Want to Improve Your Photography? Here Is the #1 Thing That You MUST Be Doing...

I get lots of emails, tweets, and comments from aspiring photographers asking me how they can improve their photography. They will typically reference some tutorials that they have watched on YouTube or some articles that they have read. These resources are awesome and must be taken advantage of, but so often people will sit, staring at their screens, watching tutorials or going on "help forums" trying to figure what they must do differently to improve as photographers. Once again, the online educational resources for photographers must be taken advantage of, but in moderation.

Answer this question: what is the ratio of time that you spend taking photos to the amount of time that you spend on the internet watching and reading on how to improve your photography? If you are like so many people starting out in photography - and if you answered honestly - you likely spend more time online than you do actually shooting.

While I am not bashing utilizing these wonderful online resources as a whole, I am always slightly confused when people ask me how to improve their photography when they barely take photos in the first place. You will never improve if you don't shoot. So here is my challenge to you: the next time you catch yourself binge-watching photography tutorial videos or reading articles, go out and shoot instead. Afterwards, go through the photos that you take. Pick the ones that you like and analyze the ones that you don't. Why don't you like them? Why are you drawn to the ones that you like?

Spend more tie doing this than watching videos and reading articles. This method of learning will not only speed up your development as a photographer, but it will also allow you to create an artistic style that is uniquely your own, rather than learning from dozens of photographers on the web. This will also allow you to being researching more specific things about photography when you notice things that you want to change in your own photos.

That is my challenge to you! Give it a try for a couple of weeks and let me know how it goes. I promise that you will see difference. Good luck!

Also, I want to apologize for the mess that the layout of this blog currently is. I have a new layout in the works and will be taking over soon. I cannot wait to unveil it for you. It'll be sweet, I promise!

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Biggest Challenges for New Photographers Attempting to Gain Recognition

Making a name for yourself in photography now a days is unbelievably, incredibly, "nodoubtaboutit" difficult. Some of the biggest challenges that photographers face as they enter the world of using photography for either income or simply sharing their work online can easily kill confidence. Here are some of the top challenges that we face as photographers attempting to find a way through the competitive world of photography. Before I start I want to clarify that I am not just talking about those who do photography full-time. Without further ado, lets go...

1. Being Lost Among Low Quality Work/Differentiating Yourself from Other Beginners

This first piece is broken into two parts. First: The internet has made it INCREDIBLY EASY to publish you work. Websites, blogs, social media, online photography contests....its all there. Because of this it is all too common for excellent photography to be lost in a massive jumble of bad photography. That may seem a little harsh, yet we have all seen those sites and blogs dedicated to someone's photography that you would not describe as "quality".

Second: The ease of accessibility of quality cameras. Just today, as I was walking across the Washington Avenue Bridge on the University of Minnesota campus, I snapped a photo of a pretty sunset with my iPhone 5s that turned out quite nice. Obviously camera phones have a loooong way to go to compete with a D-SLR system, yet in terms of the size of the optics and processing system it is incredible the quality images that can be captured. That makes for a lot more people call themselves photographers and attempt to promote their work.

2. Basic Supply/Demand

Photography is a form of art, so therefore, when economic times get tough one of the first things to be eliminated from one's budget is the unnecessary lavishes of life...predominantly, excess art and entertainment. For example, imagine if the internet was a physical gallery. You walk into an enormous room with millions of "photographers" all trying to convince you that their work is special...wow. Talk about an overwhelmed customer!

3. True Competition with Professional, Experienced Visual Artists

Of course, last and certainly not least is pure, honest, competition. You may be trying to sell prints and another talented photographer can show up and steal the crowd with their beautiful work.  This is most likely the most difficult thing to deal with as a photography business, as it does sum up all of the above things into one category. Separating yourself from all of the noise is unbelievably hard, because it requires you to be better at more than just photography. You have to have a way with people, business, and many other things in order to "make it." 

In Conclusion...

Trying to build a name for yourself in photography isn't easy but can be very rewarding. The challenges that we encounter helps us improve our skills as photographers which is what it is all about. Keep going, work hard, and make sure to stay motivated and have the patience that it takes to endure the storm. Growing a following is very fun, and the challenges that come along the way are mere distractions.

Shooting in Black and White Is Helping Me to Improve My Photography!

Hello all, I hope you are are having a fantastic March!

I have been experimenting with black and white photography more than I ever have, and if you follow me on any of the social media platforms you will have probably noticed that trend! I love this kind of photography because it feels so much more emotional to me, so much more in touch with the human side of the image. That probably sounds cheesy, but hey, that's kind of who I am I suppose.

But why? Because it makes me uncomfortable. What I mean by that is this: I have almost always shot color. I felt like I was in a rut with my work recently and I knew that I had to do something to shake things up a bit. Enter black and white! I have always liked black and white photography, but never shot it personally because I assumed that color was adding things to my photography. So it makes me uncomfortable because I am not used to shooting this way at all, and is presenting itself with a bit of a learning curve for me.

I also want to say that I have been posting quite a bit on my Instagram (check it out by clicking here) recently and is my primary social media site at this point. So head on over and click that "Follow" button!

With all of that said, I am now exclusively shooting black and white and I can already tell that it is helping me improve my photography. It is helping me focus on composition, and drawing out raw emotion in my images, rather than simply capturing what was there. It's so much fun too!

-WP

"Snake Bin" Photo of the Day: March 21, 2016

Why hello there.

"Live the Life You've Imagined" Photo of the Day: March 20, 2016

"Go confidently in the directions of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." - Henry David Thoreau.

That is one of my favorite quotes, and for one reason or another this photo always reminds me of it. Maybe its the gorgeous seaside landscape or the two people atop the cliff. Whatever it may be, it always serves as a reminder for me to pursue my dreams.

"The Pavilion" Photo of the Day: February 17, 2016

"The Pavilion." I shot this pavilion on Raspberry Island, an island in the center of the Mississippi River near downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. A bit chilly out but it was worth it!

"Spotlight" Photo of the Day: February 15, 2016

Take a picture of me being cute under these lights.

"Habitat" Photo of the Day: February 13, 2016

Habitat.

"Reflections of the Ocean" Photo of the Day: February 11, 2016

"Reflections of the Ocean."

"Riverside" Photo of the Day: February 10, 2016

"Riverside." Thanks to my buddy Timmy for allowing me to randomly snap photos of him during a recent hike along the icy shores of the Mississippi River. My addiction to black and white continues to grow stronger...