Do you remember the first time you decided to learn photography?

You must’ve started by listening to the many advice you found online. You may have followed most of them religiously. Even if they contradicted themselves. Even if they were difficult to follow.

And there must have been discouraging voices, making you feel like learning photography is an insurmountable task. 

But, photography is much simpler than it has been projected out to be. If you’re still interested in learning, I am going to dispel some common myths associated with photography today. 

Read it all to know yourself that learning this art is not taxing, but fun!

1. Shooting Less Will Make You a Better Photographer

This is the age-old debate about quality versus quantity. 

You can either wait for the perfect environment before taking your camera out of your bag. Or, you can take lots of shots of different compositions to produce a variety of images.

I believe that the more pictures you take, the more chances you have of any of them becoming working out. The odds of a particular picture being one of your best will increase multifold. 

Learn from the renowned musician Mozart, who composed around 600 pieces, out of which only six made it to the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s list of the 50 masterpieces of classical music. Same goes for Bach who produced over 1000 pieces, but only three were picked. 

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you keep taking the same kind of pictures repeatedly. Or that you take a lot of images thoughtlessly. Being prolific means, you keep producing by experimenting with new subjects and compositional techniques. 

It’s like a game of lots; the more options you have, the greater your chances of winning.

Plus, all the extra practice will make you better!

Resource: 5 Reasons Why You Should Aim to be a Prolific Photographer

2. Take 1000 Shots Of The Same Thing For One Perfect Image!

‘Spray and Pray’ means mindlessly taking thousands of pictures to get one great image. But prayers don’t always come true. Often, you’ll end up with no great photo and a lot of wasted time. 

Taking pictures of mindlessly can waste a lot of precious time. Imagine uploading and filtering through a thousand photographs. It will take ages! 

Carefully consider every frame before pressing the shutter button. Deliberate practice is how you hone your creative muscles and get better at what you do.

I agree that sometimes taking several photos rapidly is advantageous. Like when you’re shooting something in motion. However, in general, mindlessly taking consecutive shots will only cause you to miss out on great photographic opportunities. 

3. A Photograph Should Reflect Reality

The phrase, “a camera never lies” is so clichéd and untrue. A skilled photographer is a manipulator, not a depicter, of reality.

For instance, when taking an image, photographers choose how to frame, focus, and expose a scene. And by this, they’re able to manipulate the viewer into seeing what we want them to see.

A picture shows what the photographer wants it to show. And this is what makes photography interesting!

A memorable photo is one that does not depict the world as it is. Instead, it enables viewers to experience old things in new ways. It captures ordinary, commonplace objects and gives them a new narrative.

4. Post-Processing Is Corrupting Photography

Some people tend to believe that old photographs were better because they depicted the world as it was, without the extra embellishments of Photoshop.

Interestingly enough, old photographs are not as authentic as they appear to be. Even before Photoshop, photographers were using a variety of techniques to edit their pictures in the darkroom like coloring, blurring, airbrushing, and scratching the negatives. 

Further, post-processing is a vital part of the digital photographic process today. This is especially true if you shoot RAW images.

Compared to JPEGs, RAW images appear dull and flat. This is because JPEGs experience automatic processing by the camera. This processing often includes contrast adjustment, sharpening, noise reduction, and compression. RAW images, on the other hand, are untouched original images. When using RAW images, you are in control of the processing changes that need to take place. 

Most pictures need some form editing. RAW images especially need to be edited to bring make the best of what they have to offer.

5. Photoshop Can Fix Everything

Most photographers know that this magical program can enhance a picture’s appearance. Be it images of food, clothes, people; photoshop enables photographers to twist the appearance of an image and make it more alluring for the viewers.

But, there are mistakes that even Photoshop cannot rectify. For instance, you cannot fix an overexposed image. This means that there is no way to save those details that you lost due to improper exposure. 

And if you take a blurry, out-of-focus picture, once again, Photoshop will fail to come to your rescue!

6. Shooting Under Bad Lighting Is a Waste of Time

I won’t say there’s no such thing as “bad lighting” because there is. But refraining from shooting because the light isn’t great means missing the chance to get the most out of what is available. 

