true life: read all about it | raleigh photographer

Welcome back to True Life! With this twice-monthly series, I’ll be posting helpful tips on taking better pictures of your kids, learning to use your camera, fun ways to display family photos, custom photo gifts, etc.

If you opened the owner’s manual that came with your DSLR camera and then immediately wanted to pack your camera back in its box and stick it in the back of the closet, then this is the post for you! DSLR user manuals are so very technical and dry, and they assume that you already understand terms like ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and the like.

Well, don’t worry…I’m here for you. It’s all going to be okay! Today I’m going to share some of my favorite photography books that helped me to learn the craft. There are also many more on my list to read – as I always say, you never stop learning!

To start off, if you’re having trouble with your manual or you misplaced it…in the fireplace after a bit of frustration, perhaps?…then I suggest the Magic Lantern guides. There is a guide for almost every camera out there, and they are a bit easier on the brain.

Next up, for all my mommies out there -Mamarazzi: Every Mom’s Guide to Photographing Kids by Stacy Wasmuth is a book that I hand out during my Be True Everyday Workshops. It is chock-full of all sorts of great information – both technical and creative – about photographing your children.

Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera by Bryan Peterson is a must for any serious beginning photographer. It all truly begins with a properly exposed photo, and this book will teach you how to get it!

As you get a little more advanced, The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby delves into more detail about shooting such things as landscapes, people, and sports like a pro.

And finally, once you get a handle on the more technical aspects, I loved Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters’ Guide to Shooting from the Heart, which dives into the creative side of photography.

That ought to get you started, right? Oh, and I should mention that even though that manual is all greek to you now, as you learn more and more, you will want to refer back to the manual a lot to put your new knowledge into practice.

So, what’s on my list of books to read? I’m a big ol’ bookworm and have the goal of reading at least 52 books each year. These books are in my queue for this year!

Vivian Maier: Street Photographer

People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs

VisionMongers: Making a Life and a Living in Photography

The Moment It Clicks: Photography Secrets from One of the World’s Top Shooters

Best Business Practices for Photographers, Second Edition

…and a whole host of business books and fiction as well have made my list for the year…we’ll see how it goes!

(Hey, in full disclosure, some of the above links are Amazon affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you were to purchase the book. If you don’t like that idea, feel free to search for the books on amazon.com or at your local bookstore. Just wanted you to know!)

~ xoxoxoxoxo ~

If you would like to learn more about taking better photos of your kids or simply learn how to get more from your camera, check out the Be True Everyday Beginner DSLR Camera Workshops!

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