The Power of Persistence
When I first started taking and editing photos, it felt like I was climbing a mountain without any help. I would talk to photographers and they would use terms that I didn’t know and certainly didn’t understand. I had to look them up when I got home. I would watch videos on YouTube and people were doing things that made no sense to me whatsoever. I had to watch them again and again to understand both what they were talking about and also to learn the actual steps they were taking. None of it clicked for me.
It was all overwhelming, and I felt like I would never understand this stuff.
But, I am a persistent person and when I am interested in something, I push myself to learn more and understand it. Slowly, and over the course of a few years, things started to click and I got better and better at capturing photos as well as editing photos. I began to understand more and more, and I got better. But it wasn’t quick for me.
Looking back, I believe I have come a long way, but there is plenty more for me to learn. In fact, I don’t plan to ever stop learning. I love it too much. And of course my persistence pushes me onwards all the time.
If you feel like I did, you may be tempted to give up at some point, thinking that you will “never get it”. But you will. Everyone learns at their own pace. My pace was somewhat slow, but I learned it. And I learned it through sticking with it, and not giving up just because it was confusing or hard.
Here are a few ideas to help you along the way:
Find photographers you like, and follow them with the intent to study their photos, really closely, and see what they are doing that makes their images so gorgeous.
Try some presets from pro photographers. Honestly, if you like someone’s edits, they probably sell presets which will give you a glimpse into their editing style. I have plenty in my store and also have some free packs available to my newsletter subscribers. But try someone else’s too. Try lots of things and experiment ruthlessly.
Pick one thing a month to focus on. This could be getting long exposures right by using filters, or perhaps it’s using the masking tools when you edit. Whatever it is, spend some time on it until you feel like you understand how to do it. That way, you don’t overwhelm yourself with learning “everything” all at once. Just start small and make your way as you feel comfortable with it.
If you’re struggling with a particular aspect of photography, someone probably offers a course on it. There are so many photographers offering courses that you are bound to find something helpful. I have a few I offer as well.
Take a workshop if you really want to dive deep. When I’ve been an instructor on the Luminar workshops, I’ve had some of the guests tell me how helpful it was to have someone there to help. Photography is complicated at times, and having someone “hold your hand” as you work at it is invaluable.
Set up a 1x1 with another photographer. I do private Zoom sessions with clients to help them edit. They send me some photos and we edit together, live. I’m sure plenty of other photographers do this as well. You get dedicated one on one time and can ask any question that comes to mind.
The bottom line is this: photography can feel like it’s impossible to learn - and there is a LOT - but you can get there with some help and some dedication. You know the old joke about how you eat an elephant? A bite at a time. Do the same with your photography education and you will make progress.
Slow down if you have to, but don’t stop. Repetition gets results.
This image is a great example of what I’m talking about. With a lot of work, patience, and masking I was able to get the final look that I wanted, with great separation of color and well-managed light. I could not have gotten anywhere near this type of edit when I started. I don’t think I could have done this even a few years ago.