I’ve seen many beautiful images taken even in the dullest weather conditions.

You don’t have to wait for amazing light to capture excellent images. You can always take on the challenge and use your creative powers to create something unique and exciting.

Creating captivating images depends more on a photographer’s creativity and skill than just good lighting. 

If you are determined enough, you won’t allow something you can’t control, such as lighting to stop you. Plus, even if you come home empty-handed, it’s still time well spent as you spend it practicing your photography.

7. Shooting Is Impossible Without A Tripod

Again, if you’re determined enough, the absence of a tripod won’t stop you from taking great pictures. 

You can use a wall or a boulder, or a stack of books to stabilize your camera. If you are unable to find a temporary substitute for your tripod, you can always experiment with different camera settings. Even shooting with a high ISO is better than not shooting at all. 

When you see something that you know would be a great image, even if you don’t have a tripod, shoot anyway. You won’t lose anything, and will likely regret it later if you don’t.

8. A Better Camera Means Better Pictures

This is partly true. A better camera will have some extra features that can make taking good pictures easier.

But most old and cheap cameras today are capable of taking great images just as well. For instance, the difference between the quality of images I shot with my Canon Rebel T3i versus my Nikon D850 is slim.

True, there are some images I can capture better using my Nikon D850 than my Rebel T3i. But, such compositions happen only on rare occasions. And it didn’t really bother me until much later in my photography career.

Also, the success of your photoshoots is largely dependent on how well you can use the gear you have. So before you hasten out to buy the latest camera, become adept at using your old one first.

And this does not only go for a camera but every other tool. You might think you need a more expensive lens or the latest camera bag, but chances are, you don’t.

If you want to take better pictures, consider investing in tutorials or photo trips instead of buying more expensive items.

If you focus on honing your skills instead of buying new cameras, you’ll take better pictures than most of the photographers with expensive gear, even with only your iPhone.

Resource: Why Having Less Camera Gear Makes You A Better Photographer

9. RAW Produces Better Results than JPEG

The reality is that the file format that produces the best results will depend on what you are photographing and your goals. 

For example, JPEGs will produce better results if you don’t plan on doing any post-processing. This is particularly useful when you need to present the final images quickly. JPEGs will allow you to produce a processed image without any additional work. 

JPEGs can also produce better results if you need to shoot at a high frame rate. For instance, if you are a sports photographer, JPEGs allow you to shoot more frames per second due to their smaller size. 

On the other hand, RAW files offer more flexibility and control over your images. RAW images have a higher dynamic range and more extensive color pallet compared to JPEGs. 

This means that with the right post-processing skills, most photographers can produce better results using RAW images than JPEGs.

Most professionals use RAW images when they shoot because of the quality, versatility, and editing power they possess.  

In short, RAW images can be better but are not always better than JPEG images.

10. More Megapixels Increase the Quality of Photos 

While more megapixels can enhance the quality of your photos, after a certain point, additional megapixels will have an unnoticeable effect on image quality.

The more you increase the number of megapixels in your camera, the more detail you can capture in your images. But the human eye can only perceive so much detail. 

What’s more important than the number of megapixels is what you will be shooting and how you will display those images. Answering these questions will help you determine if more megapixels will be a better option for you or not. 

More megapixels is beneficial if you will be making extreme crops or displaying your images very large (print or digital). The additional megapixels give you the ability to retain the sharp detail of your pictures even if you crop or enlarge them.

If you don’t fall in the situation above, then a 24-megapixel camera is sufficient to produce high-quality images.

Many factors play into image quality, and megapixels is just one feature.  So don’t buy a camera only because it has the highest megapixel count. Pay attention to other features that will influence image quality, such as sensor size, dynamic range, frames per second, pixel density, and lens availability.

11. The Histogram Should Lean Slightly to the Right 

There is a common misconception that a properly exposed image should have a histogram that leans to the right.

Exposing to the right is a technique that photographers use to capture images with more detail and less noise. However, this technique does not guarantee or promise properly exposed images. Rather, to reach proper exposure post-processing software must be used. 

A properly exposed histogram does not take on one shape for all images. The shape will depend on the scene you are photographing. 

