The popular misconception is, that you need to buy expensive cameras in order to make professional-looking images and it’s a conversation I find myself having a lot with other photographers. Now the truth is, when you’re starting out with photography, you tend to believe everything you’re told and you fall into this trap of believing you need an expensive camera in order to make amazing pictures and the simple truth is, you don’t.

This picture taken of Ed Sheeran on the Divide Tour was captured using an iPhone. 

Here’s the truth about expensive cameras…

They make bigger pictures but that doesn’t mean they make better pictures. Making pro-level pictures doesn’t require an expensive camera or years of experience, you just need to understand the basics of photography. If you have a good understanding of the basics you’ll be able to make a professional-looking image with any camera, even the one on your phone. With just a few simple tips and techniques, you can make pro-level photos using the camera you already own.

In this blog, I’m going to share five tips to help you make better pictures and get the most out of your entry-level camera but first, I want to address the elephant in the room, and that’s the point I made about pro-level cameras only making bigger and not better pictures. Surely that can’t be true because a more expensive camera must make better pictures right?

Firstly, I’m going to look at the real differences between professional cameras and entry-level cameras by disproving the popular misconception that you need expensive gear to make amazing pictures and then I’m going to teach you how to overcome the gear challenge you might be facing in order to make better pictures.

WHAT Are The Differences Between A PROFESSIONAL CAMERA FROM AN ENTRY-LEVEL CAMERA?

There are a few key differences between entry-level and professional cameras, but modern technology has made it easier than ever to overcome the limitations of beginner gear. With programs like Lightroom and Photoshop, photographers can achieve better results faster than ever before, and without the need to pay for developing and scanning film.

The main differences between cameras can be categorised into three areas: Megapixels, Sensor size, and ISO performance.

Megapixels refer to the number of light-sensitive pixels on a sensor, with higher numbers resulting in more detailed images that can be printed at larger sizes.

Sensor size determines how much light a camera can gather, which affects image quality and the amount of bokeh (blurred background) in a photo.

ISO performance is how well a camera can handle noise at higher ISO levels, with newer and larger sensors typically performing better.

While these differences may seem significant, they can be overcome with knowledge and practice. Other differences between entry-level and professional gear typically come down to additional features, buttons, processors, and software inside the camera. With the right techniques, even an entry-level camera can produce professional-level photos.

This picture of my daughter on a trip to London was taken using an iPhone. 

1. Understand the Basics

The first step to taking great photos is to learn the basics of photography. This includes understanding concepts such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

Understanding the basics of photography is essential for anyone who wants to take great pictures and by learning these basics, you can control the exposure and focus of your photos, allowing you to capture the scene exactly as you want it. By understanding these fundamentals, you can control the visual elements in your images, resulting in better exposure, sharper focus, and more appealing compositions.

Additionally, understanding photography basics can help you choose the right equipment and settings for your specific needs, whether it be capturing action shots, landscapes, or portraits. Overall, knowledge of photography basics is a crucial step towards taking great pictures, and it can also serve as a foundation for more advanced techniques and experimentation.

Photography is not just about pressing a button and capturing an image; it involves knowledge of these technical aspects like shutter speed, aperture ad ISO but it also involves important rules and techniques like composition and lighting.

The basics of photography are the building blocks to making amazing-looking pictures consistently so having a good understanding of them is important.

Once you understand the basics of photography, it's important to choose the right settings for the situation and that’s where we get to tip 2.

2. Set Your Image Goal

Setting image goals is an important aspect of photography that can help you achieve making pro-level pictures. Whether it's capturing a specific moment, conveying a particular emotion, or showcasing a particular subject or theme, having a clear image goal can help you focus your efforts and create more powerful pictures. It took me a long time to figure this out and I wasted a lot of time just fumbling around with my camera without really having a clear idea of what subjects I wanted to shoot or what type of pictures I wanted to make. What I discovered was that when I set myself an image goal, it gave me focus.

Setting image goals is so important and once you make this decision it will inform the decisions you then make about factors like composition, lighting, and post-processing. By setting image goals, you not only save a lot of time and energy, but you’ll improve the quality of your work and you’ll develop your creative vision and style.

I genuinely believe this is such an important factor when it comes to making pro-looking pictures and it’s a decision you make about the type of image you want to capture. For example, maybe you want to make a picture that shows motion blur with a subject that’s tack sharp such as a panning picture, or perhaps you want to freeze a moving subject with no blur. Making a decision about your image goal is so important if you want to take pro-looking pictures consistently with any camera.

Your image goal determines the decisions you make about the settings you choose to make the picture.

3. Choose the Right Settings for the Situation

Once you’ve made a decision about the type of picture you want to make, then you have to choose the right settings for the situation. This is where your understanding of the basics will come into play. Knowing how to adjust your camera settings can make all the difference in the final outcome of your pictures. All cameras have the same basic settings and whilst most pro-level cameras have more advanced features compared to an entry-level camera, I’m only going to focus on three basic camera settings for this blog, and that’s shutter speed, aperture and ISO. These three settings are practically the same on every camera.

