Sometimes it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the information available online now-a-days.
Honestly, I find it’s difficult just sorting out where to begin with photography. There’s been a couple of times now where I’ve even put my camera down because of the frustration! What’s with that? This is supposed to be fun!
When I first got my DSLR camera, I was overwhelmed with all the buttons and options and used only the Auto setting. When I looked back at my photos, I felt like the feeling I wanted to capture simply wasn’t there. So I decided to get myself some resources.
Over the past few years, I’ve come across a number of books that helped me boost my skills and reduce a great deal of frustration. After a short amount of time, I started really having fun with photography and the passion has been flourishing ever since!
The books that helped me boost my skills in a very short time are the ones that I’d like to share with you so that you can take the quick path to success! I’ve included some notes on what I like and dislike about each one to hopefully make things easier when you’re deciding which one is right for you. These are my top 5 favourite books (with my favourite being number 1) that I feel have helped me progress the most with my photography.
TOP 5 PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS FOR BEGINNERS
1. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPLETE COURSE
This is my secret weapon. This book breaks learning digital photography down into bite size pieces and it starts at the very beginning! It’s meant to be worked through like a course and is broken down into 20 modules which the author suggests can be completed in 20 weeks.
The weekly modules start with a learning portion, then hop into an experimentation and practice portion and then finishes each module off with a review of your photos with suggestions on how to improve them. Oh right, and everyone’s favourite, there’s a quiz at the end of each module. (Don’t worry, the quizzes are super easy if you’ve gone through the module).
LIKES:
- This resource has a timeline attached to it so it’s easy to keep moving forward.
- It’s full of encouraging quotes and Pro Tips along the way to give that extra boost.
- The book is an easy read and well laid out with lots of example photos and sketches.
- Step by step instructions with visuals and annotations along the way make it easy to memorize.
- Thankfully, it assumes we are true beginners so I didn’t feel frustrated with terms I didn’t understand.
DISLIKES:
- Sometimes I feel that I wish this book delved deeper into some explanations. Yes, I know a large aperture will have a shallow depth of field, but why?
- The explanations are tailored to a Canon DSLR. This is a bonus for me, but it may not be for others.
BOTTOM LINE:
The authors write about photography in such a way that it’s easy to get, easy to remember and easy to do. I love seeing how quickly I’ve progressed since grabbing this book. Now, I can now get the vibe I want in my photos, and I can explain to friends and family how to do the same!
2. THE BEST OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Scott Kelby, the author, has a great writing style and I usually find I have a smile on my face while reading.
There are 14 chapters packed full of information teaching you how to take better photos. Not all tips are just camera settings either. There’s lots of information shared here so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel on your photography journey. For example, there are tips on how to keep your gear dry outdoors and how to get lab quality prints.
Something I really appreciate Kelby has done here is that he’s opened up about things he wished he knew when first starting out with photography with topics like, ignore your histogram (I know, crazy right?!).
LIKES:
- Short and sweet. Each topic is one page long and is summarized beautifully in a very human expression. Just a little heads up – be prepared to laugh out loud a lot!
- Includes recipes on how to get the shot. I love seeing a photo with exact instructions underneath explaining how to take it.
DISLIKES:
- It doesn’t start from scratch. As a beginner, I want to understand things like how to focus properly and shooting modes. This book starts with “Using Hot Shoe Flash Like a Pro.” Knowing how to use a hot shoe flash definitely useful at some point but maybe not if I’m just starting out.
BOTTOM LINE:
Scott Kelby really knows how to connect with you through his writing. I find his book easy to follow and he explains things in such a way that makes me go “oh now I get it!” I just love those aha moments. For example, he dives into things like “the deal on lens hoods” so you actually understand the two reasons why these are important. This book covered questions I didn’t even know I had. For me it’s a very close 2nd place on my list.
3. THE BEGINNER’S PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE
I remember sitting in Chapters book store and opening this book to the Introduction and it provided exactly what I wanted to hear. It’s opening statement let me breathe a sigh of relief when the author said:
“It [this book] cuts through the jargon and complicated technicalities that can make the subject unnecessarily intimidating, and shows you how to get the most out of your camera.”
Perfect! Just what I was looking for.
LIKES:
- I find the writing style is clear and easy to follow with an Introduction for each chapter, followed by an Explanation of a certain aspect and finally an Applying section with step-by-step instructions.
- It doesn’t just say how to change the settings, it actually shows images of the camera body. This is done throughout the book so you can see how to set up automatic exposure bracketing and get that striking HDR look for example!
- Chris Gatcum, the author, doesn’t just say how to do things, he explains why to do things a certain way so that I can actually understand and remember when I’m out shooting. For example, he doesn’t just say, choose a low ISO for this type of shot. He says to choose a low ISO for this type of shot in order to help maximize detail and keep noise to a minimum.
DISLIKES:
- This book focuses on Canon and Nikon cameras. This may be a bit of a disadvantage for someone with a different camera. However, the controls seem to be quite similar between makes.
