David VanderSchee is a hobby photographer who enjoys snapping shots of wildlife in their unedited, natural form. In the following article, David VanderSchee takes readers through developing skills in photography, ensuring every hobbyist or amateur can take professional grade photos of their favorite things.

Every great professional photographer was once an amateur.

As a child, acclaimed food photojournalist Derek Pfohl honed his craft while hanging out in his parent’s restaurant, snapping photos of the intricate plates leaving the kitchen. Anne Geddes, known for her fantastic baby photography, was self-taught – she created a portfolio of family photos before opening her first studio.

Legend Ansel Adams received his first camera at 14 on a family trip to Yosemite National Park.

The art of photography is never mastered overnight. It takes experience and patience, passion, and creativity. Developing the essential skills is challenging, but above all, it’s exciting!

Smartphones have turned nearly everyone into an amateur photographer, but they can also reveal what kind of shutterbug one may be.

David VanderSchee explains that if an interest in photography goes beyond the standard selfie or vacation pictures, spend some time looking through a personal camera roll. Are there certain subjects that are commonly shot? Is it nature? Landscapes? Portraits of friends?

Basic photography skill then moves to knowing one’s camera well. For those interested in moving past the smartphone and into a professional type of camera should know the ins and outs of the lenses, shutter speeds, and how the aperture works. Not all zoom lens cameras are the same – do extensive research and be sure to choose the best camera for the job.

Snapping wildlife photos will require a larger zoom lens with a faster shutter speed and wide aperture, compared to what’s needed for say, still photos, or more controllable objects, such as people or still landscapes. Budding photographers should spend time trying out different focuses and exposures to get the shot they want.

David VanderSchee provides one final assignment: When first learning to take photos, one should spend time shooting what they love, whether that’s photographing a pet or the flowers in the yard.

An understanding of how a camera works and its unique features is just the beginning. Now it’s time to practice. Try all a camera’s buttons, bells, and whistles. Read through the camera’s manual at least twice – it’s even recommended to keep the manual handy, in the camera case as a quick reference guide when needed. Try shooting photos in different conditions with the goal of having them all be of the same quality or sharpness.

David VanderSchee provides more essential tips below:

Explore Others’ Work

Just as artists appreciate other artists and writers learn from fellow writers, photographers can learn a lot from other photographers. Many professional photographers maintain a portfolio online, and that’s a great place to start for photographers to get a strong sense of different techniques and what cameras are capable of capturing.

David VanderSchee notes that photography blogs don’t just post photos but usually offer tips on how to use a camera well in different settings among other important information. Such blogs can function as free, regularly updated textbooks for budding photographers and a way to keep up with the best new photography trends.

Many community centers host photography workshops that can be invaluable sources of advice and inspiration — and great ways to put new skills and styles to practice. Such workshops are a fantastic way to connect with other photographers and learn about job opportunities or internships.

Be Distinctive and Try New Things

David VanderSchee says that amateur photographers usually have a favorite professional or shot they follow, so it’s tempting to shoot the same objects or scenery as those they admire — and shoot them in similar ways. Instead, try different angles and compositions that set one’s work apart from the thousands of professionals (and amateurs) on Instagram.

Think of new ways to get images of popular subjects and scenery. It’s one of the biggest ways to grow technically and creatively.

Find the Light

David VanderSchee says that the power of photography often rests on its use of light or shadow. Taking a good photo means not only using light effectively but studying it, too. How does light change during the day and rest on subjects in unique ways?

Those looking to develop photography skills should practice taking photos in different lighting environments, analyzing them, and tweaking techniques as needed through a camera’s settings.

Don’t Forget the Background

First comes light, then comes background. Every photographer has to factor in what’s known as “mergers,” an array of elements that can create distractions in photos, such as background items like telephone poles or signs, or other people passing by.

It’s important to develop an awareness of these mergers and move their focus (or themselves) in different angles to effectively avoid them. (It’s much easier to avoid an unwanted merger than edit it from the picture once it’s there – plus, it’s less time consuming to take that extra step or angle in the first place).

Volunteer

David VanderSchee notes that photographers are always in demand, especially for weddings, graduations, family portraits, and countless other needs. When starting out, volunteering services for such events is the perfect way to practice new skills and begin to establish a professional portfolio. Start with events for friends and family, gathering a familiar client base.

Photography is a difficult industry to break into, but getting the most experience possible and earning a solid reputation comes much quicker when one commits to putting their name out there — even for little or no pay at first.

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During his travels, from 1907 to 1909, he photographed the German colonies — in color, for the first time. In doing so, he laid the photographic foundations of racism.

