We've all heard it, "practice makes perfect!"

When it comes to photography, there are a slew of elements ranging from technical, to conceptual, even to emotional levels that we must make a connection with in order to progress as a photographer.

Creating a balance between these elements and developing a consistent practice in each area is a sure fire way to refine your vision and find your niche! Isn't that exciting? So, if you want to make your audience, and your subjects or clients happy, then you have to develop your skills and knowledge, that isn't just born overnight!

Here is a basic starter guide to get you going with a practice schedule.


1. Mondays - Research and Retain

You may not think of researching other photographers as a form of practice, but educating ourselves on the lives, work, and strategies of other photographers can play a very huge role in growing our business and portfolio.

    * Study their work and the elements thereof
    * Listen to or read interviews that have been conducted with them
    * Compare and contrast your work to their own


2. Tuesdays - Visualize and Verify

Create concept lists, and find willing models to carry out your ideas.


3. Wednesdays - Tests and Trials

Break out those lenses, and do depth of field tests, focusing studies, exposure techniques, white balance experiments, etc. Find a specific area of focus each week for growth and progression. Even if you have been a professional for 20 years, there is always something new to try - whether it is casting tungsten light onto your subject in an outdoor setting, changing the position of your strobe for different effects and drama, or spinning in circles at a slow shutter speed and trying to freeze your subject, etc.....

4. Thursdays - Creative Personal Shooting

I have been guilty of this in the present time... your work catches hold and you forget to shoot for yourself, for the fun of it. Don't forget to nurture those personal projects and ideas. Get together with other photographers and go for adventures, steal away your best friends 4-year-old and take a trip to the ice cream shoppe, whatever strikes your fancy you should not let go of the part of shooting that excited you from the beginning of your journey in this beautiful field.

5. Fridays - Location Inspiration

Going for a drive to scout new shooting locations - a must! Don't forget your notebook so you can write these things down.



You can of course use this as a starting point, but sketch out a schedule that will best work for you and your own lifestyle. Through practice, one's vision starts to come to life. Here are some featured pieces by photographers who put forth a continual effort in their work, and have developed distinctive folios based on their ability to trust themselves behind the camera:



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