If I Had To Learn Photography Again, This Is How I Would Do It. 

The biggest thing that effected my work was starting to ask the question why. When I see photos that I like, I try to take the time to figure out why I like it, whether its the tones, lighting, composition, etc. Once I could figure out why certain images were "good" I could figure out how to replicate it and build technical skills from that which I can incorporate into my work.

I will add some of the advice that I have given over the years A - Learn from photographers regardless of the gear they shoot with. I am a Fuji shooter and Pat Kay is a Sony shooter. I still visit his RU-vid channel and other photographers to hear their thoughts. When they go into specific brands I skip that RU-vid vid. This is especially true when it comes to Street Photography because there are so many opinions on the lens they use and why. I will watch a Photographer's RU-vid channel and not care if they are using Prime and I use Zoom when it comes to Street Photography. B - I treat some aspects of my photography as work. When it comes to shooting and photo editing, just like a 9 to 5 job you have to get your work done by 5pm to leave on time. So before I go out to shoot, I make plans for the area. Take in travel time to get there and back home. How long do I plan to be in the area before I move to another location? This prevents me from what I call 'fishing for a photograph' and focuses my limited time on creating one. If I get one great photo for the day, I am a happy camper. C - This also applies to photo editing in LR which I use. If you using 90% of your time to edit a photo, do you want to spend another 1/2 hour editing for that extra 10% and no one will notice or do you decide to never post the photo so no one will ever see it? Time is a precious thing to use. D - Develop a thick skin when it comes to opinions on your work. Because of the internet, there are plenty of jerks who in my view have a miserable life, and because of that, they want to make everyone life's miserable too. And this also comes to people who like your photo. Ok, you like my photo but can you tell me why. Sometimes what I see in my photo is not what they see. Feedback is valuable and likes are useless to me. E - If you have the choice between new gear especially when it comes to an expensive camera body or lens, and the choice of going to a location you have never been to before or a workshop with a 'Pro' photographer, the best decision is taking a trip to a new location or workshop. My recommendation for location is Lisbon Portugal, eye candy for you to shoot all day and night. In a workshop with a pro, you have the chance to watch them go through their thought process when they shoot and ask questions. Go to the workshop with a mindset to take your photos to the next level. Do not do what I see some students do, shoot the next-level photos but are not prepared to shoot those next-level photos on their own. At the workshop, those questions can be answered by the pro, and your job is to make it happen. F - Have a backup plan. Not a backup plan with life, but with your photos. If you are taking Pat's recommendation of the number of photos to shoot, you need a backup in case of hard drive failure. In my opinion, you need to do this earlier and find a backup method that works for you. Also, how you rename your photos. If you are using LR, what do the color and stars mean when applied to photos?

As a beginner, my favorite channel.

I will give a few points for someone new to know what to think about, because when you are new you don't even know what to put emphasis on. Know what you are getting into and that it could be expensive, depending on what you want to do, but you could need so less gear, that it is not that expensive. Some basic important things: Few examples- for landscapes you don't need fast autofocus- you can buy older or less expensive lower level camera. You don't need lenses that make the background blurry as well (f 1.2

I've been a photographer for almost 7 years now and lately I have been feeling like I've hit a rut, and I want to relearn photography. This video is perfect for my journey, so I want to thank you for making it.

My first tip would be to make a plan on what to photograph when you can and can't go outside because of weather, light - whatever. For most beginners, I'd say look at your south facing windows and video lights as a backup - especially video lights for winter so you can shoot all night, play with gobos, walls, backgrounds etc. 100% of the time you're making excuses, you're in the way of your best shot.

It was rough at first when shooting like 2 rolls and after developing them finding out they are over exposed or out of focus. I learned to shoot back ups with slightly different settings for certain shots. Today with digital I turn off the preview and don’t find out what I shot until the end of the day. I also limit myself to 24 exposures. So when I go out shooting I have to make each shot count.