The young photographer‘s trip to the German colonies of Togo, Cameroon, German Southwest Africa (now Namibia) and German East Africa (now Tanzania) was taken at the height of German imperialism. In his photographs of his travels, Robert Lohmeyer generated enthusiasm for these distant lands that Germany considered its possessions. 

Making use of the most up-to-date photographic equipment at the time, Lohmeyer’s project was a meticulously planned PR campaign. Its goal? A celebration of colonialism and empire. 

Lohmeyer’s resulting photography books were seen by huge numbers of people. Even today, the pictures are still in circulation. Lohmeyer’s photos convey the image of a “peaceful savage” in a paradisiacal landscape. A colonial idyll.

Because the images are in color, they evoke a feeling of authenticity and truthfulness. War, disease, hunger and death do not appear in Lohmeyer’s pictures. 

Based on unpublished written sources and photographs, the documentary follows Lohmeyer’s journey. It tells the story of a chapter in the history of photography. But it also tells the story of a propaganda coup. Finally, the film explores Lohmeyer’s contribution to a new kind of racism — in color – the effects of which can still be felt today.  

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Guadalajara, Mexico

Members of La Luz del Mundo church during a mass at Hermosa Provincia, the religious group headquarters as part of the La Santa Convocación celebration. The week-long celebration received thousands of members of the church from across the country and abroad after three years of taking place virtually during the Covid pandemic. Its leader, Naasón Merarí Joaquín García, was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison for sexual abuse

Photograph: Leonardo Alvarez Hernandez/Getty Images

The more I see AI churn out headshots and portraits with twisted appendages and those weird, dead eyes, the less I’m sweating about artificial presences taking over the photography world. Why fight AI when you can make it work for you? So, instead of pushing it away, I’ve started using AI tools in my day-to-day. It’s not replacing my job; it’s just handling the mundane stuff.

Enter Evoto. I’m sure you’ve heard of it by now. Let’s talk about how AI tools, like Evoto, can actually help you make more money. 

In the bustling realm of photography, one undeniable truth persists: variety is not just the spice of life; it’s the essence of robust sales. Today’s discerning clients crave choices, and the more diverse and enticing your portfolio, the more lucrative your business becomes. Evoto stands out as a beacon in this context, not just amplifying the visual appeal but also driving phenomenal savings and increased profitability for photographers. Let’s break down how.

Multiplying Choices, Multiplying Sales

The equation is simple: the more options you present, the higher the likelihood of a sale. But traditionally, offering variety, especially in terms of background alterations, came with a price tag. If you commissioned a retoucher for background changes, you’d easily be set back by $5-20 for a single swap, at least in my experience. Want to give your client options of white, black, and gray? That’s a whopping $15 or more for one image, and that’s excluding the costs and time dedicated to general retouching.

Enter Evoto. For a minuscule seven cents an image (or less if you purchase bulk credits), not only can you change the background once, but you can also do it repeatedly without incurring extra fees. The math speaks for itself: from $15 with traditional retouching to mere cents with Evoto. This price difference, especially when dealing with large volumes of photos, can lead to exponential savings, effectively lining your pockets with substantial profits or at least lowering your cost of production.

So now, if I’m working with a large brand who wants their brand identity imprinted on their executive headshots, I can color-match their logo and offer that background in addition to the standard white, gray and black I generally recommend for corporate headshots. Can I charge more? You bet. 

The best part of the background replacement tool in Evoto? No more fussing with what your light settings need to be to get a perfect white background.

Cost Efficiency Meets Excellence

It’s rare to find a tool that guarantees both cost efficiency and superior quality, but Evoto achieves this balance impeccably. While its pricing model dramatically reduces expenses, the tool doesn’t compromise on the quality of the results. Each background replacement is seamless, precise, and professional – the kind of quality you’d expect from an experienced retoucher.

If you so dare, you can even tweak the edges in Evoto, but I’ve found doing so actually makes the quality worse. Just leave the accuracy to Evoto.

Uncharted Potential and the Road Ahead

While many photographers, myself included, have tapped into Evoto for its background replacement prowess, it’s essential to remember that this tool has even more to offer. Embedded with advanced AI-driven retouching and cropping tools, the potential for further savings and enhanced offerings is vast. Even if you’ve just scratched the surface, like I have, the savings are already monumental. Fully embracing Evoto’s suite of features could redefine your photography business’s profitability matrix.

The age-old adage, “a penny saved is a penny earned,” holds profound truth in the digital photography landscape. By making the switch to Evoto AI, photographers aren’t just saving pennies; they’re amassing significant earnings. In the competitive world of photography, where every dollar and every second counts, integrating tools like Evoto is not just smart – it’s essential for those eyeing amplified profits and superior client satisfaction.