Photography is a fairly technical craft...and it can often be overwhelming for beginner for photographers. It can be difficult to even know where to begin let alone get to the point where you capture stunning photos...but don't dispair! We've got some great tips for those just starting out in photography, read on...

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<div><a title="The photographer photographed by Pedro Ribeiro Simões, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrosimoes7/158939594/">[imageeffect type="frame" align="aligncenter" width="600" height="385" alt="" url="http://thebeginnerslens.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Photographer.jpg"]</a></div>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><em>The photographer photographed</em>
Photo by Pedro Ribeiro Simões</p>
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<ol>
	<li><strong>Take your camera with you everywhere you go...like seriously, everywhere. </strong>
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” This famous quote from world renowned hockey player Wayne Gretzky also applies to photography. It makes sense, right? How can you produce an awesome photograph if you didn't have your camera with you in the first place? This is simple stuff people. If a DSLR is too heavy and bulky for you to carry, bring your trusty point-and-shoot, and if all else fails a good cell phone camera or iPhone canera will do in a pinch.</li>
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	<li><strong>Read the camera manual.</strong>
Yes, it's a bit like reading a novel, but well worth the time and effort. The manufacturer didn't put it in there just for a giggle, they put it in there for you to get to grips with the camera controls. It will take some time to memorize all the features and buttons, but be patient with yourself. Once you get accustomed to the controls, operating the camera will be a breeze.</li>
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	<li><strong>Know the rules, and break them. </strong>
Trust your instincts. Trust your eye. Get to know the rules of photography, practice them...and then go ahead and break them. The rules are there to guide you but if you feel that a certain shot will come out great the way you want to capture it, then go for it.</li>
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	<li><strong>Be trigger happy! </strong>
Shoot! Shoot! Shoot! As many photos as you can. With your digital camera, the sky is the limit. You might take 100 photos and only come up with 2 or 3 that you like...but that's 2 or 3 more than you had yesterday so for a beginner, that's pretty good going. If you own a DSLR, don’t worry about the actuation count. If your DSLR is rated to last for only 100,000 shutter clicks and you are already on your 60,000th shot, then so what? See Rule #1: “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.”</li>
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	<li><strong>Critique your pictures</strong>
Shooting awesome photos is a trial-and-error process. Sometimes, things won’t go the way they were planned. Review your shots immediately after you took them then work on some areas that you think need improvement. Ask your friends, family and peers to comment on your work is always good practice as they may see things you don't.</li>
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	<li><strong>Make a backup copy of your shots</strong>
The last thing you want to happen is for your memory card fail and take all of your shots along with it. Make it a habit to create a backup copy of ALL of your photos to keep in a safe place such as an external hard drive, CD or DVD. In this case, it's always better to be safe than sorry.</li>
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