Digital photography has surpassed film as the primary source of pictures, and for good reason. It’s faster, more accurate, and often easier to store. As a result, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of amateur and professional photographers in the last few years. As of 2015, there were over 40 million photographers in the U.S. alone. However, just because you can point a camera doesn’t mean you’re a professional. Here are five myths that could be harming your photography!

All you need is an expensive camera
Although an expensive camera can sometimes improve the quality of your photography, it is most often not the case. Photography takes time, training, and practice, just like any other profession. There’s a reason why the best photographers in the world have spent years and years doing it! It’s also important to recognize your strengths and weaknesses. For example, someone who is fantastic at portrait photo editing may be terrible at real estate photo editing, and vice versa.

The switch from film to digital is easy
Digital may seem easier, but if you want to make your way into photo editing for professional photographers, you’ll need more than the instruction manual. The same is true for someone switching from digital to film. The two are completely different processes and require training and practice. Although the employment of photographers is expected to increase in the next ten years, you’ll still need training and skill to attain that job.

What you see is what you get
Everything looks amazing on the three-inch preview monitor on the back of your digital camera, but things take on a different light when they’re viewed at full size. Digital cameras made it possible to view the image you just took, but nothing is certain until you open the picture at 100% on a computer monitor. Any photo editing for professional photographers requires a large, bright screen, and dozens of copies of the same shot to adjust for lighting and exposure.

You only need computer skills for editing
Yes, you need a computer for photo cropping, color correction services, and a myriad of other editing processes, but that’s not where it stops. Once you switch to digital, you’re essentially chained to the computer. You will need a computer to view, edit, send, and print images, among other things. Whether you hire someone to do photo enhancement services or do them yourself, it’s important to have a sound understanding of the technology.

Photo editing for professional photographers is not only part of the job description, it’s an activity that allows them to ensure that their work is the best it can possibly be. Professional photographs are twice as likely to be shared and get much-needed exposure, but you need to put in the effort to get them there!