Stuck at knowing what to photograph? Then these 9 photography ideas for beginners will give you some inspiration, AND help improve your photography skills at the same time! #winwin

I know when you are new to photography it can be challenging knowing what to photograph, or understand some of the different ways you can photograph the same thing.  That's why I've pulled together this list of 9 photography ideas for beginners that I think are easy enough for those just starting out to do, but that will also still challenge you to take better photographs! 

You certainly don't have to do ALL of these, so just take a scroll down the list and choose the few that interest you, or those that you haven't already tackled.  You might also want to bookmark this page for later, or better yet, pin it to your photography boards on Pinterest so you can find it again when you need it!

In our free Facebook community, there is one question that comes up time and time again - how to get sharp photos. 

Getting tack sharp focus can be challenging for ALL levels of photographers, but when you are just starting out, it can sometimes feel downright impossible, not to mention frustrating! 

So here are my five dead simple tips that you can put into practice TODAY that can help you get sharper photos...

Do you go back and forth in your head, thinking to yourself: "Am I actually ready to start my own photography business? When can I start charging for my skills?"

Then you are not alone!

This "When can I charge" question is one I get asked a lot, so that's why today I'm going to walk you through some of the things I personally think you should have in hand before you start your own photography business.  My goal is to help you start to think strategically about whether you are ready - and if you aren't, what you can do about it - rather than relying simply on how long you have been photographing or some other arbitrary figure.  

That's because there is no hard and fast length of time you need to be shooting for before you start charging. It could be six months, it could a year, or even five. Everyone learns at a different pace, puts in a different amount of time and effort, and has different levels of confidence about taking on paid clients.

Ever find yourself with an image that you thought was just perfectly composed, but then when you got your order back from the print shop, it came back with half a head or a hand chopped off?  Or (less dramatically!) just doesn't look the way you thought it would? 

If that has happened to you, it's most likely it will be because of your Aspect Ratio. 

Not sure what that is and why it's important?

Then keep on reading, as in this post you are going to learn: 

• What aspect ratio is 

• What aspect ratio your camera camera shoots in by default

• Why you can lose part of your image (even when you go up in size) 

• How you can minimise the impact of aspect ratio on your images

• And how you can get your hands on a little cheat sheet that has all the relevant information for you! 

One of the questions I get asked a LOT is how to get those soft, dreamy, velvety blurred backgrounds in photography, so that your subject subject seems to pop right off the screen, and the whole image has that wonderful 3 dimensional quality to it. 

So, that's exactly what I'm going to cover today, with 3 simple tips that can help get your background super blurry and dreamy. You can use each tip on it's own to get better background blur, or use them TOGETHER for maximum impact! 

Let's dive right in shall we?

Time is without a doubt our most precious resource - because no matter how much we might want or need it, we can't fit more than 24 hours into our day!

And I for one don't have time to spend a couple of those precious hours sitting at my computer desk trying to manage, edit, and otherwise keep on top on my images.

So if you feel like you are drowning trying to get everything done, have a quick read of these 5 simple tips that will have you spending less time at your computer desk editing AND creating better images as well. 

Hola!

Every year, I have the same struggle: knowing what photography equipment should I take with me when I'm travelling and on vacation....and which I can afford to leave behind.   

It's a delicate balancing act between wanting to have the PERFECT lens with me for a certain shot, and being able to actually walk around places without kilos of equipment weighing me down. 

So here's my tips for which photography equipment you'll want to pack, and which to leave at home!

Today I've got a case study for you that I think you are going to LOVE! I asked Live Snap Love student Whitney Charles to come on the blog to share her story with you, because she has moved forward SO far in such a short period of time. She's come from being a complete beginner in Spring 2017, to having her own photography business (and taking amazing images to boot) a mere 12 months later.  I've been following her progress with awe, so I'm delighted to welcome her to the blog today. In this post she's sharing with you what she did, what challenges she faced, and what she wished she had done differently. Plus there is a heap of then / now images so you can see the difference in her images. I think you will find it incredibly valuable and inspirational, so let's dig in!

It happens to all of us at some time or another.

We feel somehow lacking as a photographer, that we aren't creative enough, or our images are boring, or that we will never be in the same league as the "big guys" we admire.  In short, our confidence is in short supply . 

And in response you will have heard the same stuff as me, about how "there is only one you" and "no-one else sees the world quite like you" and "embrace your unique perspective!"

Now, don't get get me wrong, all of that is definitely 100% true, and we SHOULD keep that in mind, but for me, I need something a little more practical than simply being told I shouldn't feel that way 😃

So that's what I am here with today - some practical advice for building your confidence as a photographer.

If that sounds like something you could do with, keep on a readin'....

Are you using a 50mm F1.8 lens but having trouble getting sharp images? 

Do you wonder why others can get awesome images with this lens, but not you? 

Then you'll want to check this video out!

In it I go over the top 3 reasons why your images might not be as sharp as you want...and the best thing is, they are pretty easy to fix!

Ever looked at your camera lenses and wonder what everything does? Then this is the blog post for you!

I’ll explain everything you can see on your lens, so what each switch does, and what that funny little window thing is meant for too 😀

Learning about the tools of your trade is important, so take five minutes to cast your eye over this, and have your camera lenses explained…..

Have you ever found yourself wondering about the difference between lifestyle and documentary photography, and which one suits your style and way of photographing best?

The truth is, the line between the two can be a little bit blurred and fuzzy, as there is just a few subtle distinctions that separate them, so it is easy to confuse them with one another, or even find yourself doing both from time to time!

So this blog post, we are going to get into a high level overview of both lifestyle and documentary photography, and see what those differences are, and whether it should matter to you….

The main reason I pick up my camera is for everyday life photography - in other words, to capture those beautiful, everyday, mundane moments that make up my day to day life.   I want to document “real” life, all the little things that happen in between birthdays and vacations and holidays, that many people don’t take the time to capture (but then wish they did)  

If you feel the same way, then you are going to love this post, because I’m going to go through 6 different tips that will help you beautifully capture your own everyday moments.

Today we are going to have tutorial on LIGHT - specifically how to find and use open shade in photography, so you can take more flattering photos.

First of all, raise your hand: how many times have you read / heard that you should shoot in the hours just before sunset or just after sunrise (a.k.a the Golden Hour), for the best light?

And how many times did you mutter under your breath that that’s freakin’ impossible to do all the time, especially if you have kids? (yes, I hear you)

The good news is, there is a way to photograph in full sun, even at midday, hat still allows you to get nice, soft even light on your subjects, AND is easy to use!

It’s called open shade, and in this photography lighting tutorial, I’m going to show examples of where you can find open shade, and how to use it for the most flattering results.

Let’s jump in!

For any images you want to put online, you are probably going to want to add a watermark to your images. The good news is you can easily create a watermark in Photoshop, and just in a matter of minutes, and that’s what I’m going to show you today!

A watermark helps protect your images, to make it difficult for anyone to use them without your permission (and also so that everyone knows who took that gorgeous photograph!) so it’s worth taking the time to do it if you post your images publicly.

(And If you are in business, a watermark can also be a great way to help market your business for free!)

Read on for your step by step guide on how to create a watermark in Photoshop...