The key is to start with what you have, says BYUH student
BYUH student photographers, Randy Biador, Rosalind Pedron, Paula Maguale and Jenard Cian Perez, share their journey from humble beginnings using phones to discovering their personal styles through challenges, online resources and creative freedom. They said despite facing imposter syndrome and technical hurdles, they embraced photography as a medium for storytelling and growth.
The beginning of a self-taught journey
Biador, a junior majoring in political science from the Philippines, said his journey began with an Android phone back home, where he took photos of flowers in his garden. “I started capturing sunsets, sunrises and ordinary things around me. It made me happy to take pictures because I get to see things from a new perspective,” he said.
Pedron, a senior double-majoring in political science and Pacific Islands studies from Australia, said her journey into photography was inspired by her husband, Didier Pedron, who introduced her to cameras. “My husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, had cameras, and I had always been interested in photography,” she said. “I was also really into editing even before I knew how to take proper photos,” she continued.
Maguale, a senior majoring in marketing from the Philippines, said her passion for photography began as a child when she used her mom’s old phone to take photos and videos. “I would borrow my cousin’s digital camera whenever I got the chance,” she said. “But I got my first camera in high school as a gift from my brother, who also discovered photography while studying here,” she shared.
Overcoming challenges and imposter syndrome
When Biador moved to a professional camera, he said the transition wasn’t easy, especially when it came to editing. “Editing is hard. I needed to figure out lighting, color grading and the theme and whether I wanted something dramatic or vibrant,” he explained. “I also learned how to highlight key elements by separating focused objects from the background,” he said.
One of the main challenges Pedron said she faced as a self-taught photographer was finding her own style. “There’s so much great photography out there and just because you admire it doesn’t mean it’s your style,” she said. “For me, [finding my style] was about finding my own editing presets,” she continued.
Maguale said joining the media team was a pivotal moment for her. “I had no prior technical experience and was intimidated by the more experienced photographers,” she said.
Pedron said resources like Instagram and YouTube played a big role in her learning process, but a strong photographer community at school also helped. “We learned from experienced photographers like Manu Tefan and others who have been a great help,” she said.
Maguale said her growth came from connecting with others. “I joined Facebook groups and found communities of photographers online,” she said. “Even on campus, I’ve connected with talented photographers who have helped me grow,” she shared. Maguale said she doesn’t use YouTube often for learning but prefers asking experienced photographers directly.
The creative freedom of being self-taught
Biador said being a self-taught photographer offers more creative freedom than formal training. “There’s no pressure to meet someone else’s expectations,” he said. “I can experiment and explore my own vision,” he added. “In formal settings, a teacher’s style or opinion can limit creativity,” he explained.
Maguale said being self-taught allows her more creative freedom since discovering a unique style is a personal process. “Professional training is great for technical knowledge, but when it comes to creativity, it’s something you discover on your own,” she shared.
Biador said social media has motivated him to keep improving. “I post my work on Instagram, and when people react positively, it drives me to do better and stay consistent,” he said. He also said following photography groups on platforms like Facebook and Instagram helped him stay inspired. “Seeing others’ work gives me new ideas,” he continued.
Pedron said social media has helped her find opportunities to practice and connect with others. “My Instagram feed is filled with photography content and it’s helped me meet people who want to be photographed,” she said.
Advice for beginners
Biador and Pedron said beginners don’t need an expensive camera to start. “You don’t need expensive gear to capture something meaningful,” Biador said. “The key is understanding angles, lighting and composition,” he said. “Start with what you have before thinking about upgrading,” Pedron said. Biador’s advice for aspiring photographers is simple, “Just start, even if you have basic tools,” he said. “Ask for feedback, practice editing and don’t let challenges hold you back,” he added.
Pedron said it's important for students interested in learning photography to connect with others. “Just because you’re self-taught doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Reach out to other photographers, ask for advice and seek feedback,” she said.
For students wanting to start photography, Maguale said the key is to start with what you have. “Don’t wait for the perfect gear or the perfect time. A phone is enough to begin your journey,” she said. Maguale also said connecting with experienced photographers is essential for growth. “The feedback [from photographers] will build your skills and boost your confidence,” she said.
Mastering the basics of photography
When taking photos, one doesn’t start well right away, said Jenard Cian Perez, a junior from the Philippines majoring in business management with a marketing emphasis. “It is important to be humble while learning and to practice multiple times. Learning the exposure triangle is a good start,” he said.
He shared the exposure triangle refers to the shutter speed, aperture and International Organization of Standardization, simply known as ISO. “When you know how to manage those, you’ll get crisp images and then if you add a little post-production edit, you’ll get really sharp images,” he said.
According to a blog written at the Adobe website by Sapna Reddy, an international landscape photographer based in Northern California, the word “Photography” literally means “drawing with light.” It derives from the Greek “photo,” meaning “light” and “graph,” meaning “to draw,” she says.
The three components of the exposure triangle are shutter speed, aperture and ISO. According to the Photography Life website, these work together to produce a photo that is properly exposed. “If one variable changes, at least one of the others must also change to maintain the correct exposure,” it says.
Shutter speed - It refers to the length of time light is allowed to hit the sensor. It is measured in seconds. The faster the shutter speed, the less light enters the lens, according to Photography Life.
Aperture - According to Photography Life, it is also known as F-stop. It refers to the size of the circular hole in the lens that lets in light, the website says. “A large aperture results in a large amount of both foreground and background blur,” it says.
ISO - “ISO is simply a camera setting that will brighten or darken a photo,” according to Photography Life. It says as one increases their ISO number, their photos will also grow progressively brighter.
As someone who became interested in photography after learning video editing, Perez said, “This may sound cliche, but the best camera is the one you already have.” For beginner photographers, Perez said knowing the rule of thirds and the leading lines helps establish shots.
Photographic Composition Techniques
Negative Space
According to Romanas Naryskin, photographer and writer from Photography Life website, this composition technique “makes the subject stand out and attract the viewer’s attention.” It can drastically change the mood and story of an image, whether it be to strengthen positive emotions or add a sense of loneliness and despair, he says.
Graphics by Cho Yong Fei and Moevai Tefan
Photos by Moevai Tefan and Kevin Tumaliuan