5 Important Things I Didn’t Know Enough About When I Started in Photography

When I first picked up a camera, I thought photography was mostly about gear and timing. If I had the right camera, stood in the right place, and pressed the shutter at the right moment, the image would take care of itself.

Years later, after countless mornings chasing light through gorges, forests, and waterfalls across the Finger Lakes, I’ve learned that photography is far more intentional than that. Looking back, there are five core concepts I wish I had understood much sooner. These lessons didn’t just improve my images—they changed how I see the world.

1. Light Is Everything — And It’s Always Changing

Every photograph begins and ends with light. I knew that in theory when I started, but I didn’t understand how dynamic light truly is.

Light changes:

• By the hour, as the sun moves across the sky

• By season, altering angles and intensity

• By weather, from harsh midday sun to soft overcast glow

The position of the sun matters more than most beginners realize. Midday light often creates harsh shadows and flat scenes, while morning and evening light introduces warmth, texture, and depth. Golden hour wraps landscapes in soft contrast, while twilight introduces cooler tones and subtle color shifts.

Color temperature was another missing piece early on. Different light sources produce very different colors:

• Warm candlelight and tungsten bulbs

• Neutral daylight

• Cool overcast skies or shade

Understanding color temperature allows you to make creative decisions instead of correcting mistakes later. Once you learn to see light instead of just using it, photography becomes intentional instead of reactive.

2. Composition Is Often About What You Leave Out

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was trying to include everything. If the scene was beautiful, I wanted all of it in the frame. The result was cluttered images with no clear subject.

Strong composition is about restraint.

Ask yourself:

• What is the subject of this photo?

• What elements support it?

• What elements distract from it?

Removing distractions—extra branches, bright highlights, unnecessary foreground clutter—often strengthens an image more than adding anything new. Simplicity creates impact. The viewer’s eye should know exactly where to go.

This lesson became especially clear when photographing waterfalls. The most powerful images aren’t always the widest views—they’re the ones that guide the viewer’s attention with intention.

3. Shooting RAW Gives Your Photos a Future

I didn’t fully understand the importance of shooting RAW when I started, and I wish I had. JPEG files look finished straight out of the camera, but that convenience comes at a cost.

RAW files:

• Preserve far more detail

• Retain highlight and shadow information

• Allow greater flexibility in editing

• Adapt better as your editing skills improve

As your style evolves, older RAW files can be re-edited with better results than you ever imagined at the time. Shooting RAW isn’t about fixing mistakes—it’s about protecting the full potential of your image for the future.

If you’re serious about photography, shooting RAW is not optional. It’s an investment in your growth.

4. Depth of Field Shapes Mood and Story

Depth of field was one of the most misunderstood concepts for me early on. I knew aperture affected exposure, but I didn’t understand how much it influences emotion and storytelling.

Depth of field controls:

• What is sharp

• What fades away

• How isolated or immersive a subject feels

A shallow depth of field can create intimacy, isolating a subject from its surroundings. A deep depth of field invites the viewer to explore an entire scene, common in landscape photography.

Depth of field is controlled primarily by:

• Aperture

• Distance to subject

• Focal length (appearance, not physics)

Choosing the right depth of field is often the difference between a snapshot and a photograph that feels deliberate.

5. Lenses Matter More Than Camera Bodies

This one took me far too long to accept: good lenses matter more than new camera bodies.

Most photographers start with a kit lens, and that’s fine, but kit lenses come with compromises:

• Variable apertures

• Lower optical quality

• Less creative control

Prime lenses force you to move, think, and compose more intentionally. Zoom lenses with constant apertures offer flexibility without sacrificing exposure consistency or image quality.

A sharp lens with good glass will outlast multiple camera bodies. If you’re going to invest in anything, invest in lenses first. They shape the look, feel, and consistency of your work far more than megapixels ever will.

Final Thoughts

Photography is a craft learned slowly, through mistakes, patience, and time in the field. These five lessons didn’t come overnight, but each one marked a turning point in my journey.

If you’re just starting out, my advice is simple:

• Learn to see light

• Simplify your compositions

• Protect your images by shooting RAW

• Use depth of field intentionally

• Invest in quality glass

Photography isn’t about chasing perfection, it’s about understanding the tools well enough to express what you see and feel. Once that happens, the camera becomes secondary, and the experience takes over.