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Imagine that you%u2019re baking dessert for a party. It%u2019s your special recipe: the one everyone asks for. You make it from scratch, of course, never looking at the recipe that you committed to memory so long ago. Sugar, beaten eggs, sift in the flour%u2026 you%u2019re crafting something delicious from basic elements. Now you%u2019re at the party and everyone is gushing about your dessert. The flavor! The texture! But most of all you%u2019re being asked, %u201Cwhat kind of oven do you have? It makes great cakes!%u201D

That%u2019s pretty much how a photographer feels when people look at their photos and say, %u201Cyour camera takes great pictures.%u201D

Of course it%u2019s not the camera that takes great photos, any more than it%u2019s the oven that makes a great dessert. Ovens and cameras are just tools that make our jobs easier. Yes, better equipment does make a difference. I wouldn%u2019t spend thousands of dollars on cameras and lenses if it didn%u2019t. However, you must understand the camera to take advantage of all it can offer. Just because you%u2019re using a professional camera does not mean you are producing professional images.

It%u2019s all about what you know: the technicalities of photography. You have to determine just the right type and direction of light, position your models to take advantage of that light and create a pleasing composition, utilize the correct camera settings (aperture, ISO, etc.) and work with your models to make them feel comfortable. And that%u2019s just the first half! After the photo shoot there is still post-processing to be done.

Written By A Wonderful Fellow Photographer Erin Ferrill