects exposure
appreciate some basic composition concepts such as the rule of thirds
know the difference between hard light and soft light
be aware of how light direction affects a photograph
be able to post process RAW files to a basic level
confidently shoot on aperture and shutter priority modes
Once you can do all these things you are no longer an intermediate photographer and you are on your way to becoming advanced:
confidently shoot on manual mode
intuitively utilise exposure compensation
instinctively select appropriate aperture or shutter speed (without conscious thought)
easily prioritise compromises (eg. accept a higher ISO for a small aperture and fast shutter speed)
handle tricky exposures such as contrejour or high/low key situations easily
effortlessly use hyperfocal distance techniques when required
able to post process to reflect a personal style
know how to use appropriate and wide-ranging composition skills to create a previsualised photograph
know how perceived depth of field changes with different focal lengths
know own lenses inside out: minimum focus distances, angles of view, aperture ranges
see the light and use it as a composition element all to itself
able to predict what will happen and be ready to fire the shutter without a second thought when the composition is ready
have a recognisable style
Join A Year With My Camera here
Emma’s flagship beginner’s course is free by email and will guide you through the beginner’s list effortlessly. Join here and get started today:
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