Photography for beginners: essential tips to get started

Snapping great images—whether that’s scenic landscapes or stunning portraits of loved ones—isn’t rocket science. It’s all about having the right tools (i.e. a camera!), the right know-how, and a little patience to learn a few photography basics.

Here, we discuss how to get started and provide a few handy photography tips for beginners.

How to get started in photography

First things first, you’ll need a camera! You may have already bought or been given one as a gift, or perhaps you’re in the market for a new one.

If the latter is you, do some research beforehand about all the different camera brands or visit a specialist camera shop for some in-person advice.

Camera acquired, let’s move on to your second task—getting to grips with how to use it.

As well as giving the user manual a look over, you’ll find plenty of tutorial videos online about how to change things like the aperture and shutter speed (more on those below). Then, all that’s left to do is take your camera out and start snapping away.

What are the four basics of photography?

While many photography courses can be hugely beneficial, you can also teach yourself some photography basics.

This includes learning about the four basics of photography:

1. Composition

This is one of the most important aspects of photography and refers to the arrangement of visuals you plan to capture. Your composition can be static (e.g., a photo of something still, such as a person posing or a landscape) or dynamic (e.g., a photo of something moving).

To achieve the perfect composition, it’s worth learning about the rule of thirds—a useful guideline for photographers that helps them take more balanced shots that are pleasing to the eye.

The rule simply divides an image into nine equal sections using two vertical and two horizontal lines. Your subject should be placed where the lines intersect.

Snapping photos outdoors? Try lining up the horizon with the top or bottom horizontal line.

Related: What is composition in photography? A beginner's guide 

2. Aperture

The term ‘aperture’ refers to your camera’s lens and is simply a measurement of how wide the opening is.

Controlling your aperture will allow more or less light to enter your camera and reach its sensor. This can then impact the depth of field (the distance between the farthest away and the closest object) and the light exposure in your images.

You’ll find aperture is measured in something called f-stops. It’s worth figuring out how to change the aperture on your camera before your first shoot, as it can really make or break the quality of an image.

3. Shutter speed

As the name suggests, this refers to how long the shutter on your camera remains open to let light reach its sensor. You can set it to different speeds depending on where you’re photographing and your subject matter.

Adapting your shutter speed allows you to control the light exposure—particularly useful if you’re shooting in an area with very low or very bright light.

It’s also worth considering if you’re capturing movement—a faster shutter speed will freeze whatever is moving in your shot while lowering the shutter speed will create a cool blur effect.

4. ISO

Your camera’s ISO is simply a value that measures how sensitive its sensors are to light. It’s one of your camera’s main light exposure settings, and how high or low you set it will depend on the light conditions of where you’re shooting.

In general, you’ll want your ISO to be higher in low-light conditions and lower if it’s brighter from artificial or natural light. Some cameras will automatically adjust the ISO for you. However, as you get more experienced, you may want to do this manually to create more interesting and creative images.

Related: The exposure triangle: Ripe Photography's guide to aperture, shutter speed and ISO

More photography tips for beginners

Now you’re clued up on the four basics of photography, you might want a few other hints and tips for creating beautiful or inspiring images. Here are a few suggestions:

Try different camera filters

Camera filters are a great way to improve the quality of your photos and make them look more professional. Depending on which one you choose, it could help boost the contrast of your images, reduce or enhance reflections on water, or create a longer exposure.

Make yourself aware of your shutter count

Taking care of your camera is also essential, including knowing your shutter count. This is different from shutter speed. It refers to the number of times your shutter has been used to take a photo—or, in basic terms, how many photos your camera has taken. Similar to knowing your car’s mileage, knowing your camera’s shutter count allows you to guess what life it has left in it or what value it has if you decide to sell it later.

Take all the time you need

Remember: mastering some basic photography skills won’t happen overnight. You’ll need to give yourself time to understand the basics of photography and your individual camera—whether at home or by going out on multiple shoots. You’ll slowly develop your own photography style, too, and hopefully have lots of fun with it!

Specialist photography insurance through Ripe

Once you have the basics of photography under your belt, you may want to protect your camera and accessories with specialist insurance before heading out.

At Ripe, we arrange cover that can be tailored to fit your exact requirements, so you only ever pay for what you need. You can cover up to £60k of equipment for theft and accidental damage so that you can enjoy your shoots with peace of mind.

Learn how we can help here, or use the button below to get an online quote today.