The first step in any photo shoot of a person is that you must engage with the person and establish a rapport.
You must instill trust and confidence because the only way you are going to get great shots of that person is if they are relaxed with you.
If you are not a "people person" then try wildlife or perhaps a career in passport photograhpy.
Take the time to step back occasionally and take your attention off the subject matter of your shoots. Instead look at the light in the scene.
Look at where it is coming from and what effect it is having on the subject or the overall scene.
Observe and learn the different effects that different light sources have. Step into the light!
Photography is an art.
Like any art it has a technical aspect to it and because of that certain rules have evolved.
Never treat the rules as being set in stone. Learn to follow the rule and achieve the expected result but don't stop there.
Look at lots of images that follow the rule then find images that break the rule, yet still work. Try to figure out why. Then go out and break some rules!
Lather, rinse and repeat.
6. The Camera is a Tool Like Any Other. It Has to Be Learned So That You Can Use It Instinctively.
Camera manufacturers go to great lengths to produce manuals and guides for the use of their cameras.
Take advantage of this and learn how to use the one you have.
Don't ever fall into the trap of chasing that other great camera that will take brilliant photos. Cameras don't shoot photos, photographers shoot photos and a photographer is someone who know how to use their available tools without thinking.
Cartier Bresson was the king of candid photography.
He would sometimes scout a location for days before he even took a shot. You may not have the time or inclination to do that but what you can do is look around to observe your environment and thanks to digital cameras, take a mountain of shots.
Persist, you will strike gold eventually.
Take a look through the average friends and family photo album and notice how there is an insistence that in all posed photos everyone is supposed to be smiling.
When you are taking portraits you are not looking for death glares and you are not looking for big cheesy smiles either.
Try to engage the subject and grab those moments that say something about the subject.
