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Want to take better photos in 2026 than you did in 2025? 📸 This episode gives you five simple, practical things you can start doing today that will genuinely improve your photography.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ How to properly clean your camera gear and why it matters for sharp photos
✅ The smart way to learn camera settings without getting overwhelmed
✅ Why shooting in different lighting conditions makes you a better photographer
✅ How to critically review your work before sharing it
✅ Why trying uncomfortable photography genres helps you grow

These tips work for everyone - whether you're using a phone 📱, an entry-level camera, or professional gear. No jargon, just practical advice you can use today.

📸 What You'll Learn:

✅ Thing 1: Clean Your Gear Properly and Keep It Clean
Get yourself a proper cleaning kit with a blower brush, microfibre cloths, and lens cleaning solution. Make cleaning a habit before every shoot. Clean lenses make sharp photos - it's that simple!

✅ Thing 2: Learn One Camera Setting Really Well
Don't try to master everything at once. Pick one setting - maybe exposure compensation, aperture priority, or even manual mode - and become properly competent with it. Master it, then move on to the next one.

✅ Thing 3: Take Photos in Different Light
Deliberately seek out different lighting conditions. Harsh midday sun, soft overcast light, golden hour, indoor window light - each type teaches you different skills. Photography is drawing with light, so this stuff is pretty important!

✅ Thing 4: Review Your Photos Critically Before Sharing Them
Stop sharing every photo you take. Review your photos twice - once immediately, then again with fresh eyes after waiting overnight. Quality over quantity, always.

✅ Thing 5: Shoot Something Uncomfortable
Try a photography genre outside your comfort zone. Love landscapes? Try portraits. Always shoot people? Try architecture. Uncomfortable equals growth, and growth equals better photography.

📱 For Phone Photographers:
Everything in this episode applies to phone photography too! Clean your phone lens, learn exposure compensation in your camera app, photograph in different light, review before posting, and try different types of photography with your phone.

🔗 Related Episodes:

If you're enjoying this New Year focus on improving your photography, you might want to check out the previous episode - episode 222, The Best of The Photography Explained Podcast: 29 Essential Photography Tips That Actually Matter

And here are some other recent related episodes - episode 220, The Photographer's Eye: See a Great Photo Before You Take It: and good old episode 152,

Check out my splendid course How To Become A Real Estate Photographer on my website Rick McEvoy Photography.com/courses

Check out my splendid course How To Become A Real Estate Photographer at Rick McEvoy Photography.com

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Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick