Today I’m sharing things I’ve learned along the way, and one of the biggest pieces of advice would be this:

Carry your camera with you everywhere. Everywhere.

I’ve been photographing professionally for over 4 1/2 years now, and it’s been interesting to see how the industry has changed, even in such a short amount of time. With the boom of DSLR’s being much more available to consumers, it’s awesome to see how many people are taking up photography as a hobby! But when you’re just starting out (or have been at it for a while without much success), how do you know what to do next? What are some easy tips to help you improve your photography?

I recently stumbled upon an article where Eric Kim,who is a street photographer based out of Los Angeles, CA, put together a list of all the things he’s learned during his photographic journey thus far. It has inspired me to write my own list of things that have been instrumental in helping me grow as a photographer!

1. PRACTICE! The more photos you take, the better you get.
2. Simplicity is key.
3. Just because someone has an expensive camera, doesn’t mean they’re a good photographer.
4. Get out and take pictures rather than spending hours every day in online photography forums.
5. Film isn’t better than digital, digital isn’t better than film.
6. Don’t tell people you “photoshopped” your picture, rather tell them the image was processed in the digital darkroom.
7. Back up your images!!!
8. Only show your best photos.
9. You do not have to document every single thing. Put the camera down and simply enjoy the moment.
10. Draw inspiration from other photographers to help figure out your style.
11. Shoot with confidence!
12. Print out your photos. BIG! Don’t just let them sit on your computer.
13. Candid vs Posed – genuine emotion will always win!
14. Don’t be afraid to bump up your ISO
15. Turning a crappy photo Black and White, only makes it a crappy Black and White photo.
16. The best photographs tell stories that leave the viewer wanting more.
17. Don’t pamper your camera. They’re tough and can take the abuse!
18. You don’t need to travel to an exotic destination to get amazing photos, you can create them anywhere.
19. Only bring the gear you NEED.
20. Never hoard your photographic insight – share it with the world.
21. Get closer when taking your image.
22. Join a photo club or online photography forum.
23. Think before you shoot: don’t just take a hundred photos hoping one of them will be good.
24. The definition of photography is “painting with light”, use light in your favor.
25. Have fun while taking your photos.

Now a challenge for you – take a few minutes and go write your own list!