For example, if your photo consists of many dark colors, your histogram will be shifted to the left. If your images consist of primarily bright colors, it will be shifted to the right. And pictures with mostly mid-tones will be bell-shaped. 

When looking at your histogram, consider the contents of your image. If the contents of your image match with the shape of your histogram then if you are on the right track. 

12. Photography Is Expensive

Well, so are all good things in life. Kidding. It’s not as expensive as it used to be. With technological advances, photographic equipment is becoming more affordable throughout the world. 

As long as you’re not trying to get the latest and the best gear out there, you can easily afford a good camera. You can always update your equipment after you become a pro. 

13. Always Use The Lowest ISO Setting

Again, not a rule. While the high ISO results in noisy photographs, sometimes it becomes essential to use them to get the best shot. 

When I first started taking pictures, I refused to increase my ISO. I would often compromise on my shutter speed and aperture setting first. 

But, as you may already know, using either of those is not always the right answer as they can cause an image to be out-of-focus. 

I would also often choose to take an underexposed image rather than use a high ISO.  The plan is always to boost the shadows later on in Photoshop. It turns out, doing so produces noisier images than using a higher ISO.

In this age because digital cameras are capable of spitting out high-quality images even at ISO 3200 and higher. So, don’t be afraid to adjust your ISO according to the demands of the situation if you want the best results!

Resource: How to Use Your Camera: Understanding Exposure

14. Changing the ISO Affects Sensitivity

Digital sensors are limited to a single sensitivity. Changing the ISO doesn’t change the sensitivity of a sensor. Instead, it alters the amplification of the digital information gathered by the sensor. 

For a given scene, your sensor will always capture the same amount of light. When you increase your ISO, you increase the strength of the light that the sensor captures, but you don’t capture more light. The common misconception is that when you increase your ISO you increase the sensitivity of your sensor and thus is captures more light. 

Since increasing your ISO results in the amplification of the digital information gathered by the sensor, noise also becomes more apparent at higher ISOs.  When you amplify light information, you also amplify noise. As a result, higher ISOs usually capture more noise. 

Some of the latest camera models are known to be ISO invariant. This means their sensor read noise remains constant regardless of ISO. As a result, photographers preserve highlights in wide dynamic range scenes while boosting the shadows in post-processing. This is even possible if the initial image seems severely underexposed. 

Resource: How to Use Your Camera: Understanding Exposure

15. You Need to Set Custom White Balance for Each Lighting Situation 

There is no need for calibrating your white balance to match every lighting situation.

Most cameras come with a default setting of AWB or automatic white balance. This setting will automatically adjust your white balance for a given setting. 

Custom white balance is only required if your custom white balance is not adjusting to the lighting situation properly. For instance, if you are shooting a scene that has a drastic white balance, you may need to adjust your white balance manually. 

Some photographers also use custom white balance to give their photos a creative twist. 

Otherwise, there’s no need to manually adjust. 

16. You Need to Have a Large Portfolio to Be Hired

You don’t need hundreds of photographs in your portfolio to get attention from clients. In the debate of quality versus quantity here, quality wins. 

I’ve gotten many projects despite my portfolio being thinner than most of my colleagues. 

Keep only your best and the most outstanding work that you have. Don’t put the rest. While good images will attract clients, bad pictures can turn them away.

Here is a tip: keep pictures you think will speak to your clients, not just the ones you think are great. For example, if you are trying to get hired as a portrait photographer, your landscape images will unlikely attract your clients as much as your portrait pictures.

17. You Need Only Talent To Become a Pro

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you need a lot more than that. While a good eye can take you places in photography, you need to develop many other skills. 

For instance, you’ll need to develop knowledge that’s unrelated to creating images such as sales and marketing. You’ll also need to develop the personal skills necessary for a successful business such as patience and empathy.

18. Having An Eye for Photography Is a Natural Talent

With enough practice, anyone can develop that ‘natural’ eye for photography. 

Whenever I look at the images I took in the first year of my photography, I cringe. I am sure someday, I’ll look at this blog post and cringe as well (but that’s beside the point). 

The point is, you’ll suck in the beginning, and that’s ok. Don’t get disgruntled if the effort seems too much. Because the fruit of your hard work will be sweeter than you could have ever imagined it to be!

