Three Common Mistakes Beginner Photographers Always Make

There are plenty of mistakes beginner photographers make along the road to becoming a seasoned pro. While it's important not to be discouraged by small, correctable mistakes, it's equally as important to acknowledge them. In this short video tutorial, Mango Street Lab lay out three common mistakes that beginner photographers make in a clean and understandable way. 

Blown-Out Highlights

Perhaps you're purposefully blowing out the highlights in your images for the esthetic appeal. That's one thing. If you're unintentionally blowing out the highlights in your images, there are several things you can do about it. 

Adjusting your exposure settings for the brightest part of your image will prevent lost detail in the highlights. It will, however, require some work in postproduction to bring the detail back out of the shadows. This may take a little work to find the right balance, but once you've lost details in your highlights, they're gone, so becoming familiar with your camera's settings and learning how to a properly expose your images is worth the time. Shooting in raw file format is necessary in my opinion for the best results.

Posing

While it's perfectly fine to get ideas for poses from various sources online, it's best not to be 100 percent reliant on them. Learn how to get a playful yet professional banter going with your clients that will carry throughout your session and you'll be pleasantly surprised with the number of opportunity for great shots with natural expressions and real emotion present themselves. 

Disregarding the Light Source 

When given the opportunity to choose a location and time of the day, you should be choosing based on the quality of available light in most cases. Avoiding harsh overhead light (mid-day sun) is good practice. 

Let's Be Honest

What mistakes did you make most often when you first began shooting? What are a few things you see photographers do that you might be able to throw some advice towards? Share in the comments below. 

Source: Three Common Mistakes Beginner Photographers Always Make