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Starting photography as a hobby can be intimidating because a lot of us think that we need to have exceptional skills. Seeing all these beautiful images on Pinterest or following expert photographers like Peter MacKinnon, Brandon Woelfel, and many others can make you feel incapable. I am sure you have felt the urge to capture the world around you. If you have, then maybe it’s time to explore photography as a hobby.
Photography as a hobby is a creative outlet. It is an activity that is simple to start and rewarding. So, what makes photography a skill and a hobby? Why is it worth your time? How to get started even if it feels intimidating? Let’s look into that.
Is Photography a Skill or a Hobby?
The cool thing about photography is that it can be both a skill and a hobby. Let’s look at some key reasons.
- Photography as a skill: This involves technical expertise. You have to learn about things like exposure, lighting, and composition. You also need to develop your creative vision by learning how to tell stories or capture feelings in the shots you take. Additionally, you need some editing skills with software like Lightroom or Photoshop. These skills can help you improve your photography skills even further, turning better photos into greater ones.
- Photography as a hobby: Photography is more fun, relaxed, and creative. All these come with capturing moments that are worth it to you. It doesn’t have to be professional or perfect. The goal is to experiment, enjoy the process, and express yourself without any pressure. It’s a hobby that allows you to explore the world around you, find beauty in everyday things, and share your unique perspective.
Though photography definitely requires a few skill sets, you don’t need to be a professional to enjoy it. Many people like to start photography as a hobby and improve their skills naturally over time, myself included. I began photography as a hobby, focusing on capturing moments of myself. Later, I realized how much I enjoy doing it. I landed a role as a photographer at my job, sold photography presets, and edited people’s content, and now I am writing about it.
Why Do Photography as a Hobby?
In today’s society, everything we do is now money-driven. Some hobbies should stay as they are. Photography isn’t one of them, though. But if anything, you should start photography as a hobby. Here are some of the key reasons you should start photography as a hobby.
- Creative Expression: Photography allows you to express yourself in a way that words sometimes can’t. The photos you take are reflections of your perspective, style, and creativity. Whether you are capturing landscapes, portraits, or just moments, you’re telling beautiful stories through your lens. Speaking of lenses, check out this post where I shared the images I took using an Olympus OMD Mark 5 micro lens.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation: Photography is a form of self-care. It encourages you to slow down and pay attention to the world around you. It’s an amazing way to unwind, de-stress, and become more present in the moment. You’ll find yourself noticing small details, like the way light hits a building or the colors of a sunset.
- Documenting Memories: One of the biggest joys of photography is capturing and preserving moments as memories. Whether it’s travel adventures, family gatherings, or everyday life, photography helps you create a visual diary that you can look back on and cherish.
- Personal Growth: As you improve your photography skills, you’ll notice your confidence growing too. You will feel less intimidated. Some of the techniques you learn and photos you will proudly take will motivate you to keep going and pushing yourself for more creative pursuits.
How to Start Photography as a Hobby
Are you ready to start your photography journey? To help you begin your journey, here is a step-by-step guide.
- Start with What You Have: To begin, you don’t need a fancy camera. Your smartphone is just enough. It is the best tool for learning the basics of composition, lighting, and framing. If you’re ready to take things further, look into beginner-friendly DSLRs or mirrorless cameras from brands like Canon or Nikon. I bought myself a Canon m50 in 2021. It is a beginner-friendly camera, and I am not looking sideways because it does the job for me. Sometimes I switch between my camera and the Samsung Z-Flip 4. Both come in handy when I need them.
- Learn the Basics: Before diving in, take some time to learn basic photography concepts. Terms like exposure, aperture, ISO, and shutter speed are key to understanding how to control your camera. There are plenty of online courses and tutorials on YouTube that simplify these terms. I didn’t take any online courses to learn these things. I was curious, so I read a lot of blog posts and a lot of tutorials on YouTube to improve my skill. You can educate yourself or spend a little extra cash if you are willing.
- Practice: The best way to improve your photography is by taking as many photos as possible. Experiment with different subjects, times of day, and lighting conditions. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every photo you take will teach you something new. Sometimes I look back at photos I took in the past, and I cringe hard. But those cringe-worthy photos are what helped me improve my photography skills.
- Play with Editing: Take some photos and snoop around with editing apps or software like Lightroom, Photoshop, or Snapseed. Editing is a huge part of photography, and you’ll be amazed at how much you can enhance your photos just by adjusting things like brightness, contrast, and color balance. Honestly speaking, I learned editing before I even started taking better photos, let alone greater ones.
- Find Inspiration and Join Communities: Follow other photographers on social media, watch tutorials, or join photography groups. You can learn a lot by seeing what others are doing, getting feedback on your own photos, and connecting with fellow hobbyists. Sharing my work for feedback was one thing that actually helped me a lot in my photography journey. Whether it is great, good, or poor work, I have never shy away from sharing it. That has been one of the amazing parts of my journey.
Photography as a hobby is a wonderful way to explore your creativity, document your life, and see the world with fresh eyes. It gives you fresh and new perspectives and let you think out of the box. It is a job that still feels like a hobby. Whether you’re using a smartphone or investing in a camera, the joy of photography comes from capturing the beauty and moments around you.
Here’s a little challenge for you, Pick up a camera and start capturing anything and everything. This might seem irrelevant to you from the start. As you go along, you will notice the difference over time. Your skill will improve over time.
Have you already started your photography journey? What have you learned so far? Please share with us in the comments.
I hope to share more with you soon.
Until next read,
XoXo
