If you are looking for the best photography books for beginners, you are in the right place.
You don’t need an academic degree to become an expert in the art and practice of photography. there are numerous resources on the internet, in stores or in libraries that can teach you everything you need to know about it. the rest is, of course, practice.
You are reading: Best books for beginner photographers
The internet is full of forums, blogs and websites where you can learn about photography and gather inspiration for everyday life. I myself have dedicated a large part of my website to sharing my experience with the aim of helping those who are just taking their first steps as photographers.
For me personally, however, nothing can beat the feeling of a well-designed photography book. we just tend to examine images more deeply when we see them on paper. when we can touch them.
The same applies to text: reading on paper is much easier on the eyes. and we also tend to read in a more focused way from a book where there are no hyperlinks or instant messages appearing on the screen.
I believe that books are an invaluable source of knowledge and inspiration for photographers. But in a market teeming with photography books, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why I decided to offer you a list of titles that can be really beneficial for everyone who has taken the long but exciting path to become a photographer.
best photography books for beginners
I have divided the books into three categories depending on their subject. this way you can easily choose the title you need most at the current stage of your photography journey. many of these are also available as e-books if you really prefer digital to traditional media.
photography basics
01. Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition
author: bryan peterson
bryan peterson’s iconic book is a long-time companion for all aspiring photographers. in a very clear and detailed way, it introduces the reader to the concept of exhibition. here she will learn everything she will need about aperture, shutter speed and light so that she can take full control of her camera and get the image she wants in all kinds of circumstances.
The latest fourth edition of this classic includes new information on using flash, as well as tips on astrophotography. Peterson’s language is easy to understand, which makes the book suitable not only for beginners but also for beginning photographers for whom English is a second language.
2. photography demystified: your guide to creative control!
author: david mckay
david mckay’s book is perfect for everyone who is fascinated by the world of photography but also overwhelmed by all its technical aspects. takes the reader on a journey from fully automatic to fully manual shooting mode with the goal of allowing you to turn the images in your head into reality.
The book introduces the reader to all the important photographic concepts, such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, and explains the effects that can be achieved with each. a part of the book is also devoted to composition as the most creative aspect of a photographer’s work. mckay’s goal is to teach the reader how to take photos that are not only technically perfect but also have a unique feel.
3. science of light & magic: an introduction to photographic lighting
author: fil hunter
science of light & Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting is a comprehensive guide to understanding light in photography. contains everything you’ll need to know about the physics of light and its creative use if you want to specialize in studio photography.
The book is full of useful tips on how to photograph difficult objects such as glass, metal or textured surfaces. the most recent fifth edition also contains an expanded chapter on taking powerful studio portraits. There is also a list of reliable equipment that would be of great help to photographers who have not yet equipped their new studio.
The language of the book can be difficult at times, but if you really want to become an expert in studio photography, it’s definitely worth sticking to.
artistic side of photography
4. the art of photography: a personal approach to artistic expression
author: bruce barnbaum
Bruce Barnbaum’s well-known book, The Art of Photography: A Personal Approach to Artistic Expression takes the reader on a deep journey into the art of photography. what makes this title unique is that it moves from the technical to the philosophical in a fluid and organic way, emphasizing the importance of both aspects of photography.
This book will help the beginning photographer learn how to add their personal touch to the images they take. covers both film and digital photography and includes a section on printing and submitting final photos.
if you’re ready to delve into the philosophy of photography, this book is for you. His language will surely inspire you to take your work to a whole new and higher level.
5. learning to see creatively: design, color and composition in photography
author: bryan peterson
another book by bryan peterson that should be included in this list. the author shares his rich experience in composing photographs that shock the viewer. he claims that what makes a photograph unique is not so much the object of his interest as the way the photographer has seen it himself. in this sense, even a simple object can make an impressive photograph.
Peterson’s book gives us the tools to create this type of photography, focusing on its composition. the latest edition of the book contains a section devoted to color and its creative use in photography. learning to see creatively will help the beginning photographer gain a new perspective on the world through their camera’s viewfinder.
