One excellent way to understand different photography techniques is by practicing them. After all, learning and putting it into action are two different things. Sometimes, you need to snap many photos of different subjects to hone your skills. However, external factors may hinder you from going outside to use your camera.

If you are in a situation where you can’t go out to take pictures, especially during these Covid times, then consider it as a good opportunity to hone your photography skills. Thus, when you go out next time for any photoshoot, you are now equipped with the skills to capture better pictures. So, let us get started.

 1. Go through the Camera User Manual 📖

indoor photoshoot 

You might not have fully gone through the user manual of your camera when you purchased your camera. But there can be some useful settings that can improve your workflow, or it may help to improve your images, too. So, go through the entire manual. 

 Make sure to keep the camera with you when you are reading the manual. This way, you can try each of the settings in the camera along with it. 

Take photos of the same subject when trying the different settings of your equipment so you can see how each one looks like. You’ll find it easier to switch modes once you master the controls of your camera.

2. Try using Different Metering modes for the same scene 📸

 Most of the photographers will be using one or two metering modes for capturing images. The evaluative metering mode is a mode used all the time by many photographers. So, you may be unaware of other metering modes of the camera, like spot metering, center-weighted metering, and partial metering. 

 So, try these modes and see what difference it makes to the picture in different lighting conditions.

3. Join Online Photography Classes 🖥

playing with camera settings

It is a good idea to join online photography classes to learn photography remotely or live. Photography itself is a vast subject and you can learn one new thing every day. Hence, it is good to join any photography classes in your interested photography genre to learn more useful tips and techniques. These classes will definitely help you become a better photographer. 

 Before joining any course, ensure that the class is conducted by a prominent and experienced photographer. You can look for reviews online before enrolling in such classes. You must ensure that the class is going to be useful for you.

Also, if you want to focus on a specific type of photography, it’s best to enroll in specialized classes. For instance, if you want to learn nature photography, find an online lesson conducted by an excellent nature photographer. 

4. Review your Old Photos 🌅

Your old photos may teach you a thing or two about photography. For one, you can check well your captured moments or subjects. If you don’t have anything to do at home, it may be a great idea to revisit your portfolios.

There may be hundreds or thousands of images lying idly by on your hard drive. You can review your old pictures. I used to do this activity during my free time. You will definitely find some good images over there that you have not posted or retouched at all. 

5. Try Indoor photography experiments 📷

tips to enhance photography skills when you cant go out

There are many indoor photography experiments you can try at home. You can try these experiments. There are two advantages of doing such photoshoots. First, you will have a better understanding of your camera. Second, you will learn new photography techniques.

Also, it’s easier to control external factors like lighting when doing indoor photography. So, it’s a great opportunity to practice your skills and see how different settings affect your pictures.

6. Find out the Sweet spot of each of your lenses 📷

 You may be owning multiple lenses in your camera gear kit. All of these lenses will have a sweet spot. The sweet spot of the lens is nothing but the aperture value of the lens at which you will get the maximum sharpness. 

 The sweet spot will vary for different lenses. You can try to find the sweet spot of all your lenses. So, the next time you are doing photography, you can use this aperture value to get the best out of your camera lens.

7. Try capturing the Same Subject from Different Angles 🏞

Hone your photography skills

You can try photographing the same subject indoors from different angles. This will give you a better understanding of how the look and feel of the picture change with the change in perspective. 

 Take note that the feel and mood created by a bird’s eye view are completely different from that created by a worm’s eye view. So, give it a try. 

8. Try to Set Custom Camera Settings 📷 

 Nowadays, most cameras come with a feature that allows you to set custom camera settings for shooting. These settings are useful to improve your photography workflow. Some cameras support multiple custom settings. So, you can load different settings for different lighting conditions. 

 Thus, you can easily select the required custom settings according to different situations. It will definitely help you to save a good amount of time.

9. Learn Photo Editing 🖥

 You might be knowing the basics of photo editing or maybe high-end editing stuff, too. The photo editing software manufacturers are incorporating new features with their existing software every now and then. These new features may help you improve your editing workflow. So, it is essential to know all these features. 

 If you are looking to switch to a new photo editing software for editing your images, then this is the best time to learn new software. You can also check online for other popular photo editing software used by other photographers.

Additionally, you can check on tips on refining your photos during the editing stage, so your outputs look more professional.

Final Thoughts  

There are ways you can still practice photography even when you’re stuck at home. For instance, you can try indoor photography and learn how to edit your raw photos. Doing so will help you improve your skills and be more comfortable handling a camera.