The Photo Critique Blueprint: Learn What Professional Photographers Look For

#473 In this episode of The Beginner Photography Podcast, we
explore the invaluable skill of critiquing your own photos to
elevate your art. By understanding what your images are trying to
convey and asking targeted questions like "Where does my eye go?"
and "How is the visual weight and composition?", you can discern
the strengths and areas for improvement in your work. Drawing
parallels with Jerry Seinfeld's method of refining jokes, I
highlight how revisiting and refining initial ideas can lead to
profound outcomes.

THE BIG IDEAS



Embrace Critique for Growth: Critiquing your work helps
pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, accelerating your growth as
a photographer.


Seek the Good Moments: Focusing on capturing compelling
moments enhances your ability to tell powerful stories through
your images.


Analyze Composition Thoughtfully: Assess where the eye
is drawn in your photos and adjust the visual balance to
improve overall impact.


Know Your Artistic Voice: Understanding what you love
about photography guides your style and helps you communicate
more effectively through your images.



PHOTOGRAPHY ACTION PLAN



Practice Shooting in Manual Mode: Set aside 15 minutes
daily to use your camera in manual mode. This will help you
understand light, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings
better. Aim to capture five varied photos during this practice
session, like a portrait, a landscape, and a close-up to
challenge your settings adjustment skills.


Critique Your Own Photos Using the Four Key Questions:
After each photo session, pick out at least three photos and
critique them based on, Is there a good moment here? Where does
my eye go? How is the visual weight and composition? Is the
subject clear? This method sharpens your photographic eye and
helps quicken your learning curve by identifying common
missteps and success patterns.


Watch a Video Walkthrough on Photo Critiquing: Visit
https://beginnerphotopod.com/313 to view a break down photo
critiquing in easy-to-follow steps. Focus on applying one new
technique from the video during your next photo shoot session.


Create a Portfolio of Your Work: Select 10 of your best
images from your critiques and compile them into a digital
portfolio. This portfolio will serve as a practical reference
for your progress and helps you visualize your improvements,
strengths, and weaknesses.


Share Your Photos for External Feedback: Join
photography groups online or engage friends and family to get
their opinions on your work. Asking specific questions about
your photos, such as "How does this composition make you feel?"
or "What story do you think this photo tells?" can provide
insightful feedback and fresh perspectives.




Resources:
Free Photo critique breakdown video -
https://beginnerphotopod.com/313 


Learn What Camera Settings to Use in our free guide!
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/


Connect with Raymond!


Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at
https://beginnerphotopod.com/group

Get your Photo Questions Answered on the show -
https://beginnerphotopod.com/qa

Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet -
https://perfectcamerasettings.com/




Thanks for listening & keep shooting!