A thoughtful walk through some of the early stages of learning and development as a photographer, with some specifics about milestones -concluding with some savvy remarks regarding feedback and sources of it, and a caution about social media.

Amazing how you did a masterclass in 20 minutes. So helpful for beginners but also to remind photographers not as begginers, very well explained. Thank you, Pat!

Thank again , Pat! You have the best educational photography channel on youtube! I clearly see your programming background in a way how you organise everything in some sort of algorithms :) I love that! :)

Excellent presentation. Very comprehensive and there is hardly any step that a serious learner could disagree. I am in photography as an amateur for the last 30 years. Now 73 years old and drawn to photography after 8 years of absence again primarily due to Monochrome camera introduced by Pentax K3 miii at affordable price. To me, photography is always about B&W. conversion from colour (that's what I had been doing) to B&W has no standing and no comparison.

I had learned a lot of uncommon stuff from this channel, keep up the good work!!!

You are such a good teacher , great job

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

I was a little worried with the title but as always, great advice. I couldn’t agree more with the color thing “it’s an undulating process, strap in for the ride” 😂

A great and thoughtful reminder for beginners and experienced photographers alike, fabulously done...

Thank you for this video!!

such an amazing info , Just love this @pat

Super valuable and high quality video, Pat! I have several years of experience and I definitely went through that honeymoon phase you describe. But you've inspired me to really focus on nailing my fundamentals and developing my style.

All these vids are extremely helpful. Excited to shoot, learn and share

This video is so helpful. It's all I need as a beginner but don't know where to start. Thank you so much, I will follow the guide!

Pat has hands down my favourite photography channel, I would only suggest to try editing earlier.. Just to add some joy to your experience, a satisfaction of seeing a finished picture rather than thousands of blend ones. In any case, this is an exceptional video, thank you!

exactly the tips I want RN

Great stuff my guy

THANK YOU FOR SUCH A POWERFUL VIDEO. ✌️

Keeo up the good work PK.

I have always been interested in photography as an art form, but never interested in picking it up myself. I recently had an idea for a story I want to tell (step 10) but had no idea how to get from Point A to Point B until this video! Thank you so much for this because it was so daunting to dive in until you broke this down step by step.

This guy gets it. Thank you.

Really good one. Thanks.

you really become my favorite chanel !

Thanks!

simply great!

Thank you Big Bro

Great insight

Great teaching

Wow. Amazing.

more things to learn.

Thanks champ

Thanks for this Pat. I can see the logic in your advice. As you say there is so much to learn. A "great view" does not mean it will make a great landscape photograph. So what does? If it does, why? Who said so? Without feedback how could you possibly improve? Do you want to make more eye candy? It's already everywhere; billions of photos. Regardless, do it because you love it. Cheers.🤪

Awesome videos ❤️ I will improve my photography and show you my photos one day

After 8 years of learning photography obsessively, I highly recommend taking your time.

great video

intentional practice period <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="382">6:22</a>

5 years he says lol! I better run like the wind..time is not on my side 😂.As always Pat, you pack a load of helpful and very useful information one go...thank you ever so...👋👋

Pat, your video is fantastic. Learning photography is complicated and I love your roadmap. But where would you put composition? What about just after focus? I'm so glad that I found you!

Hi Pat! Is it lifetime use for your presets once I buy it?

Need videography vid too

nice video. But before the exposition triangle i would have put composition basics… So they can shoot in green mode..

where can I learn the quality of lightthat Pat just mentioned?

I would agree with most of what you said, but I did laugh at 500,000 shots in the first 5 years. Just as well they are not using film, that would cost you about £530 a week just for film.

That's so much

After 2k iPhone photos edited, the most important for me to get a success in photography is "imagination". Imagine how your photo should look - details, color shadows and then put it by your editing. Mind will try to connect your imagination with a real practice.

Do these principles apply to videography?

I wish more youtube how to channels would create videos based on the best path and not based on the algorithm

❤❤❤❤

What i recommend, funny kitten to other people's bs

Chat gpt

@elsfotografi