6. inside the frame: the journey of photographic vision
author: david duchemin
david duchemin’s iconic book is for all those seeking his unique photographic vision. the author helps the reader to discover what exactly he wants to convey with his images and then provides helpful advice on how to achieve and maintain it.
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Of course, the book also discusses the technical side of photography, but its main goal is to make the beginning photographer look deeper and think harder before pressing the shutter button. duchemin explores some of the most important tasks every photographer has, like finding the right location, approaching people for a portrait, or telling an entire story with a single image.
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The new edition of the book includes creative exercises, expanded chapters, and new discussions and tips on landscape photography.
7. the photographer’s eye digitally remastered
author: michael freeman
Is the “photographer’s eye” something that anyone can develop? Michael Freeman argues that it is in his popular book The Eye of the Photographer who has already celebrated his tenth anniversary. the author delves into composition, perhaps the most important aspect of photography.
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The book will teach you how to look for interesting objects and find out when is the “decisive moment” to press the shutter button. the author presents successions of photos, explaining what makes one of them better than all the others. this is something that can help all photographers not only during the final selection of images, but also before taking them.
Dedicated specifically to digital photography, the book analyzes in detail purely digital techniques such as hdr or stitching.
8. the eye of the photographer
author: john szarkowski
another great book written by this important figure in the world of photography. this book includes a disaggregated approach to 172 selected photographs. the selection includes works by the masters of all time, as well as amateur works and even vernacular snapshots. The purpose behind this juxtaposition is to analyze, almost in a SWOT-style text, the challenges and opportunities that all photographers face in their career.
the reason why I think this is an important book to improve is that it can be seen as an inspiration, or even a stopover, which will ease the emotions of all photographers who want to be great quickly and think that this joy happens spontaneously.
When I read this book, I felt like I came back down to earth, but with parental care, it was definitely an amazing experience.
9. photography changes everything
author: marvin heiferman and merry a. forest
This book is an important reminder to all photographers that we are bearers and protectors of a great responsibility. photography changes everything is an innovative compendium of essays that talk about how photography changes the way of doing, perceiving and understanding almost everything.
This is a great book for every photographer to read in order to improve because it awakens that we have almost never seen the truth about photography in our minds.
10. composition: from snapshots to big shots
author: laurie excell
All cameras come with a decent user manual that will teach you very little about how to take meaningful images that will go beyond simple snapshots. Compositing is the best tool you have for creating visually appealing images, and now that you’ve invested in some gear, you need a book to go along with that gear. In this book, you will find a friendly path to composition. Learn the best ways to compose images while getting great detail in every image you capture.
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The book has an innovative way of combining the best of both worlds – the digital and analog book experience – by offering an easily accessible flickr group dedicated to book readers to share their work.
11. creative composition: digital photography tips and techniques
author: harold davis
Another great songwriting book that talks about the importance of mastering the rules before breaking them. cameras are great tools packed with desirable technology, but they don’t take pictures unless the shutter button is pressed.
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When I was just starting to take pictures, a friend of mine lent me this book. he was using a little point-and-shoot camera, and thanks to this book, I probably made that camera count down to the last day a thief snatched it out of my hands on the street.
I don’t consider myself a master of composition, so I’m still learning different ways to represent my own view of the world through photography, but this book was really a great way to start.
photographic techniques
12. expressive nature photography: design, composition and color in outdoor images
author: brenda tharp
brenda tharp’s book is the definitive guide for anyone whose desire is to explore the great outdoors with their camera. uses the author’s rich portfolio of outstanding nature images to provide clear and helpful advice on how to photograph all kinds of objects a photographer may encounter outdoors. You’ll find instructions on how to photograph the stars at night, create very long exposures with filters, or capture fast-moving objects.
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tharp also invites the reader to break the rules on occasion to achieve a more interesting or emotional composition. a section of the book is devoted to the art of “visual flow”: the deliberate arrangement of elements in a way that naturally draws the viewer’s attention to the object of interest.
While providing detailed technical information, the book is about infusing our landscape photographs with more than just “truth”, but mostly emotion.
