Gear & Survival Tips for New Photography Students
February 11, 2019
About to start studying photography? Congrats! Exciting times are ahead.
Whether you’re pursuing a professional future in photography or just looking to solidify your skills, formal photography studies bring many challenges and rewards. Here are some tips from students-turned-photographers to help you prepare for and get the most out of your chosen course.
Gear Recommendations
Investing in the right equipment will, in the long run, help you get you better results and save you a lot of precious time and effort.
Your training institute, college or uni will usually provide a list of the gear you require. However, if you have some leeway with your choices or need more advice on what to buy, keep the following in mind when looking to purchase:
- Haven’t you got a camera yet? Don’t fret. There are plenty of camera options available that will produce solid results. It’s often more cost-effective to buy a high-spec camera that’ll take you beyond your studies; alternatively, you can always hone your skills with an entry-level camera then upgrade once you gain confidence and a better idea of what you want in a camera.
- Kit zoom lenses are fantastic all-rounder lens options, especially if you’re starting out or on a budget. But a good prime lens (either instead of or in addition to zoom) is surprisingly affordable and will take your image quality—and often your creativity—to the next level.
- If you have a clear idea of your passion or direction, consider investing in a higher grade lens specific to your interest area. Pro lenses deliver significantly better image quality and should last you well into the future.
- Don’t skimp on memory cards! You want at least two, in case the worst happens, and you want enough capacity and read/write speed to ensure you don’t miss that perfect shot or spend ages uploading your files.
- You can upload photos to your computer using your camera’s included USB cable, but it’s usually much quicker, easier and more reliable to use a card reader.
- Nothing sucks more than running out of power mid-shoot. Keep spare batteries—for your camera, speedlight, flash triggers, and any other equipment you have or borrow—handy at all times.
- You could use a pile of boxes, books and milk crates as a tripod… Or you could just buy a tripod. Quality tripods last for ages and are indispensable for all kinds of photography (not to mention way more stable, secure and easy to adjust than piles of random stuff).
- You can almost never have too much light. With a speedlight and a collapsible reflector in your kit, you can create extra light virtually anywhere.
- A grey card and calibration tools will ensure your colours are consistent from capture to final output, while a light meter will help you get the perfect exposure pretty much first time, every time.
- Safely carry your gear (and spare your back) with a sturdy, comfortable camera bag. Look for one that can be customised for different contents so it works for class, commuting, and capturing photos on the fly.
Survival Tips
Sorting out your equipment is generally the first of what will be many steps towards your certification. Here’s a few words of wisdom (hard won from experience!) to help you get through the rest.
- Remember to ask for permission to photograph people or enter private property. You’ll probably need it in writing if you plan to ever share or publish the images.
- Follow a checklist when you shoot. It’s easy to get so caught up in the creative process that you forget things or make mistakes.
- Hope for the best but prepare for the worst! Carry backup gear, batteries, etc and make copies of all your work.
- Learn from the masters, but look beyond photography for inspiration. It’ll help you to stay original.