Hey there, fellow photography enthusiasts! It’s Anledry here, and today I want to get real with you about my journey into the world of photography. If you’re just starting, or even if you’ve been at it for a while, I bet you’ll relate to some of the challenges I’ve faced. let’s talk about the ups and downs of being a new photographer.

Finding My Style

When I first picked up a camera, I was like a kid in a candy store. I wanted to shoot everything! Landscapes, portraits, street scenes – you name it, I tried it. But after a while, I started to feel a bit lost. Everyone’s photos on Instagram looked so polished and professional, and mine… well, they just looked like a mishmash of everything.

I remember the day it clicked for me. I was scrolling through my gallery and realized that the photos that made me happiest were candid shots of people in their everyday lives. That’s when I decided to focus on street photography through images. I still struggle with this, but I think I’m on the right path to developing a style that feels authentically “me.”

Understanding Light

Oh boy, let me tell you about my struggles with lighting! In the beginning, I thought good photos were all about having the latest gear and doing whatever things YouTuber photographers do. Spoiler alert: they’re not. I learned this the hard way after many outdoor shoots at high noon. The harsh shadows and overexposed results of all the pictures are an absolute disaster.

That failure led me down a rabbit hole of learning about light. I started watching more tutorials about how light changes throughout the day, how it affects mood, and how to work with what I’ve got. Now, the golden hour and my variable ND filter are my best friend, and I’ve even learned to love the challenge of shooting on overcast days. It’s all about seeing the beauty in different types of light.

Finding Balance in Postprocessing

Remember when I mentioned those polished Instagram photos? Well, I went through a phase where I thought more editing meant better photos. Let’s say I went a little overboard with the saturation and clarity slider. My landscapes looked like they were from another planet, and the people’s skins looked awful.

It took some time (and some gentle feedback from fellow photographers) to find the right balance. These days, my editing is more about “enhance”. I focus on bringing out the best in what I capture in-camera, rather than trying to transform it into something it’s not.

The Comparison Trap: Learning to Appreciate My Journey

Here’s a confession: there were times when I was ready to give up photography altogether. Why? Because I fell into the comparison trap. I’d look at the work of photographers I admired and think, “I’ll never be that good.” It was disheartening, to say the least.

The turning point came when I heard something like “there are hundreds of other photographers with fewer skills doing more because they’re keeping going” and this made me realize that everyone struggles sometimes. Now, instead of comparing myself to others, I compare my current work to my past work. And you know what? Seeing that progress is incredibly motivating.

Embracing the Learning Curve: It’s All Part of the Adventure

Looking back, I realize that every challenge has been a stepping stone. That awkward phase of trying to find my style? It helped me understand what I truly love to photograph. Those overexposed, underexposed, and just plain odd shots? They still teaching me more about myself than any manual or video ever could.

To all the new photographers out there, I want to say this: embrace the learning curve. Every “mistake” is actually a lesson in disguise. Keep shooting, keep learning, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process. Photography is an incredible journey of constant discovery – about the world around us and about ourselves.

So, what’s been your biggest photography challenge? How did you overcome it? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear your stories and maybe swap some tips. Remember, we’re all in this together, learning and growing one shot at a time.

Happy shooting, friends!

Anledry