19. Anyone Can Be A Great Photographer

Not everyone who can pick up a camera can be a great photographer.

As mentioned, to become great, you’ll need to develop skills through practice and perseverance. It’s true, some seem to have been born to hold a camera, but most photographers practice for years to become good at what they do.

Plus, even those who have a natural talent for photography have practiced for years. As Ansel Adams puts it, “You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, and the people you have loved.”

It is only after you combine all these experiences into a single image that your picture will speak a thousand words!

20. Don’t Put Your Subject In The Middle

This doesn’t mean ignoring some of the compositional rules like the rule of the third or the golden ratio. But, remember that you can mold these rules according to your needs and the demands of the situation. 

While it’s true that symmetrical pictures can be too static, it can also create striking images if done right. 

Consider the image of a lone tree spreading its branches wistfully in the middle of your frame. This type of composition can be effective in conveying and inspiring certain emotions.

Plus, adopting a central composition is a great way to put your subject in the spotlight. This is especially helpful if you can’t use other compositional elements, such as leading lines or light,  to direct your audience’s attention to your focal point.

The fundamental rules of photography should never stop you from experimenting with different modes and angles. They are only guidelines. They are not set in stone.

Resource: 23 Composition Techniques for Travel Photography

21. Skilled Photographers Only Use Manual Mode

It’s not true that good photographers only shoot in manual mode.

Skilled photographers adapt to their environments and do whatever is necessary to get a shot. 

There are times when shooting in manual modes will only slow you down and make you miss the shot. This is especially true in conditions where the light is changing changes constantly.  In such cases, it makes more sense to shoot in aperture or shutter priority. 

So, don’t hesitate to use automatic mode to get the right setting for your photo. Explore other modes and learn to utilize your tools to the best of its capabilities.

Resource: How to Use Your Camera: Understanding Camera Modes

22. Learning Manual Mode is Useless

Most of the time, using aperture or shutter priority will be more practical than using manual mode. But,  this doesn’t mean that using manual mode is not worth learning. 

For one, it’s best to be knowledgeable in all the features that come with your camera. Also, there will be times where you will necessarily need to use manual mode. 

One example is when shooting in low light conditions. Even the best camera today doesn’t perform well when there isn’t enough ambient light.

Learning manual modes doesn’t mean you need to shoot with it every time. You can easily switch to automatic mode when you believe it is right for your image. 

Be open to learning everything about your camera so that you can make the most of it. 

23. A Degree in Photography Is a Must If You Want to Succeed

While formal education is welcome, it’s not mandatory for becoming a skilled and successful photographer. 

Photography is a creative profession. You can capture stunning, thought-provoking images without a piece of paper testifying to your skill. 

That, however, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn more about photography. To become an expert, you need to invest your time in learning. So, never shy away from learning through workshops, tutorials,  and books whenever you can.

24. Photography Is Easy

This statement can be quite frustrating for those who spend years working on their photography.

Shooting a picture and becoming a photographer are two different things. 

Photography is more than just picking up a camera and pressing the shutter button. It involves so much more. 

Many complexities go into forging a great picture. To do it right, a photographer has to be highly conscious of many things such as framing, lighting, and which camera settings.

Trust me; it’s not as simple as taking a selfie and putting it on Instagram with several filters.

25. Photography Is Too Difficult

Photography is in itself, not a difficult art to learn. We tend to make it hard by overwhelming ourselves with the things we would have to learn. 

I agree that most of the books out there are too technical and make it difficult for beginners to comprehend them. But there are also many books and web resources which elaborate upon these instructions.

And once you take that first step, learning becomes pretty simple and quite fun!

26. Freezing Lightning Requires Fast Shutter Speeds

Some believe that you need to use fast shutter speeds to freeze lighting in your frame.  The answer is no.

Most of the time, you need to use longer shutter speeds. When you use longer exposures, you increase the chances that your image will capture the lightning. In other words,  you are giving yourself more time to capture the light in your frame. 

This may sound counter-intuitive as one would think that the long exposure will cause the trace of lighting to be blurry. But, since lighting bolts are incredibly bright, longer exposures can capture them with crisp detail.  

