3 SIMPLE TIPS: Be A More Confident Photographer!
Today we’re going to talk about three simple steps that helped me feel more confident as a photographer, straight out of the gate. Getting started in photography, it can feel super easy to have a sense of imposter syndrome, and sometimes, there can be a lot of unnecessary hate in our industry. While these tips won’t keep the haters at bay, I believe they will help you present yourself more professionally and feel more confident the next time you’re on a photo shoot or at a wedding.
—Disclosure: I may receive a commission from purchases made via the links in this video and description.—
TIP #1: Turn Off the Beep on Your Camera
My first tip for you, and you can do it right now, is to turn off the beep on your camera. Most camera’s come with a default setting where they will beep when you focus or take a photo. If you are someone who shoots journalistically and prioritizes moments, the last thing you’d want to do is draw attention to yourself and take away from the moment. Not only that, but turning off your beep is a small way to make it look like you know your gear just a bit better.
Every camera has slightly different settings, so I recommend looking in your manual, googling it, or looking up a tutorial video on YouTube for your specific camera. If you want to level that up: turn on silent shutter for premium stealthiness.
TIP #2: Get a Custom Camera Strap
My second tip for you is to get a custom camera strap. Most cameras come standard with a neck strap. While those are definitely functional, they can tend to give off the look like you’ve just gotten started in photography. While there’s nothing wrong with being a beginner, sometimes it’s nice to look a bit more legit and a different camera strap is a super easy way to make that adjustment.
My current camera strap of choice is this crossbody one from Amazon (I liked it so much, I purchased it a second time after losing it on a hike).
In the past, I’ve used a leather hand strap and double harnesses. It might take some trial and error to find what works for you, because this tip is both about appearances and functionality. When you find the right camera strap, you’ll probably find your camera easier to access and use, which means it’ll be that much easier to grab more photos you love!
TIP #3: Upgrade Your Bag
My third and final tip for you is to upgrade your camera bag. It’s not uncommon to get a pretty standard, run of the mill, camera bag. While this is handy for keeping your camera safe and carrying it around, it’s not always the prettiest or most comfortable to carry. You can definitely go down the rabbit hole of fancy camera bag options, but my favorite for over a decade now have been the bags from Billingham, specifically my Billingham Hadley Pro.
Not only are they classically designed, but they are incredibly durable—and as a fun bonus—they’re all made in England. My favorite thing about this bag though? It doesn’t look like a camera bag, which makes me look not only more professional and styled, but it makes me less of a target for theft. It’s also very comfortable.
These are things I did very early when I started as a photographer, and they always made me feel more confident and appear more professional. Why skill takes time to develop, these are tips you can change really easily to look and feel more confident and present more professionally.
Buy the gear mentioned in this post here:
My Current Favorite Camera Strap
My FAVORITE Camera Bag: The Billingham Hadley Pro
See the full video about this over on YouTube (below)!
