Is Photography a Good Hobby? Shedding Light on The Art

Photography is something that I have been doing for as long as I can remember. The first time I experienced a camera was when my mother used to take pictures of us using a film camera, I was obsessed with how that thing worked and I wanted to get my hands on it as soon as I could.

Of course, being a curious child, I was never really able to use that camera until I grew up into a more sensible person who knew that he could not destroy things. By the time I laid my hands on that camera, I was more and more aware of other offerings in the market, and back then, point-and-shoot cameras were taking off.

Passion Ignited

Needless to say, my curiosity only grew as I did, and then came a time when cameras and photography were the world to me. It took me a long, long time to finally get my hands on a Canon EOS 80D but once I did have that camera in my hand, there was no looking back.

Never Stopped Shooting

I took pictures of everything and everyone and covered so many events without any charge, just so I could hone my craft. I had to sell that camera to upgrade but even though I was without a camera, I still kept taking great photos using my phone (smartphone cameras have become scary good) and never really stopped.

Photography: A Great Hobby

The point I am making here is that a lot of people have asked me “Is photography a good hobby?” To be honest, it is anything that you want to be. If you want it to be a hobby, go for it. Chances are, you already are invested heavily in photography. I know so many people who love taking pictures of their food and they are amazing in the way they do it.

Endless Opportunities

Similarly, I know people who are excellent at taking portraits with a phone camera, and I also know people who make stunning videos. Not to forget, the photography community or photography groups around the world are something that will always make you feel welcome.

Whether you are dealing with a professional photographer or someone who’s an amateur, there is always a place for everyone, and for those who love photography as a hobby, this is a great start. Not just a hobby, I believe it is a great hobby.

Is Photography a Good Hobby?

The crux here is that the shutterbug has bitten us all one way or another and if you are still wondering whether photography is a good hobby or not, the best thing that you can do is not listen to anyone who is going to downplay you.

I am going to give you some reasons why a photography hobby is something one should always pursue. After all, taking pictures is something we all partake in, so why look down upon photography as a hobby? It can easily breathe fresh air into mundane lives.

It Lets You Keep a Lot of Memories

The interesting thing that you should know is that when you are taking up photography as a hobby, you would be surprised to know just how many memories it can let you keep. When you take a good picture, the world and time just stop in that picture, allowing you to just look back at it if you feel like doing it.

Great for Self-Expression

I know it might sound strange but for a lot of people, including myself, photography is something that serves as a way to express ourselves. It is an art form, after all. We all know how art imitates life, and if you are someone who wants to express their mood and feelings through pictures, you can actually go ahead and do that.

However, the more important thing that you need to realize here is that you do not have to force yourself to express one thing or another through photos. A lot of people take photos just for the sake of it and there is nothing wrong with it either. The point here is that you must keep yourself as educated as possible about these factors that might hinder your hobby.

You are Learning a New Skill

When I first started out as an amateur photographer, a lot of people nudged me away by just telling me how it is nothing more than a phase and I will grow out of it and people who did approach me only did so because I had a professional camera. However, even after selling my camera, people still come to me so I can take their pictures using my phone.

Photography: A Skill-Building Hobby

The point here is that photography is a great hobby because it teaches you a skill, and what’s even more fun is that you are not just going to learn one skill, but multiple ones. For instance, a photographer will also be curious to learn about how to color grade and edit their photos.

Get Creative with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop

For that, you have tools such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop and those two are excellent for learning further skills. Sure, there is a learning curve added but a digital camera and some creativity are all you need to create images that you want.

So, you are not just learning photography as a stand-alone skill but you are also learning more skills that can help you in photography and a lot of other tasks, too.

You Truly Get to Be Creative

I believe creativity is the one thing that you cannot really live without. People who are not creative are getting to waste so much of their potential on things that do not matter and honestly, it certainly is a problem, to say the least. Now, the good thing is that if you are looking to be more creative, photography is a great, great way to get into that.

Photography Communities

Plus, for those wondering, you do not even have to invest in top-of-the-line camera gear. There are so many professional photographers communities that will be more than willing to help those who are pursuing photography. Just take a few shots, start sharing and you will get the point.

Learning Journey in Photography

You see, once you get started with photography, you will go through a lot of hoops just to learn more. I am already going to tell you that there will be a lot of ups and downs, learning and unlearning, and some days when you will feel like you cannot really do much and cannot really improve upon your photography.

Ups and Downs in Photography

All of these are good indications that show how you, as a photographer, are learning and willing to improve even further. This further fuels creativity, making it a much better overall experience that will not be letting you down at all.

Great Traveling Opportunities

Another thing that you should be aware of is that if you are taking photography as a serious habit, you will be more than capable of getting some excellent traveling opportunities.

While this might not work for everyone because not everyone is a fan of traveling, the good news is that it can easily allow you to go ahead and travel freely and without any issues, either. So, it is better that you are fully aware of this.

Now, at the same time, it is important to understand that the traveling opportunities are not going to arrive right away as you would first need to establish yourself as a photographer and then move forward. It is just one of those things that you will absolutely have to keep in mind.

Great Communications

Another reason why I think photography is an excellent hobby is that you are going to take part in some excellent communication to a point where you will be meeting a lot of people and all these people are going to help you become better at your craft. Not just that, these communities often band together and go on photo expeditions, which helps you take things further.

Can Turn Into a Career

In the past few years, I have met many photographers who started out as hobbyists but ended up becoming professional photographers as if it were their calling. I do understand that this might not be something that everyone wants but hey, the options are there if you are looking to go ahead and take it seriously.

I will, of course, cover these in detail as we go further but if you genuinely want photography to help you as a career, why not? You can even look at some of the best cameras that we have reviewed to get you started.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

If you are confused about photography being a great hobby or not, then there is nothing wrong with it. We have all been here and it is fine, to be honest. However, what you must understand is that you have to take it seriously at some point and that happens naturally. The more you are invested in photography, the better you would want to get, this is how it works and there is nothing wrong with it, either.

So, if you have been thinking about taking it up as a hobby, now is the right time. Pick a camera and start shooting and you will soon realize your style.