How to get a six pack and become a great photographer

Above: Sicilia, Modica, Sicily with Canon 5DMk111 70-200mm @70mm F8.1/200th sec using speedlight and a grid spot.
Above: Sicilia, Modica, Sicily with Canon 5DMk111 70-200mm @70mm F8.1/200th sec using speedlight and a grid spot.

Did you hear the one about greatness being born, not made? What a load of caca!

The difference between average and great – the thing that sets the Nutellas apart from the regular chocolate spreads – is hard work.

Ask any champion athlete, billionaire businessman or brilliant artist what they do every day to reach that elite level and you will never hear “Errr dunno, I woke up one morning after spending most of my waking moments on the couch watching re-runs of One Tree Hill and eating Cheetos.”

The only exception to this rule is the supermodel. They are formed by a rare genetic mutation where all the cells miraculously line up to create physical beauty. They literally wake up one day and are drop dead gorgeous.

So even if you missed out on the supermodel genes when they were handed out at birth, there is still hope for you to achieve greatness. But first things first, put down the Cheetos and step away from the remote.
Champions are made by consistent and repetitive actions that are cumulative. The average person doesn’t just wake up with a six pack (unless you’re a supermodel freak). They work hard for that look.

Champion runners run every day to reach greatness.
Concert pianists play piano every day.
The master potter makes pots and a great photographer takes photos.

If you want to take your photography to the next level, the quickest way to get there is to take photos. Every day. Reading books and blogs will give you all the technical information you need, but it’s the act of taking pictures over and over that will make you a better photographer.

“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.”
― Archilochos

  • The best time to start this was five years ago.
  • The next best time is now.
  • Spend 30 minutes a day on your photography skills and you will notice a huge difference in just a few short months.
  • In five weeks this will start to become a habit, just like brushing your teeth every day.

Train yourself to do all the tasks you need on a shoot.

  • Focusing quickly on moving targets.
  • Focusing at wide apertures.
  • Exposing under pressure.
  • Setting shutter speed to capture movement.

These actions are easy to do when you have all the time in the world, but most of the greatest images ever taken happened in a split second. The great photographers have trained for this moment and get the shot. The average photographer is still fumbling for the buttons and misses it.

Average photographers do very little. Great photographers put in the hard work.

How to direct and pose like a pro

About Gina

About Gina

Gina Milicia is one of the most widely known and respected photographers in Australia. She is the master of capturing that ‘magical moment’... READ MORE

instagram Instagram