Common Photography Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Each mistake … what people do … what to do instead

Make Mistakes. They Help You Get Better.

Let’s be honest. Everyone makes mistakes when they’re learning photography. The key is to spot them early and know how to course-correct. Here are five common pitfalls TMac sees all the time… and how you can avoid them:

Staying stuck in Auto Mode. Sure, it’s convenient. But it also limits your creativity. Learning just one semi-automatic mode (like aperture priority) gives you more control without overwhelming you.
Thinking gear = better photos. New camera? Cool. But it’s not magic. Understanding exposure, light, and composition will make a bigger difference than upgrading your gear.
Ignoring focus. Blurry photos aren’t artistic unless they’re intentional. Learn how to use your camera’s focus points and understand depth of field to get sharp images where you want them.
Overediting. It’s tempting to crank up the saturation and clarity. But subtlety goes a long way. If the edit distracts from the image, it’s probably too much.
Not slowing down. Clicking 100 photos in a rush won’t help you learn. Slowing down, setting up your shot, and thinking about what you’re trying to say - that’s how great photos happen.
If you’ve made any of these mistakes, you’re in good company. Every photographer has. What matters is learning from them - and having someone like TMac guide you through the process with support, not judgment.