5 Tips to Improve Your Photography in the New Year

Monday 13 January 2025, 20:10 by Nando Harmsen | 4,064 views | 6 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Starting a new year often comes with resolutions. Not just for 2025, but for every year. There is one resolution every photographer can strive for: improving your photos. It does not matter whether you are experienced or professional, or a beginner or amateur.

You are never done learning with photography. No matter how good or experienced you are, there is always room for improvement. This can happen in big steps when you have only recently started, or in smaller steps when you are already more advanced.

Anyone who thinks there is nothing left to learn might as well stop. Because then your images will no longer improve. They can only go backwards and get worse. It is not for nothing that people sometimes jokingly shout when taking the 'perfect photo': "now I can stop."

But one 'perfect photo' is not enough. That could have been luck. Even if you had taken that perfect photo, the aim is to take perfect photos systematically. That is a goal in itself.

This is probably my favourite photo of 2024. I want to make many more photos like this.
Fortunately, there is no such thing as perfect photos. It is a snapshot. One that you look back on in a year, or two years, and think: "it wasn't as fantastic as I thought at the time."

If you have that thought, you should be happy about it. It is a sign that you have grown as a photographer. And you need to hold on to that growth, including in a new year. The following tips can help you with that.

Tip 1 - Don't focus too much on equipment

Forget about equipment and go out photographing with what you have. Even if it is an old camera or a simple kit lens. A new camera or lens is of course wonderful, but it will not make you a better photographer.

Wonderful, all that lovely equipment. It is only a tool. You make the beautiful photos, not the camera or lens.

Tip 2 - Look back at your photos from the past year

Look at your best photos from the past year. Enjoy them, and do something with them, such as making an album or slideshow. There will undoubtedly be a few photos in this set that appeal to you more. Make more photos like those.

My selection of favourite photos from 2024. Aim to make more photos like these.

Tip 3 - Step outside your comfort zone

This is more or less a continuation of the previous tip. Make more of the kind of photos that appealed to you in your list of best photos. Not necessarily exactly the same subject or location, but the atmosphere and feel. Explore it further and continue with it.

I find photographing people in the street difficult and often even uncomfortable. Reason enough to do it more.

Tip 4 - Try a different type of photography

When you practise one type of photography, there is a risk of getting stuck. Your photos then start to look a bit alike. Taking up a completely different type of photography gives you new insights. It is inspiring and can help you grow.

Drop photography is a separate type of photography. I can probably use the things I learn from it for other types of photography too.

Tip 5 - Take a course or workshop

Thinking that you already know everything about your own type of photography puts the brakes on your development. Be open to new techniques and ways of photographing. A course or workshop can help you remove that brake.

A workshop by Canadian photographer Gabe McClintock gave me many new insights into photographing people. I could never have discovered that on my own.

The most important tip

I cannot say it often enough: enjoy your photography activities. That may well be the most important tip of all. When you enjoy yourself, you automatically take better photos.

Do you have any tips too? Let us know in a comment below this post.

Share: WhatsApp Facebook

About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

10 Tips for Beginner Photographers
by Elja Trum
Practical tips to become a better photographer
by Elja Trum
Everything you need to know about resolution
by Nando Harmsen
What came of my New Year's resolution?
by Nando Harmsen
10 tips for photographing mushrooms
by Nando Harmsen
Lightroom updates 2025, with more useful AI features
by Nando Harmsen

Show every article in Inspiration

home

6 comments

Liesbeth Verkade wrote on Tuesday 14 January 2025 at 18:02 | reply
Thanks for your article, Nando. Over the past few years, I've tried to improve my photos by watching courses and taking lots of photos. I'm now reaching the point where I no longer really know what to photograph and where to get my inspiration from.
I feel like my photos are getting worse rather than better. Why? No idea, but it's not cool!
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Wednesday 15 January 2025 at 09:51 | reply
I think the self-imposed obligation to have to learn and grow is ultimately the reason you become dissatisfied with your photos. It becomes an obligation. The enjoyment disappears.
Maybe letting go of the need to improve is the solution. Just enjoy taking photos without that obligation. Enjoying your hobby is more important than that learning process.
So, don't think too much about what you have to do, but just go out. See where the ship runs aground (or where you and your camera end up). And if you come back without any photos a few times, that's not a problem at all.
There is a funny learning curve about photography going around that does show quite a bit of what you describe.(https://www.instagram.com/photogs_memes/p/C9IM5UGJdQC/).
Translated from Dutch.

Liesbeth Verkade wrote on Wednesday 15 January 2025 at 10:17 | reply
Thank you! I think your comment hits the nail on the head. Just getting on with it suits me better too
Translated from Dutch.

Jacolien wrote on Wednesday 15 January 2025 at 08:31 | reply
Hi Liesbeth, maybe it's an idea to go out with another photographer and take photos together of the same subject, that's fun and you learn from each other Or look for a volunteer job at for example a local online news site where you are forced to photograph at for example events. There you learn a lot and your photos are also gratefully used. I hope I've given you an idea and that you'll soon be proud of your photos. Greetings!
Translated from Dutch.

Nando wrote on Wednesday 15 January 2025 at 09:53 | reply
Good tips, Jacolien.
But be careful about forcing someone to take photos. An obligation puts more pressure on them and can also spoil the fun.
Translated from Dutch.

Liesbeth Verkade wrote on Wednesday 15 January 2025 at 10:15 | reply
Thanks Jacolien. Good tip. A job is a bit much for me at 74, but going out to take photos with someone is a great idea!
Translated from Dutch.

Have your say

Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.
Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.

Become a better photographer every week

A practical photography tip in your inbox every week.
39,219 photography enthusiasts already receive the tips! More about the weekly mail. Or keep up to date via Facebook. Sign-up secured with Google reCaptcha.

Elja Trum

Photofacts; everything to do with photography!

Would you like to take better photos and keep up with what is happening in photography? Photofacts publishes articles that teach you something about photography — from a product announcement to a practical shooting tip or a look at a website. Photofacts covers photography every day and is a hobby project of Elja Trum's that got out of hand. The articles are written by a team of volunteer authors. If you would enjoy writing one or more articles for Photofacts, do get in touch.More about Photofacts

Photofacts is made possible in part by