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How to Be an Amateur Photographer

Every photographer starts out as an amateur photographer. Whether it was a love of pictures, an encouraging parent or other family member who spurred the interest, or simply the desire to accurately record the family vacation, every professional photographer first started as an amateur. The only real difference between a professional photographer and an advanced amateur photographer is one earns a living doing it, while the other practices photography for the pure joy of it.

Instructions

- 1
  Decide what your photography means to you. Examine the elements of photography you most enjoy, whether these be nature-inspired landscapes, sports, travel, or pictures of your children. Find the genre of photography you like the best. Read books or take online tutorials to improve your skills in this area.
- 2
  Invest in a camera that will let you expand as your skills improve. While point-and-shoot cameras are often the first choice for amateur photographers, buying a second-hand DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera is worth considering. A DSLR gives you the flexibility to change lenses and try different types of lenses, including fish-eye, wide angles and mirror telephoto lenses, if you choose. A DSLR also has a physically larger sensor that will result in better image quality when comparing noise ratios between a DSLR and a point and shoot.
- 3
  Join a camera club, either in the area where you live or an online forum. These settings can provide an excellent source of information and will often offer day trips to locations where photographers can spend the day shooting.

Photography