8 Photographers on Making Their Name on Instagram and Beyond
Instagram has revitalised the art form that is photography. As well as providing a new medium for seasoned photographers, it’s made casual shutterbugs out of thousands who might not have picked up a camera before.
Transcending its label as a social media platform, Instagram is now a crucial tool for aspiring and professional photographers. Whether using it to showcase their work, experiment with different photography mediums or take inspiration from others, keen photographers have embraced Instagram as a versatile must-have.
This is borne out by the eight professional photographers commissioned by Canon – in association with Currys PC World – to take part in the Through My Lens series. The photographers have amassed a combined two million Instagram followers in their journey to going pro and have built up an arsenal of useful tips in the process. Below are some of their best words of advice.
Photo: James Relf-Dyer
Born and raised in south west England, Relf-Dyer has been immersed in Instagram from the very beginning. Now running a freelance photography business, he previously worked at Beautiful Destinations, one of the world’s largest Instagram travel companies.
Of the photos he submitted to the Through My Lens series, one stands out: a beautiful shot of Churei Tower at sunrise juxtaposed by Mount Fuji rising in the background. “This photo let me put all of what I’d developed over the years into a single image,” says Relf-Dyer.
He recommends all newbie photographers to try to work with the rule of thirds, adding: “as a rule of thumb, keep your ISO between 100-500 when shooting outside.”
Photo: Harry Sinclair
It took picking up a camera for Sinclair to truly appreciate the city of London, having lived only a stone’s throw away from it all his life. He taught himself photography through books and YouTube tutorials.
Some of his top tips include getting up early to avoid crowds and being patient: “Don’t leave your location until you are happy with your shot,” he says. “Tell yourself there is something to be created and it will come to you.”
His 2017 shot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris showcases the value of rising early and staying determined. A misty, orange haze adds to the atmosphere of the peaceful photo, taken at sunrise at Montparnasse Observation Deck.
Photo: Scott Rankin
Rankin stretched his photography muscles on an iPhone before transitioning to a Canon camera and making photography his career. He’s since been featured in The Guardian, Condé Nast and Travel+Escape and been named a photographer to follow by several publications.
He attributed luck and the right equipment to the success of the serene-yet-eerie shot of a small boat dwarfed by tree-covered mountains enveloped in fog. “Purchase the best gear you can afford and make it work, he says, before adding: “vision is the really important bit.”
For travel photography, he suggests “looking for the little things happening around you and the way objects interact with the environment. Try to capture that interaction in as many ways as you can.”
Photo: Jessica Bubb
Currently based in Denver, Colorado, Bubb runs Rustic Bones, a fashion and photography website that chronicles her travels and showcases her landscape and portrait photography.
Her photos for the Through My Lens series show a lot of playful experimentation with a bohemian, rustic slant. This includes her 2012 shoot, where she played with shadows, light and the incredible textures offered up by a rusty old car.
One of her top photography tips is to stop shooting on automatic mode. “You have much more control over the end result if you switch to manual,” she says. And, when it comes to Instagram, Bubb adds: “it’s easy to try and copy the big influencers. But my biggest advice would be to develop your own style.”
Photo: Kristina Makeeva
Off the back of 14 years of experience, conceptual photographer Makeeva says photography requires a good work ethic. “You need to study, to work, to seek out information,” she says, reflecting on her desire to learn something new each time she picks up a camera.
Makeeva’s stunningly photoshopped – and perfectly colour-coordinated – photos have earned her legendary status on Instagram, where she flawlessly combines fashion and landscapes for beautiful results. Her magical lotus flower shot – taken in Cappadocia - was possibly the most iconic of the lot.
“Instagram is a great tool for a photographer,” says Makeeva. “Thanks to instant feedback from followers, the creator gets an incentive to take photos every day.”
Photo: Loïc Lagarde
A native of Britanny, Lagarde now lives in Paris. His photography journey, however, starts much further afield in Australia where he learnt the craft little by little during a backpacking trip. Now a professional travel photographer, Lagarde specialises in destination and luxury hotel shoots.
For the Through My Lens series, Lagarde submitted a striking photo of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris taken in 2016. The stunning shot was a combination of composition, weather conditions, an ultra wide-angle lens and plenty of patience.
His two top tips for aspiring photographers? Shoot in RAW file format and on manual. “Your camera doesn’t know what you want. You do,” he says. “Trust your eyes and your brain.”
Australia-based Ristevski specialises in self-portraiture and travel photography, each time making as much use of natural light as possible.
There’s no better example of this than in her 2016 photo taken in New South Wales, Australia. As the sun streams over the sand dunes and perfectly illuminates the model’s hair, the shot gains an ethereal softness that’s beautiful to behold.
“The most valuable thing you can do as a photographer,” she says, “is to discover the photos you want to capture – and why. Playing with different mediums and styles of photography is a good place to start.”
Photo: Carmen Huter
Moving from Austria to New Zealand saw Huter switch careers and start her journey in photography. She’s since been published in National Geographic and worked with companies such as Air New Zealand, Volskwagen and Flight Centre.
Among her beautiful travel photos is one of a Chinese fisherman, with the traditional vessel, native bird, softly-lit lantern and the mountains surrounding the lake all combining for the perfect shot.
Huter’s top travel photography tip is to spend time without your camera as well: “While it might sound counter-intuitive, put down your camera once in a while and experience a location with your eyes before you look through your viewfinder.”
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