To become a photographer, you need a sense of heightened awareness that pushes your skills in order to produce excellent images. Before you press the shutter, visualize the type of image you want. To help with this, I suggest creating a Photography File. It’s a great exercise for training the eye to see, and helps develop your awareness as a photographer.

As you see images in your daily life that grab your attention, whether it’s in newspapers, magazines, or on the Internet, cut them out and add them to your own personal file of images. Every time you clip an image, you should ask yourself the following questions:

Why does this image grab my attention?

How did the photographer create that effect?

How did the photographer draw me into the story?

Think about both the technical and expressive tools that you see in the photographs that appeal to you and try to use those elements during your own photographic experiences. You’ll be amazed at the transformation you undergo and start to uncover the deeper levels of photography. Share your progress with us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and link to Steinberg Photography with #PhotographyFile. Award-winning photographers Jim & Lori Steinberg capture nature’s wonders all over the world. To learn new tricks, check out our workshops here and connect with us on Facebook to see more photographs.