You have spent hours researching a variety of cameras, spent hundreds of dollars, and now the gear sits in its case collecting dust. This is not your fault. It is simply a lack of direction on what you should go out and photograph. Finding what your niché is can be difficult because photography offers so many different paths that you could indulge in. Landscapes, sports, fashion, portraiture, and astro photography are just a couple of different types of photography that are popular amongst the masses. It is possible, but very unlikely, that the first type of photography that you do ends up being the type of photography that you enjoy most. That is why it is important to indulge in many different types of photography before dedicating your time and energy on just one. Pick up that camera and just start shooting!

In order to know where to begin, you must first know what tools you have and what they are good for. When talking about photography, your tools are your lenses. Lenses are built for the convenience of a specific type of photography. In order to capture awesome sports photographs, it is crucial to have a lens that allows you to zoom far enough to capture the action up close. Take a close look at the lenses you have and that will give you an idea of what kind of photography you can explore. Most cameras come with a kit lens, which often has a “standard zoom”. This range is between 24-70mm, and it allows you to capture wide angle photos as well as a semi-zoomed photograph for portraits. A kit lens is great for portraits and group photos as well as landscape photography. These are two awesome types of photography to begin with!

Eventually, one in two things will occur. You will either fall in love with portraits and landscapes or you will want to explore a new facet of photography. Regardless, the next step is going to be broadening your tool set in order to take better photographs. If you use the kit lens and don’t enjoy portraits or landscapes, I would then recommend investing in a telephoto lens. Using a telephoto lens opens the door to a couple new facets of photography that could eventually become your passion. Telephoto’s are awesome for sports and wildlife. They allow you to capture things that require a safe amount of distance between you and the subject for safety. Due to our inability to see certain things up close and personal, telephoto lenses are tools that allow us to see the world in a new creative way.

Another important thing to consider before purchasing new lenses is the environment in which you want to situate yourself in. Ask yourself, are you an indoor or outside person? The great thing about photography is, it does not matter! There are tools that accommodate both lovers of the great outdoors and those who love being indoors. If you are an outdoor shooter, it is important to think about the weight of the gear that you buy. Carrying around really heavy gear could negatively impact the quality of your images. Make sure you find gear that is reasonable to carry around outdoors so that you can use more energy towards the creation of the image versus the transportation of heavy gear. If you are an indoor shooter, it is important to consider how much light the lens allows to come into the camera. There are also a lot of awesome tools that allow more light into your indoor images such as flashes and strobes. Having the right tools is incredibly important, but there is one other thing that is equally as important which is inspiration.

Look around and see what kinds of photographs tend to stand out to you. Think to yourself, how can I recreate that or perhaps do it even better. Take a close look at history, Study photographers of the past and question what made them great. The reality is, we are surrounded by photography everywhere we go. Treat inspiration as fuel for your vehicle of creativity. We only see the finished product of thousands and thousands of failed attempts in order to create an awesome photograph. This is why it is important to seek inspiration, yet not get discouraged if our production does not compare. Photography is like a race; in order to run a great marathon, it requires lots of practice beforehand.

Having the right tools and fueled by inspiration is essential in choosing the type of photography that you will ultimately choose. It is important to remember that the tools you use do not promise amazing photographs. It is not the tools that make a great construction worker, rather the worker himself and his dedication to the craft. It is also important to remember that the inspiration others give you should never become what is most important. Eventually, you must find your own unique way of creating amazing photographs. Eventually, with consistent work and dedication, you will capture photographs that reflect how you see the world. You will also find unique ways to capture photos that tell a story; and perhaps these stories will inspire the next generation of talented photographers.