Patience pays off: five reasons why being patient makes you a better photographer

There are plenty of ways you can improve your photography. You could get inspired, learn new stuff, go out and shoot, make mistakes and learn to correct them… But you know what else you need to have if you want to become a better photographer? “Patience you must have, my young Padawan,” as Yoda would say. In this video, Pierre T. Lambert gives you five ways patience will help you to raise your photography to a higher level.

1. Patience to wait for the right light

Sometimes, all you need is to wait a few extra minutes to get just the right light and make your photos stunning. This is especially true around sunrise and sunset when the light and colors change minute by minute. So, don’t rush in. Don’t just snap a few photos and leave. Spend some time at the location, shoot at different times and make the best of the light you get. I believe that landscape photographers will find this scenario very familiar.

2. Patience to wait for the right subject

Patience can be crucial for a good street photo. Sometimes, you spot the scene and the person you want to capture, but your subject simply isn’t positioned well. Other times, you imagine the shot you want to take, but you need to wait for someone to walk into your frame exactly where you need them to be. In both scenarios, you’ll have to wait. Don’t just snap random shots. Instead be patient, wait for the right moment, and then press the shutter.

3. Patience to wait for the right weather

Just like #1, this point is likely very familiar to landscape photographers. Sometimes you’ll arrive at a location just to see that the weather isn’t what you need for the best shot. You may need to wait a few hours, maybe all day. But the key is to be patient. In most cases, it pays off.

4. Patience to polish different skills

There will be times when you won’t be able to shoot what you usually shoot. For example, if you’re a travel photographer, there will be times when you’ll stay in your hometown. If you shoot landscapes, there will be times when you’re stuck in the city. You get the gist.

In these situations, Pierre advises you to take advantage of the situation to polish your other skills. Make the best out of where you are, and use what you learn the next time you shoot what you normally do.

5. Patience to improve and succeed

Finally, patience is the key to learning any new skill. Therefore, you should have patience when learning anything about photography. If you’re a newbie, especially if you’re anything like me and you’re really impatient – it may all seem overwhelming and you may want to give it all up. Don’t! Be patient and go step by step. Photography is a huge field and there’s always something to learn, no matter how accomplished you are. So, take your time to learn and be patient. Learning is a beautiful and a life-long journey, do your best to enjoy it!

[Become a BETTER Photographer using PATIENCE! | Pierre T. Lambert]