10 Effective Ways to Become a Better Photographer Without a Huge Budget

If you’ve just started with photography or if you’re a student you probably don’t own more than a kit lens or two. Photographic gear is utterly expensive. But don’t worry, a lot can be achieved with a few tricks. So how do you shoot quality photos on a tight budget?

INVEST IN AN ANALOG LENS

Seriously, if there’s one piece of advice I can give you, it’s this one. Old analog lenses aren’t expensive and you can easily find them on websites like Ebay.

I bought my OI 50mm lens for only 25 bucks and also purchased an adapter for my Canon camera.

The price of the adapter was around 15$ and it’s better to choose one made out of metal instead of plastic because they’re more sturdy and will last longer.

You may be wondering: but why an analog lens? Let me break it down:

• It’s cheap.
• You will learn to focus manually and that will always come in handy. Even with digital lenses, sometimes you need to manually adjust the focus in order to achieve the crispness on the right spot, especially in low-light situations
• The 50mm is a light-weight lens and you can carry it with you whenever you please.
• The results? Drop-dead gorgeous depth of field and a dreamy film look.

I like taking my analog lens on travels because it’s small and light-weight which makes it perfect for exploring and long walks around new cities.

USE YOUR OWN CLOTHES FOR SHOOTS

It’s time to open that closet of yours and dig deep into its depths. You surely own clothes that could look amazing on photos. That red dress you’ve never worn? Or that crop top with an interesting print?

Check out fashion blogs like Chapter Friday or what Tavi Gevinson did while she was really experimental with clothing and writing her Style Rookie blog. It’s time to forget about looking ”normal” and unleashing your creativity.

A few tips:

• Prints or other patterns on clothing add a dash of interest if your subject is in a rather dull location.
• If you want an elegant, timeless look don’t choose garments with a lot of colours. Stick to one to two hues.
• Sometimes shape and texture make a piece of clothing stand out. Playing with contrast in a number of ways (large clothing on a tiny model, a large brightly-colour knit against a dark locations etc.) is a fun way to create more interest in your photographs.

The dark attire Mietta had for this shoot, although black, made her stand out in this field of brightly-coloured red poppies.

BORROW CLOTHES FOR SHOOTS

We all have friends whose wardrobes are bursting with unused items. Ask them to lend you some interesting garments for your shoot or add interest with accessories.

Be careful with their clothing though, they’re meant to be given back in the same state. Take into account that shooting on a dirty floor or in an abandoned place isn’t the best option.

FLEA MARKETS & SECOND-HAND STORES ARE YOUR BFFs

There are hidden gems to be found on flea markets, you only need to dig very carefully. Vintage clothing and jewelry, old mirrors, golden photo frames, old 90s tees and oversized sunglasses are only a few items that are being sold on flea markets.

Take your time, grab a friend and try to lower the price with the seller if you think something is overpriced — some people just want to get rid of the stuff they don’t longer need.

A rule for flea markets: arrive early, browse a lot.

SALES, SALES, SALES

Retailers such as H&M or Asos sometimes have huge discounts on their collections, especially online.

Often times you can even purchase items with a lower price than those you would find in a second-hand store. Keep an eye on sales and you might find basic items (black tees, leotards, a simple dress) that go well in any location.

ASK FRIENDS TO MODEL FOR YOU

Friends are already comfortable around you, so it’s a big plus if you’re just starting out and you’re still unsure about your photography approach.

It’s a chance for you to build your portfolio and learn, while your friends will get great photos for social media (we all like to have a nice profile picture, don’t we?). The other option is to use yourself as the model.

I’ve learnt so much shooting self portraits because photographing the same face over and over again makes you test your limits as both a photographer and model.

SHOOT WITH NATURAL LIGHT

A common misconception about photography is that you need to own expensive lighting gear. That’s completely false.

Many famous photographers have worked with natural light, like Peter Lindbergh, who is tremendous at catching the perfect expression of his models.

Learn more about natural light and see which one works for you best — do you love the warm tones of the golden hour? Or do you prefer cold hues of early morning?

The only way to find out is to give it time and experiment.

SHOOT IN OPEN SPACES

You don’t have to rent a grand palace to have an interesting backdrop for your shoots, nor do you need to own your studio.

Check out what’s around you and try to think of shoots that would work in the environment you have at your disposal. Are there parks with beautiful blossoming flowers? Abandoned buildings? The beach or mountains covered in woods? A simple old rusty gate can be hugely inspirational.

It’s time to start scouting around your neighborhood.

Think of:

• patterns — such as interesting pavement tiles, a repeating ‘’pattern’’ of the rocks, piles of flowers on a meadow, bricks in a wall
• textures — rusty gates, soft rose petals, wooden doors, polished frame, fuzzy knit
• colours — a red car among the black ones on the parking lot, the green garden and the blue sky, white roses. Colours change a lot during the time of day, but also the weather conditions. Take a few minutes and notice how the grass (or the gray asphalt) look differently in the sunlight, during the rain, and after the rain’s gone.

I shot this with Ema while there was a volleyball play happening in the background. That’s the reason why the reflectors were on and we could get some interesting light on that particular spot.

LESS IS MORE

Simple doesn’t mean boring.

A single blank wall against window light can be a beautiful neutral backdrop, the kind where you want to focus on the subject.

Place your favourite model/friend (or yourself) in front of the wall and think of interesting props beforehand. A great way to get props is rummaging through your mum’s old stuff or go prop hunting on flea markets and thrift stores.

You can try adding interesting makeup, play with unusual clothing pieces or trying out different camera modes, like slow shutter speed or multiple exposures.

The possibilities are endless.

For inspiration check out Paolo Roversi’s or Josephine Cardine’s work.

They create emotionally strong photos with minimal props and gear.

Just one of the many photos I shot using a simple wall as my background.

LEARN LEARN LEARN

While you’re trying out all the options of your camera and how best to use them, it’s essential you also keep learning the theoretical part.

Education should always come hand in hand with practice and you can never get enough of it, no matter at what level you’re on.

Check out these Youtube channels to learn more:

• Phlearn — one of the most popular Youtube channels offers easy-to-follow Photoshop tutorials
• Jessica Kobeissi — her channel is the home for both Photoshop techniques, as well as tutorials on how to photograph portraiture and fashion
• Irene Rudnyk — behind the scenes shots featuring portraiture, but also tutorials, how-tos and even a DIY section

About the author
Hi! I’m Isabella and I’m a photographer, blogger and applied arts graduate. I love spending my time creatively, or watching movies, drinking tea, playing with my cats and hanging out with friends.
Find me on isabellabubola.com or on Instagram and say hello!