Photography Mistakes: Stop Screwing Up Your Shots!




Mistakes are common in photography. Here’s a checklist I created to help me avoid the worst of them so that I don’t screw up that perfect shot.

Before the Shoot
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– Charge battery in the camera, spare in the bag
– Empty memory card in the camera, spare in the bag
– Camera set to shoot raw
– Picture size to large
– Picture control to your preference (neutral is mine)
– ISO set to desired value, usually 100
– Camera in right mode (aperture priority or manual)
– Shutter release set to your preference (single or mirror up)

During the Shoot
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– Once composition is set, lock down tripod legs, ballhead, and camera plate
– Check focus and depth of field
– Before each shot inspect lens and filters for dust or water drops
– After each shot review your histogram and highlight warning, adjust exposure or bracket if necessary
– Check the corners and edges of each shot for distracting elements or important elements that are cut off
– Check for lens flare
– Bracket a few shots for white balance
– If shoot moving objects, try different shutter speeds

After the Shoot
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Celebrate your kick ass shot!

Full transcript here:

Photography Mistakes: Stop Screwing Up Your Shots!

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Joshua Cripps is a full-time landscape photographer living near Yosemite National Park in California.

For more landscape photography, tutorials, and workshops visit:
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Joshua Cripps: Wilderness Landscape Photographer


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All photos, text, and video is copyright Joshua Cripps. Any use without my express written permission is really not cool, man.

Original source


33 responses to “Photography Mistakes: Stop Screwing Up Your Shots!”

  1. What do you have against lens hoods ? – wide angle lenses have light coming in from all manor of angles , yet YOU shoot without a lens hood – is that ANOTHER professional tip ?!!!!! ( not everyone shoots with Cokin style filter systems )

  2. Hi Josh, It was extremely informative . Could you please suggest if you have any tutorial for capturing sea and beaches ? What different exposures should we use to capture the right pictures around sunsets and sunrises. Would really appreciate your help. Thanks.

  3. You missed one special SNAFU and I have done this.
    Forget to install your memory card, or leave it at home.
    I was shooting with my F3 years ago fantastic light some fisherman caught a huge sea trout I was in my canoe along the flats the sun was setting on the gulf flaming clouds streaked over head the water was pure wave less glass. I have my trusty 24mm fill flash going guy is holding up his trophy catch, big sucker as well. My MD-4 is blazing frame after frame. I get the guys phone number he is stoked I am stoked. Until I get home and hit the rewind on the MD-4 and hear an instant familiar click, click, click…. The film never cough the teeth on the feed spool, not a damn photo was taken… Never called the guy as well bummer lesson learned.

  4. Great tips. Thanks. I noticed that by not using an external mic you made a major boo boo in filming. But you probably already knew this by the time you got to post production. Keep one in the car if you are outside most of the time doing your videos.

  5. Recognizable mistakes. Indeed sounds obvious but millions make them so great to point them out.

    Great presentation but audio is not up to the same level as the rest ๐Ÿ˜‰ but doesn't take away from the message.

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