13. the moment it clicks: photographic secrets from one of the world’s best photographers
author: joe mcnally
joe mcnally is a household name in the photography industry and this book is a gift to anyone just taking their first steps in the business. the book contains tons of helpful tips and behind-the-scenes information that will teach you a lot about composition, creative use of lighting, or the effects you can achieve with various types of equipment.
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mcnally’s language and style make this book light and informative. while it does require a certain level of experience and knowledge, it is written in a very positive way that will make even the most advanced beginner feel welcome “in the club”. in this way, it inspires and motivates instead of mystifying the process of taking great photographs.
With a specific focus on the use of light, this book is for anyone who wants to learn how to take great portraits, indoors or outdoors.
14. questions and answers about photography: real questions. real answers.
author: zack arias
Imagine sitting down with an established photographer and discussing your shared passion until all of your questions are answered. This is exactly the feeling that Zack Arias’s book gives you. will answer all your questions about the practice and business of photography and much more.
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The book will not give you detailed explanations on how to take a specific picture. however, it will “fill in all the gaps” in the knowledge and experience you have had thus far. in this sense, it’s not suitable for the perfect beginner, but it’s definitely something you’ll want to have in your book collection later on.
Arias’ responses are straightforward, but her tone is always supportive and ultimately motivating, so even a photographer just starting out won’t be put off by all the issues discussed there. on the contrary, he will learn invaluable things that, if he is willing enough, could change the quality of his work forever.
15. the digital photography workflow manual
author: uwe steinmüller and jürgen gulbins
workflow, workflow, workflow. we have all heard the word; I even mentioned it in the introduction to this article, but really, what is the workflow of photography? thanks to this book I was finally able to define it as the replicable and structured process of making images from start to finish. This scope ranges from the preparation of the equipment to the final deployment of the print and the publication of the Internet version of the image.
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I don’t have an official medical statement about my OCD, but this book really fueled my obsession with file structures and organization.
cinematographic photography
16. the cinematic photography handbook: rediscovering photography in 35mm, medium and large format
author: chris marquardt and monika andrae
Due to the curious behavior of our human race, film photography has witnessed a significant renaissance, which need not happen because of the people who had previously filmed. younger generations are becoming interested in the format for various reasons (curiosity, nostalgia, pride, etc.)
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in the motion picture photography manual offers an easy to understand and fairly comprehensive resource for shooting motion pictures. the book is definitely not a stubborn position in photography. in fact, it fits right into today’s work climate because it includes topics like hybrid film/digital workflow, digitizing negatives, and even working with smartphones to measure light and aid in film processing.
here you will learn several important aspects of film photography. from the obvious and not-so-obvious differences between film and digital photography, how to buy a used film camera, film formats, and everything you need to know about film processing.
printing
17. the print (ansel adams photography)
author: ansel adams
OK, it is not a single book but three great treasures of photography in technical terms. The pinnacle of Ansel Adams was the easy-to-recognize direct photograph of him; but the invisible rocky road, it’s the technical aspects that he talks about in this series.
I have to be honest with you, I’ve only been able to read “the camera”, which is text that explains the tool in a way that allows the reader to predict the results of the final image while still setting it up. camera parameters. “the negative” and “the impression” are books that I have only read a little, but they are considered as good as the camera. many of the issues he discussed are still valid as we have only replaced emulsions with sensors.
Having such a large amount of knowledge written by the teacher is a complete treasure that should be on your shelf for sure.
18. the eye of the photographer
author: uwe steinmüller and jürgen gulbins
workflow, workflow, workflow. we have all heard the word; I even mentioned it in the introduction to this article, but really, what is the workflow of photography? thanks to this book I was finally able to define it as the replicable and structured process of making images from start to finish. This scope ranges from the preparation of the equipment to the final deployment of the print and the publication of the image in Internet version.
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I don’t have an official medical statement about my OCD, but this book really fueled my obsession with file structures and organization.
photography beyond books
Now that you know where to gather knowledge and inspiration, all you need to do is choose the title that most appeals to you. the most important thing is to try and test everything you have learned as soon as possible.
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This is not an exhaustive list of titles. photography is a journey that takes a lifetime and will always teach you something new. That is why, even after all those years of experience, I am still curious, enthusiastic and inspired to do photography. and I hope you are too.
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