Life's little (photo) lessons - what are yours?

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I haven't been shooting for as long as some of our members, starting digital in earnest in 2002, by which 2025 marks 23 years of obsessive shooting. But lessons I've learned, some the hard way, have stuck with me. Here are a few of mine, prosaic as they may be:
  • always carry a camera of some kind, no matter where you are or what you are doing (except for when legally prohibited). You never know when you'll encounter something you want to capture.
  • always carry a spare memory card, and possibly a spare battery, unless your camera has dual card slots and a fully charged battery, and even then, take spares. As an alternative, carry more than one camera!
  • with manual focus lenses, return the focus ring to infinity after shooting so that the next time you use the camera, it will be at a standard basepoint
  • only buy a duplicate camera/lens if you are certain you want it. It could be to have a favourite to have in mothballs in case your primary fails, it could be for a future investment, but don't throw away money on more of the same gear (I'm looking at you, Rolleiflex collectors, and thinking of me, Ricoh GXR user)
  • only sell what you'll be glad to no longer have, or if you absolutely have to sell for financial reasons. Chances are, you'll pay more to buy another of the thing you sold if you get a yen for it again.
  • it's easier to get white balance right at the time, than futz about with it in post
  • it's easier to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission to take someone's photo
  • it's okay to make garbage images, not everything has to be high art
  • if you want to make high art, refine your eye constantly in one way or another, don't just spray and pray
I'm sure the RFFers have many more life lessons, I'd love to hear them!
 
  • When you sell gear, don't include accessories that you ended up buying (e.g. filters); those are almost always needed again and more expensive to buy later on.
  • When something is done, it's done. Buying back an old camera (Makina) that I regretted selling cost me more - and I sold that one again anyway.
  • Don't delete photos on the go unless absolutely necessary. A wrong move and 'Delete All' ruined a photo trip.
  • Walk that extra 500 metres to see what's around the corner, it's sometimes well worth it.
 
When buying an film camera or lens, always keep in mind a CLA service cost on top of the purchase price.

If shooting film, I always carry a small note pad and pens. Making quick notes can prove useful later on for dates or place names of where the images was taken.

Also a maker pen for writing on film cassettes, when pushed, pulled or changed mid roll.
 
Never keep driving or walking thinking “I’ll get that picture later “

Wait. Keep looking around. Watch for things or people that are going to move into the frame. Watch and anticipate connections, convergence, symmetry/asymmetry and interactions. Always be aware of the qualities of the light.

Know what your current camera and lens settings are. Set them at optimal for your intended subject so you can take a picture reflexively if needed.
 
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A good thread, this. The learning curve in photography can be high. Good advice helps.

In the course of my long life (60+ years of photography, now starting to wind down, slowly) I've made every known mistake. And tried to learn something from each one. (Whether or not I've succeeded, well!)

A few points that stand out in my thinking just now (before my morning coffee, so likely more are lying in wait) -

If at first you don't succeed in getting the image you wanted, you're batting about average. In 9 cases out of 10 you can go back and reshoot. Excepting street photography, where the one image is almost always the only one you'll get.

Never buy a camera or especially an entire kit (I've done both so I know) just because you THINK you might like it. In my case, this got me into Hasselblads in my film days, and more recently into Fujis. Both are exceptionally good brands, but not for me. I should have rented beforehand and tested both the cameras and whether or not they suited my way of photographing. Both were also expensive lessons for me.

When buying an old camera from a private seller, look closely and carefully at the screws. If they are damaged, then the camera was home-tinkered with. At which time my offering price goes down by rather a lot. I once unknowingly bought a Rollei TLR some idiot had taken apart and the resulting fix-it cost me more than the camera had.

My now-deceased camera repair person in Melbourne told me this last point. It sll repair shops keep a big box of screws of all sizes to replace any they damage when they take the camera apart with new ones, it's a basic rule of the trade. Replacing the screws, I mean. Taking the camera apart, well, that goes without saying. It's after all what we pay them to do.
 
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Always check you have everything you need (film/memory cards, batteries etc) before leaving the house, and check that the camera/lens are working normally. I once discovered my Nikon FM was jammed on my way to the airport. Luckily I had time to stop at a store to buy an FE. I’ve sometimes discovered I left the memory card in the computer, and no spares in my bag. Glad I carry an iPhone...

If you’re planning on visiting charity stores/op shops/second hand camera stores, carry a small LED flashlight to check lenses for fungus, some common batteries (AA and A76 for sure, and maybe CR2, CR123A), a small blower brush and a small microfibre cloth and some lens cleaner. Ask if they have a returns policy (some charity stores in Sydney will give you 7 days to check the camera out).

Learn to estimate exposure. Sunny 16 is a good start. You get accurate with practice. It can be a lifesaver if your camera’s meter gets fooled or the battery is low. It’s essential for meter-less cameras unless you always carry a pocket meter.
 
Whenever I go out shooting, there are two main things I make sure I bring along. OTL mentioned the first one- a comfortable pair of shoes. The second item I always take with me is a white cotton hand towel, which I stick in my back pocket. A hand towel is extremely useful- wipe the sweat from your brow, cover up your camera if it rains, you can wear it on your head if it is hot, etc. I never leave home without my towel. 😎
 
Rick Waldroup said:
Whenever I go out shooting, there are two main things I make sure I bring along. OTL mentioned the first one- a comfortable pair of shoes. The second item I always take with me is a white cotton hand towel, which I stick in my back pocket. A hand towel is extremely useful- wipe the sweat from your brow, cover up your camera if it rains, you can wear it on your head if it is hot, etc. I never leave home without my towel. 😎
Click to expand...
The Hitchhiker's Guide to Photography! 😎
 
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