Well, as this post is about books, i thought i’d start with a shameless plug for my own photography book! If you fancy yourself as a concert photographer, but don’t know where to start, and need helpful tips on how to get the pictures when you’re in front of the stage - look no further! Download Get In. Get Out. Get Paid. here!
The best photography books will not only help you improve your skills, but can also offer you inspiration or just a different perspective on things. Some of the books listed below are for the more advanced hobbyists out there, but i’ll point this out as we go along!
Whether your a pro, or a total novice, there’s something to get for everyone at every skill level - and there are always new things you can learn, what ever level you’re at.
1. Studio Anywhere: A Photographer's Guide to Shooting in Unconventional Locations
(image: Amazon)
I LOVE Nick Fancher! I love the guys style, and his laid back approach to his photography. This book shows you how to get great images of people and project, in just about any scenario. And if there is a piece of equipment Nick doesn’t have - then he usually makes it himself from bit lying around the house.
Beginners and pros alike will get something from this book, although, due to the scenarios in which Nick shoots his images, there is a lot of post-production going on. Just be aware of that!
Click here to get Studio Anywhere from Amazon - or - from Apple.
2. Read this if You Want to Take Good Photographs
Image: Amazon
Getting to grips with the basics of photography has never been easier – or more fun – than with Read This if You Want to Take Good Photographs. An easy-to-follow, accessible guide, this book is perfect for anyone new to using DSLRs.. The author Henry Carroll – has dialled down the technical jargon and instead opted for handbook that champions the art of photography via iconic images, playful dialogue and expert tips.
Click here to buy this book from Amazon
3. BetterPhoto Basics
Image: Amazon
If you're a photography novice looking for a relatively light and friendly read, this guide from Jim Miotke - the brains behind online photography school BetterPhoto.com - should be just up your street.
Explaining everything an absolute beginner needs to get started taking great photos, it's packed with tips and advice, and explanations are friendly sounding and written in plain English.
Once you've got to grips with the basics, Miotke walks you through taking 20 common categories of photos, including family and pet portraits, flowers, sunsets, candids, close-ups and monochrome shots.
Suitable for children and adults, this is one of the best photography books to make learning photography fun and rewarding, and ultimately whether it succeeds will be down to you.
Click here to buy from Amazon or from Apple
4. The Landscape Photography Workshop
Image: Amazon
If being outdoors is your thing, then this is the book for you! A beautifully illustrated workshop-in-a-book, this photography handbook acts as a training session in the art of landscape photography, mixing detailed written explanations with easy-to-follow creative assignments to help you hone your skills. And you’re in safe hands with authors Ross Hoddinott and Mark Bauer.
No matter what you’re skill level, there’s something here for everyone, starting with the basics of equipment and exposure right through to more advanced photography techniques, post-processing and printing.
Click here to buy this book from Amazon or from Apple.
5. The Headshot
Image: Amazon
Peter Hurley has kind of made himself in to a bit of a celebrity with his portrait work. Shabang!
You'll learn the same techniques the author had used to take amazing headshots of Fortune 500 CEOs, actors and public figures, from lighting your subjects correctly to putting them in flattering positions.
Hurley also shares his trade secrets for getting genuine smiles and authentic expressions rather than people's standard 'photo face' that always makes a headshot look dull and lifeless.
Note that this is not so much a step-by-step training manual or reference guide as an insight into how one man approaches his art. But when it's someone at the top of his game like this, there's a huge amount any photographer can learn here.
Click here to buy from Amazon or from Apple.