BOTTOM LINE:
I really appreciate how this book goes beyond the typical photography tips in camera. For example, the author teaches techniques on how to get the photo you want in dim-lit settings when you can’t use a flash.
I find I use this book more so when I have something in mind that I want to learn. Sometimes I wish it would dig a little deeper, because each topic is only two pages long. I suppose as an introduction though, they don’t want to overwhelm the reader. That’s one thing I certainly don’t feel with this book is being overwhelmed. Often, I’ll finish a topic feeling motivated and inspired to the point where I pack my photography bag and go practice what I’ve just learnt.
4. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AN INTRODUCTION – FULLY UPDATED 5TH EDITION
This is the most cut and dry book out my top 5. If you’re a serious reader and you’re looking to avoid any fluff, this one’s for you. Honestly, it reminds me of a school textbook. If I can stay awake long enough to get through a section though, the information here is very useful.
LIKES:
- This book goes much more in-depth on topics like Composition, Focusing and Depth of Field.
- It’s broken down into 4 elements: Core Skills, Photography Projects, Image Development and Buying Guide. I especially like the Image Development portion. I feel my workflow (i.e., how I save my files) has definitely improved because of the tips found there.
- There is a photography project portion of the book that goes into detail on Travel Photography, Photographing Children, Wedding Photography, Landscape Photography and so on. It gives you a taste of many different niches with hints and tips on successfully taking photos for each one.
DISLIKES:
- Not as easy a read as the previous three books. I find I have to read the same sentences a few times before the message sinks in.
BOTTOM LINE:
I think you know how I feel about this one. It has some great information packed inside with some really interesting creative tips in the Image Development section. Overall though it’s not an easy-to-comprehend read from start to finish, at least not for me.
5. COMPLETE PHOTOGRAPHY
This is the second book I have from Chris Gatcum and it reads very similar in style to the first (The Beginner’s Photography Guide), just more in-depth.
In this book, over a dozen professional photographers have shared their work, advice, tips and tricks for getting great photographs. These are noted as “Masterclasses” in the book. I like the variety of photographers in these Masterclasses because some I can relate to more than others. For example, I enjoyed David Taylor’s tips on Landscape photography where as I’m not so much interested in Ryan Bush’s Abstract techniques. I suppose it’s a nice variety to have in case I develop a liking for different styles down the road.
LIKES:
- This book begins from scratch with tips on basic settings to change when you first get your DSLR.
- The sequence of topics covered are in logical order and each topic has loads of in-depth information along the journey. (This one is the biggest out of my photography books.)
DISLIKES:
- This book covers techniques for many types of cameras, not just DSLRs. There’s information for mirrorless cameras, compact cameras, film, digital medium cameras, and more. Because of this, I find it’s not quite as tailored to my needs as the other books.
BOTTOM LINE:
Although I don’t reference this book as much as the others, it does offer some unique information I keep flagged. A few examples would be understanding color space, creative compositions, and how to stitch panoramas from my DSLR.
For the simple reason that I reference this one the least, this book is my number 5. Who knows though, it might be the right one for you.
SUMMARY
Thanks so much for stopping by today, friend! Hopefully, my reviews on each book help as a guide to choosing the right one for you! As a quick summary, here’s what we’ve covered:
Book 1: Digital Photography Complete Course – This one is my top pick simply because it breaks things down into bite size pieces and gives you an achieve timeline to grow your photography skills
Book 2: The Best of Digital Photography – A very close 2nd place winner for me because of Kelby’s personal writing style as if he’s recommending only the best tips and tricks to a friend. The humour on its own makes it a worthy read.
Book 3: The Beginner’s Photography Guide – With the motivating and inspiring writing style, I find this one gets me out practicing my photography the most.
Book 4: Digital Photography an Introduction – Fully Updated 5th Edition – A school text-book style read packed with interesting, creative tips.
Book 5: Complete Photography – Not as tailored as the other books to teaching DSLR photography but still covers interesting topics like suggestions for creative compositions.
I’d love to hear if you’ve enjoyed this article or if any of these books have helped you along your photography journey in the comments down below!
Have a wonderful rest of your day. Hope you can get out and take some memorable photos of your adventures soon!
Sam Lafleche
Oh my goodness… That photo of that sweet dog is a winner! How appropriate for such an informative blog. Great reviews and awesome tips for helping me make my decision on which book to buy. Have you considered writing a book? Your style is so refreshing.
Claire
Thanks Sam! I sure love that little guy. Wow, thank you ever so much! I’m so happy to hear that this helped you. Actually yes, the book is in the works as we speak! Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you’re having a great week!
Great list! Reading e-books and viewing videos online are the great place to get started developing an interest in photography into something more serious. Photography is a complex skill and requires trusted resources. This is where photography books come in.
Thanks for the list!
Thank you Atul! I agree 100% with your note on finding trusted resources when it comes to developing your skill. Very welcome for the list!