From bedroom backdrops to balcony sunsets, learn how to become a photographer and kickstart your photography journey at home. A beginner’s guide packed with tips, gear hacks, and inspiration.
Maybe you want to become a freelancer for extra bucks, or maybe you are just into building your camera skills and sharing your art with the world; all these worthy and super exciting things require you to first learn how to become a photographer the right way and from home. Why? because it’s 2025! We humans love to do things from home now.
First, the good news here for you is that, yes, you can do that without having to leave your home, and second, if you really love taking pictures and want your passion to turn into an actual business that could make actual money, then spare five minutes and read our step-by-step roadmap.
1. Find your Style (and Niche)
Before you spend a thousand dollars on expensive cameras and watch YouTube tutorials, this is the first thing you should be doing is learning “Shu-Ha-Ri,” a Japanese saying that first copy and then transcend.
Here, it means that a novice photographer should always start by studying their favorite pros, their shooting and editing styles, the color palettes they use, and the small details that define their work.
Research all of that one by one before you decide what you want to shoot.
Something that resonates with you from someone else’s work is always going to be a guideline for you as you move ahead in your career, and ignoring this is one of the most common mistakes.
2. Learn the Theory of the Exposure Triangle
If you want to genuinely learn how to become a photographer and a good one, too, you have to master how this triangle works. Its three corners, the aperture (depth of field), ISO (light sensitivity), and shutter speed (motion), should be in your skillset and are placed at the heart of every great image. In essence, you will be learning how to interact with light at sunset, sunrise, and low lighting.
3. Gear Basics and Accessories
There is so much to cover when it comes to selecting which gear to invest in when starting photography, and it also depends on individual preferences, budget, and photography style. We always recommend beginners to first start with what they have or can easily get. Your smartphone or a DSLR/mirrorless camera can be a great starting point.
And this is where many people make a mistake, they think that spending thousands of dollars on camera gear will make them better photographers. Of course, that camera and its expensive accessories will make a difference, but without experience and a basic skillset, it won’t make you a genuine photographer. Starting with a basic DSLR or mirrorless camera and experimenting with the exposure triangle will help you understand the limitations of your hardware and how to channel them to get the best results.
4. Invest in Quality Lenses Right from the Start
This is one area where we recommend investing in capable hardware without giving away too much in specs. Camera lenses are a long-term investment and will become your core camera component for years to come.
You will eventually acquire better skills, more experience, and a much more capable camera, but a reliable camera lens with good specs will work during your entire journey of progress. This is because these lenses have the same camera mounts for different cameras (provided by the same OEM), and are designed to last for decades without a major technological upgrade.
This is why being strategic about camera lenses right from the start is necessary. Decide which type of camera lens is in line with your work? Prime or zoom, or a set of primes. Traditional aspherical or anamorphic lenses. Are you going to do night photography more or day work? Is it going to be landscapes or tight portraits? All these questions will point you towards a specific camera lens (or lenses).
The SIRUI AURORA 85mm F1.4 lens is one such lens suitable for someone entering this niche and looking for a long-term investment. This lens is built with an F/1.4 aperture tuned at 85mm focal length, which works like a pro for portraits and brings in professional-grade bokeh in the background with clear object isolation (something photographers care about). In your progressive learning roadmap, this mid-range lens from SIRUI fits right in.
5. Learn from Video Content (Free)
Don’t spend any money on expensive online courses or offline coaches. In 2025, high-quality photography education is everywhere, and it’s free. We recommend learning the basics of cameras and lenses from those who are seasoned and passionate about this niche.
Youtubers like Peter McKinnon make fantastic content, and you can’t go wrong with it. YT channels like The Art of Photography and Mango Street are great for learning composition and professional techniques. Honestly, do a search on YouTube and you will find tons of good quality content without spending anything.
6. Start with Structured Practice Sessions at home
If you are just starting at home, you can just use everyday objects and add a bit of imagination. But to truly get better at photography, you will eventually have to go out and capture nature. If you are reluctant to do that, then try macro shots, self-portraits, still life, or food photography; several niches can be done entirely at home.
7. Build your Network and Portfolio
Once you start to get the hang of your camera and have good, consistent results, then it’s time to build your portfolio. This will literally become your visual résumé, so plan it well, how to make it organized, and present it like a pro, as there is tough competition out there. Once you are good at what you do, bring your own element to your photography and be distinct from others.
One step at a time
Learning how to become a photographer is not a fast track process; it takes time and a well-thought-out direction, from starting at home as a rookie up to building a professional portfolio of your work done over many years. Investing in a capable camera gear like the SIRUI AURORA 85mm F1.4 lens will go along with you during your entire progressive learning roadmap.