Just remember to use a tripod while shooting with this mode. Without the tripod’s support, slow shutter speed may result in blurry images. 

27. Astrophotography Requires a Small Aperture 

Some photographers believe it because small apertures ensure a deep depth of field. 

But, to photograph the stars, you’ll need to use a large aperture such as f/2.8 or f/3.5.  Anything higher than these apertures will almost always render your images too dark. 

This may come as a surprise since a shallow depth of field means will cause your images to be out of focus. The key, however, is not in your depth of field, but in focusing your lens on the stars. That is, setting your focus to infinity. 

When you focus your lens to infinity,  it won’t matter whether you’re photographing a star closer to earth or millions of lightyears away.  Your image will be in focus.

28. Increasing Bit-Depth Will Lead to Better Quality Photos

Bit depth is directly related to the resolution of an image. The higher the bit-depth, the more information (colors) a single pixel can hold.

An 8-bit image can register 256 tonal values for each color channel (red, green, and blue). On the other hand, a 16-bit image can register 65,536 tonal values for each color channel. 

However, often times the benefits of using a higher bit depth are hard to notice. This is because the human eye can only perceive a certain level of tonal differences. As a result, bit depths higher than 14 are typically unnecessary. 

For example, take the same photo using different bit depths then compare the image. The difference between an 8-bit image is noticeable if you pay close attention. 

These differences become less noticeable at higher bit-depths. Most people can not perceive the difference between a 10-bit and 12-bit images let alone a 16-bit and 24-bit image. 

Moreover, most images are saved for final outputs as an 8 or 10 bit JPEG image. This means even if you are shooting in much higher bit-depth when you convert to JPEG you will lose many of those benefits. 

Nonetheless, It is still beneficial to shoot in RAW for the higher bit depth (typically 12, 14, or 16). Shooting at the higher bit-depth can help you during post-processing. It will give you a better idea on which areas of your photo need editing. 

Keep in mind that anything higher than 14-bit may only be worth it if you are displaying your images very large. Remember that although higher bit depths can improve certain features of image quality, the overall quality of an image depends on many other factors.

29. HDR Produces Awful Shots

High Dynamic Range (HDR) images have gained a bad reputation over the years. Photographers tend to abuse it only to produce unrealistic looking imagery. 

But, the best HDR images are those that don’t look as if they’ve been shot in HDR. It’s possible to create natural-looking HDR photos. 

One trick is to bracket shots, create an HDR version, and then manually blend that with a non-HDR version of the image. That is, blend only elements in the picture that can truly benefit from using HDR and leave the rest alone. 

30. Native ISO 200 Produces Less Noise than ISO 100

Photographers have different views on which ISO produces the most noise-free images. Some believe ISO 100 is ideal, while others argue that ISO 200 is more effective. In reality, the ISO that produces the least amount of noise will be the base or native ISO. 

The native ISO is what a sensor will record naturally without an amplification. The native ISO will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and even model to model. It is also common that cameras have a native ISO range rather than a single ISO. 

You can figure out the native ISO of your camera by looking it up online. Most camera reviews will give the camera’s native ISO range. 

You can also determine the native ISO of your camera by simply testing your camera. Take a photo at each ISO and using post-processing software to determine which ISO values produce the same noise.

31. DPI or PPI Can Affect the Size of an Image When Viewed on Screen

Dots per inch is strictly related to print images and printers. Pixels per inch or PPI is related to how digital images are displayed on a screen. 

The pixels per inch (PPI) of an image file has nothing to do with your photo when it’s on a screen. Whether an image is 300 PPI or 3,000 PPI, it would look the same. 

PPI is a way to measure an image file. You can change its value without worrying about image resolution. The total number of pixels in the image won’t be affected. So, you won’t be compromising on the quality in any way. 

32. Using Mirror Lock-Up Results in Sharp Pictures

Almost every photographer has heard of that mirror lock-up that produces sharper images. If you look online, you will find photographers on both sides of the argument. 

The basis behind this claim is that when you hit the shutter button, the movement of the mirror will cause vibrations that impact the sharpness of the image captured. Mirror lock-up eliminates this problem by locking the mirror in place. 

