So I last posted about my own journey as a photographer. 

This post is Part Two: My tips for any aspiringphotographer. 

These tips are listed in no particular order. Just mythoughts and things that I’ve learned along the way. These tips are meant for anyone just starting on their photography journey; those who are wondering where to even start.

• Practice, practice, practice.
• Learn your camera inside and out. You don't need superhigh-end equipment to create an amazing image. Just a digital SLR (DSLR) and agood lens or two. The eye and knowledge behind the camera are MUCH moreimportant than the actual camera. That being said, a DSLR or film SLR is anecessity. If you want to become a photographer, you must have a camera thatlets you swap lenses and use completely manual settings. DSLR’s are nicebecause you get immediate feedback; you don’t have to take notes and then waitfor the film to be developed.
• Resist the temptation to constantly upgrade your equipment.A better camera won’t necessarily help you take better photos. Learning theintricacies of aperture, shutter speed and focal length will help you takebetter photos. Only upgrade once you have completely learned your currentequipment and are feeling its limitations. Also, a good lens will moredramatically improve your images than a new camera (if you‘re trying to decidewhere to put your money). The glass you shoot through is always the mostimportant element to achieving a high-quality image.
• And again, practice.
• Read the manual. Seriously. It really has some good info.Before jumping into other books or classes, learn everything that your cameramanual has to teach you.
• Buy an inexpensive prime lens that stops down to at leastf1.8 (like the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens). You can get one for under $100. A prime or fixed-focal length lens willbe the quickest and best way to understand aperture. And a solid understandingof aperture is absolutely essential to taking good photos.
• Did I mention practice?
• Learn the intricacies of aperture, shutter speed, ISO andfocal length. You can do this through reading your camera manual, online forumsor a good photography book (or a combo of all three), and then practicing andapplying what you read. Learning how each item affects the look of your photoswill give you extreme technical control over the final outcome of a photo.
• Make it your goal to learn to shoot on M or Manual regularlywith your camera. In the process, you will better learn how aperture andshutter speed interrelate.
• Don't use a flash or any other artificial light until you'vecompletely mastered natural light and manual mode shooting. Then add artificiallight back in. You don't want to be dependent on artificial light. You need tolearn to “see” the light and then you will be better able to add artificiallight to a scene.
• Uhmmmm . . . . . . . Practice!
• Study painters and photographers that you admire. Reallyassess what makes their photos amazing and wonderful, and then try to startseeing the world as they do.
• Get lower. It’s the biggest mistake most make. Especiallywhen photographing children, you want your camera to be no higher than theirwaist. This usually means sitting, squatting or even lying on the ground.
• Learn the rule of thirds and practice framing your photosaccording to it. Also, a solid understanding of traditional painting composition is enormously helpful. This will help you understand how lines create tension or harmony, balancing positive with negative space.
  
• Make LOTS of mistakes. The more you shoot, the more likelyyou are to make mistakes. And you learn the most from your mistakes. The moremistakes you make, the more you will remember to NOT do that stupid mistakeagain.
• And above all, PRACTICE!! Photograph anyone and everyone whowill let you. Experiment. Go crazy. You will learn from each littlephotosession, usually from your mistakes. 

And that's ok. That's the journey.