Learn Photography the Easy Way

There are plenty of ways to learn photography nowadays. One thing's for sure though, and this is something we have to be honest about. Everybody wants to learn photography fast and as easily as possible. Even the people who go to photography school want quick results.

Looking at all this diversity of photography learning methods, I pulled out what I think are the top three methods learning photography.

1. Forums

I believe the most convenient way on how to learn photography is photography forums. The reasons are pretty logical if you think about it. There is a wealth of peer to peer knowledge at your finger tips. Most of these large online communities have photography galleries where you can upload your work and get valuable feedback that will help you evolve at a fast rate. Many of them also have monthly photography contests with prizes, making this a fun way to learn. The learning curve is also shorter than using other methods and there is a powerful social benefit here. Large forums often have organized meetings where photographers can get to know each other in real life and share even more knowledge.

Photography forums are also the best place to post questions and to get quick advice before a shoot. For that and all of the above, I have to put photography forums at number one on my list.

2. Photography related books

Good old fashioned books are never going to go away. At least not in the near future. A good book on photography will save you a lot of time and it will eliminate a lot of the long trial and error process of learning photography. There is so much good literature out there that it's impossible to lack the essential skills after reading a few books. Famous authors like Bryan Peterson, Tony Northrup and Joe McNally have all written amazing books that are solid gold for anyone looking to learn photography on their own. Everything you need to know from how to use your camera to dealing with the most challenging situations is available by reading a good book, and for that I highly recommend it as a photography learning method.

3. Photography websites

Last but not least, do yourself a favor and join as many photography websites as you can.

There is simply a lot to learn from photography websites in more ways than you imagine. Sites like 500px and Flickr are amazing for showing your work to the world and getting feedback from photographers of all levels. Others are fantastic sources for industry news. Even as a learning photographer, you need to be up to date with what's happening in photography around the world. Others focus on a more technical aspect and provide in-depth reviews of cameras and lenses. They will ultimately educate you in making the best purchase for your needs. Other websites are packed with photography articles and video tutorials, which are very useful for learning quickly.

These are my three favorite easy ways to learning photography. I know some photographers like to wave diplomas and talk about their extended formal education, but the truth is photography isn't law school. You can go to school for it, but you don't really need to. Everything you need, from an educational point of view, is at your fingertips. The difference is always going to be made by how much you work, how much you shoot and how quickly you can learn from your mistakes. Make sure you spend a lot of time talking and learning from other photographers, reading and subscribing to websites, and double that time for when you go shooting.