If you’re new to photography, here are ten essential tips to help you improve quickly and build a solid foundation:

1. Learn the Exposure Triangle

Learn how ISO, shutter speed, and aperture control light and exposure.

2. Shoot in Manual Mode

Auto mode is easy, but Manual (M) mode lets you get really creative.

3. Use the Rule of Thirds for Better Composition

For optimal visual appeal, align your subject with the imaginary grid’s lines or intersecting points.

4. Focus on Lighting

Use natural light to your advantage. For soft, warm lighting, take photos during golden hour (sunrise or sunset). Stay out of the strong midday sun.

5. Master Autofocus and Manual Focus

For stationary subjects, use single-point autofocus (AF-S/One Shot), and for moving subjects, use continuous autofocus (AF-C/AI-Servo).

6. Shoot in RAW for Better Editing

Compared to JPEGs, RAW files preserve more image data, resulting in better post-processing and less quality degradation.

7. Experiment with Different Perspectives

To create more dynamic shots, experiment with diverse angles beyond eye level, including low, high, and close-up perspectives.

8. Use a Tripod for Stability

Tripods are great for eliminating camera shake, particularly during low-light, landscape, or long-exposure shots.

9. Practice Every Day

The more you practice shooting, the better you’ll get. Try a year-long photo challenge, or just shoot lots of original stuff to get better.

10. Learn Basic Editing

Use Lightroom or Photoshop to tweak your photos—adjust exposure, contrast, colors, and sharpness, but don’t over do it!