I have found that using mirror lock-up has a minimal impact on image sharpness. Various tests online have also shown little to no improvement in sharpness when using mirror lock-up. The reality is that if you are using a quality tripod, the vibration caused by the moving mirror is unnoticeable. 

Any improvement in sharpness when using mirror lock-up is typically attributed to an unsteady tripod or an unsecured camera.

33. There Can Only be One Correct Exposure

If an image is exposed correctly, it will reflect the tonalities, textures, and colors you would see in real life. 

However, photographers deliberately choose to either underexpose or overexpose images to create a specific aesthetic they have in mind.

Some use underexposure to emphasize the drama in their image’s contents. While some purposely overexpose their images to create a dreamy effect. 

The best way to decide what best works for you is to experiment with exposure. As you grow more skilled, you’ll be able to wow your audience even while photographing everyday objects.  

34. Hours of Post Processing is Necessary for Good Images

There’s no limit to the time you can spend on editing. But, how good your final image will be is not directly related to the amount of time you spend editing.

Some images need a lot of work, while some require minimal editing. 

If you’re making too many changes and taking too much time, ask yourself why. Instead of focusing on post-processing, examine where the problem is coming from.

Often, the prolonged processing time is a result of a poor editing workflow, rather than what the image needs. Also, it may be that you are trying to compensate for poor lighting and composition with your editing.  

If so, you can reduce your post-processing time by examining your photography workflow and making it better.  

35. Lenses are Sharpest at f/8

This is tricky because there’s some truth to this myth. For an in-depth explanation of the tests conducted on this myth along with sample pictures, click here.

There is not a universal aperture that produces the sharpest images across all lenses. What all lenses do have is a “sweet spot.” The “sweet spot” is the aperture range that produces the sharpest images for a lens. 

There are a few ways to determine the sweet spot for a lens. You can follow a general rule of thumb, followed by many photographers. That is the aperture “sweet spot” is 2-3 stops away from the maximum aperture of a lens. 

You can also find the aperture sweet spot by testing your lens. To do this, take photos of the same subject with each aperture. Then compare all the images in post-processing to find the sharpest image. 

To help you out, here’s a thorough article with several tests and their findings. You can easily replicate these tests with your lenses.

36. Mirrorless Cameras Aren’t Suitable for Rugged Conditions

Earlier models of mirrorless cameras were too fragile to be used in landscape photography. However, things have changed considerably since then. 

Professionals now use a variety of mirrorless cameras that are built to be much more dependable than before. The Nikon Z7 or Sony A7 are great options for rugged conditions. 

Although mirrorless cameras are lighter, they are often weather protected and built from similar materials as DSLRs. Overall, mirrorless cameras are durable enough to handle rugged conditions. 

37. Scratched Lenses Compromise Image Quality 

Contrary to common belief, scratches have little to no effect on image quality. Scratches on a lens can lead to zones of slightly lower contrast. In turn, these areas are more prone to flare because the lens coating is damaged.

Still, a small scratch or two won’t have a noticeable impact at all. This is especially true if you try to focus on farther distances. 

Long-time shooters can readily testify that minor scuffs aren’t a big deal. Some even use sharpies over scratches to counter the contrast issue. 

38. Never Face the Sun While Shooting

Photographers are often told to shoot with the sun at their backs.  That way, their subjects would appear evenly lit, and fewer shadows would show up in the photo. This, however, doesn’t mean facing the sun won’t allow you to create beautiful images. 

Shooting into the sun enables you to capture beautiful backlighting. Backlighting is a great way to set the mood or to add drama to their photographs. Backlit subjects are often reduced to striking silhouettes with a beautiful glow around them.

Resource:

How to Make Stunning Images With Backlighting

17 Tips on How to Photograph Stunning Silhouettes

39. Black-and-White Photos Appear More Professional 

While monochrome photos can look beautiful, they aren’t the standard for what makes a photo “professional.” The photo itself and the execution of black and white colors are what set it apart from amateur work. 

You can’t just use a monochrome filter and believe your work to be superior. As harsh as this sounds, you need to accept that the lack of color doesn’t make a photo better. It’s your skill and dedication which need to show every time you shoot.