This is not your ordinary list of photography tips. If you were expecting a cute write up about how to take better pictures, feel free to do a google— nevermind, I just did it for you. 

This is a compilation of all the things I’ve learned throughout my journey as a photographer up until now. A mixtape, if you will. It is by no means an encapsulation of all the lessons you will ever have to know, just little tidbits of knowledge from my experiences that I feel are worth sharing and wish someone could’ve told me when I was starting out. In going over this list, I hope you come away with a few discoveries of your own, and in the case that you do, feel free to pay it forward to another aspiring photographer, that would be much appreciated. Enjoy.

1) White backgrounds make the subject feel free and lighter

2) Black backgrounds hold the subject in and make the subject feel more anchored

3) 50mm lenses are "normal", but that only refers to its depth perspective, not its field of view, so you're absolutely correct in feeling like its a telephoto.

4) 35mm is considered "wide angle" but it's actually not wide enough to give you dynamic images. 

5) Solution, use 28mm or 24mm - this is not cheating, it's understanding that only this wide of a lens is capable of recreating the effect of what you see with your eyes (which is awesome shit) in a 2D medium

6) The difference between 28mm and 24mm is huge

7) Don't go into photography school thinking that you'll: a) learn everything you'll ever need to know - that will never happen in any department of life b) become absolutely amazing/rich/famous immediately after

8) Don't chase the fame, don't chase the women

9) Intern forever

10) Buy Christmas gifts, send cards, remember birthdays, smile, say hi, know when to speak up, know when to shut up

11) Be good, be fast - the main reason we've switched to digital is not because of quality (film still kicks ass) - it's because it's fast. if you're still working as slow as you're working on film, you're fired

12) Give the clients what they want first, then do your own thing (similar to getting good grades so your parents will let you go out and wreak havoc on the weekends)

13) Learn French and smoke cigarettes

14) People will always say your idea has been done before, but that doesn't matter, what matters is that you haven't done it.

15) The amount of 'likes' you get on Instagram/Facebook is not a good indicator of how good your pictures are

16) Get used to showing your work, and as often as possible. The critiques will hurt, but other people will always be able to spot something you may have overlooked - having said that, only rely on those you trust

17) Don't wait till it's perfect to show your work

18) Bring your body into the work, ideas don't just come from the brain

19) Think outside. Work inside.

20) Get a day job and keep it. You'll get the same amount of work done anyway (Parkinson's Law)

21) Invest in photography books

22) If 21 doesn't work, go to bookstores and libraries often. Never stop looking.

23) When going to photo exhibits/book signings talk to everyone BUT the photographer

24) Start a blog NOW

25) Have a business card to give out

26) Talent is unreliable, keep working - persistence persists

27) Learn how to shoot, develop, and print bw film

28) Then do the same for color film

29) Then do medium format photography

30) Then do large format photography

31) Shoot from the hip

32) Embrace the mistakes

33) Import + back up files immediately after shoot and format cards - avoids confusion

34) Do the same with batteries

35) Invest in a Mirror RAID hard drive.

36) Use time capsule

37) Have a thumb drive on your key chain

38) Always have a point and shoot camera on you

39) If you're going to direct, direct

40) Shoot outdoors in the Spring, Summer, and Fall

41) Shoot indoors during the Winter

42) Having a photoshoot with someone is like taking someone on a date.

43) It's not how good you are, it's how likable you are. Because it's really just about who you know.

44) Master photoshop, but use it as little as possible

45) The eye is easily fooled

46) If you don't know anything about the history photography, at least know these names: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Ansel Adams, Irving Penn, and Richard Avedon.

47) Shallow depth of field is overrated

48) Strobes are overrated

49) Don't go to art school

50) Put your camera down and live your life

by Jason Lam