Every situation is different so for example if you’re shooting in low light, like a concert, and you want to freeze a subject you’ll need to use a faster shutter speed and a higher ISO setting as well as a low aperture setting.

I’ve shot a lot of concerts and whilst they’re not all the same, the settings I choose tend to remain consistent. I shoot with a fast shutter speed, a low aperture setting and a higher ISO setting and depending on the available light, I only really ever adjust the ISO setting, once I have the others dialled into my camera.

Another example could be that if you’re taking a portrait and you want a beautifully blurred background, you'll want to use a low aperture setting and a faster shutter speed.

Perhaps you want to experiment with your portraits and try different techniques like double exposures. Having an understanding of settings and how to adjust them to get the image you want to make will be so important.

Every camera has the same three settings, Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO, so knowing how to adjust them and understanding which ones you need to adjust will enable you to take pro-looking pictures with any camera. 

4. Pay Attention to Composition

Composition is an important aspect of photography and it shouldn’t be overlooked. Good composition can elevate a photo from being ordinary to amazing and composition doesn’t come down to the cost of your camera.

The way you frame your shot and arrange the elements within it can make a big difference in the overall look and feel of your photo and it affects how the person viewing it perceives it. Therefore, paying attention to composition is crucial if you want to take professional-looking pictures with any camera.

Professional photographers use composition to communicate their message effectively, evoke emotions, and capture the viewer's attention. A well-composed photograph can tell a story, convey a mood, or highlight specific details. For instance, a landscape photograph with a strong foreground, leading lines, and a balanced composition can transport the viewer to the location and make them feel immersed in the scene. The rules of composition, such as framing, the rule of thirds, leading lines and balance aren’t dictated by the cost of your camera. You can apply the same rules and techniques with an entry-level camera and you can use them to enhance your photos’ visual impact and to create compelling images that capture the viewer’s attention.

Composition is an important aspect of photography and it shouldn’t be overlooked. Good composition can elevate a photo from being ordinary to amazing and composition doesn’t come down to the cost of your camera.

The way you frame your shot and arrange the elements within it can make a big difference in the overall look and feel of your picture and it affects how the person viewing it perceives it. Therefore, paying attention to composition is crucial if you want to take professional-looking pictures with any camera.

Professional photographers use composition to communicate their message effectively, evoke emotions, and capture the viewer's attention. A well-composed picture can tell a story, convey a mood, or highlight specific details. For instance, a landscape picture with a strong foreground, leading lines, and a balanced composition can transport the viewer to the location and make them feel immersed in the scene. The rules of composition, such as framing, the rule of thirds, leading lines and balance aren’t dictated by the cost of your camera. You can apply the same rules and techniques with an entry-level camera and you can use them to enhance your picture's visual impact and to create compelling pictures that capture the viewer’s attention.

5. Learn How to Use Presets

First things first, professional photographers use presets, so it’s important to make that clear. Most professionals I know use presets that they’ve either created or purchased. As you develop your own style, presets can be invaluable in achieving a consistent look in your pictures.

Presets can enhance even the most basic of photographs taken with an entry-level camera by providing unique and stunning contrasts. You can create amazing results with your pictures by using presets and it’s not dependent on your camera.

The beauty of presets is that can help you achieve a consistent and polished look in your pictures, even if you don’t have advanced editing skills or equipment. You can enhance your image’s colour, contrast, exposure and other settings, giving them a professional look and you can do it in literally seconds. Presets save you so much time and effort in post-processing because you can quickly apply a preset to give your pictures the desired look. They can be particularly useful when you're editing a large number of photos, such as a wedding or event shoot.

There are literally thousands of combinations possible in Lightroom when creating presets so purchasing some can be a smart investment that allows you to experiment with combinations that are already proven to work. Once you have a good grasp of the preset, you can modify the settings to create your own unique style.

Learning how to use presets can be beneficial for taking professional-looking pictures with an entry-level camera. They can help you achieve a consistent look, save time in post-processing, and provide a useful learning tool for improving your editing skills.

Final Thoughts

It’s important to remember that a professional camera isn’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to making professional-looking pictures.

With advancements in smartphone camera technology and the availability of affordable point-and-shoot cameras, anyone can make a professional-looking picture without breaking the bank. The best photos are never about the gear you use.

The key to achieving great results lies in understanding basic photography principles, setting clear image goals, and having a keen eye for detail and planning. So don’t let not having a professional camera discourage you from pursuing your passion for photography. With a little creativity and practice, you can capture breathtaking pictures that rival those taken with even the most expensive equipment.

I talk about how to plan and much more in my class so if you want to take your photography skills to the next level, take a look at the Perfect Picture Program. In it, you’ll learn all about my SIMPLE system that will help you to start taking great pictures immediately with the camera you already own.