15 Best Photography Books For Beginners [2024]

Updated: May 16th, 2022

15 Best Photography Books For Beginners [2024]

Many beginner photographers start their photography journey by watching tutorials on YouTube, reading blog posts, listening to podcasts, and most importantly books!

As a beginner, If you plan to learn more about photography, these books provide an excellent place to learn what it takes to become an excellent photographer.

1. Understanding Exposure

  • Written by: Bryan Peterson
  • Page count: 176 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: Readers love this book because Peterson does an excellent job of challenging neophyte photographers to get out of their comfort zone. It teaches the must-carry basic concept in one's photography career. His approach and writing style is engaging and straightforward.

This newly revised edition of Bryan Peterson's most popular book demystifies the complex concepts of exposure in photography, allowing readers to capture the images they want.

With an emphasis on finding the right exposure even in tricky situations, Understanding Exposure shows you how to get (or lose) sharpness and contrast in images, freeze action, and take the best meter readings, while also exploring filters, flash, and light.

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2. The Photographers Guide to Posing

  • Written by: Lindsay Adler
  • Page count: 448 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: Readers love this book because it is straightforward, has numerous examples, and explains more on the practical side. The pictures were specifically for this book. You can see photo variations for every pose and a detailed explanation, helping readers understand why this or that pose works and doesn't work.

In the first half of The Photographer’s Guide to Posing, Lindsay discusses how the camera sees, and thus how camera angle, lens choice, and perspective all affect the appearance of your subject.

In the second half of the book, Lindsay dedicates entire chapters to posing specific subject matter: women, men, couples, curvy women, families and small groups, and large groups.

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3. Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs

  • Written by: Henry Carroll
  • Page count: 128 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: It is easy to understand and has a clear explanation of the basics of photography. The book is best for newbie photographers or needs a refresher.

Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs is ideal for the new wave of snapshooters using DSLR, compact systems,s, and bridge cameras, looking for top photography tips. Read This if You Want to Take Great Photographs contains no graphs, no techie diagrams, and no camera–club jargon. Instead, it inspires readers through iconic images and playful copy, packed with hands-on tips.

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4. The Beginner's Photography Guide

  • Written by: Chris Gatcum
  • Page count: 192 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: Readers love this book because it is very well put together. This book contains informational steps and practical lessons about photography.

Written for beginners, this photography book is easy to read and understand, even if you have never worked with a camera before. It has step-by-step tutorials covering the whole range of camera functions and photographic techniques. Each chapter of the book is full of practical hands-on projects and tutorials that will help you get the best from your camera.

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5. How to Photograph Food

  • Written by: Beata Lubas
  • Page count: 192 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: They recommended this book because Lubas' food photography expertise is presented comprehensively, yet so easy to understand and implement. It has a guided step-by-step approach, photo samples, and concise explanations.

For amateurs and pros looking to add to their portfolios, How to Photograph Food makes food photography a piece of cake! How to Photograph Food is the gorgeous, informative photography book you didn't know you needed. For budding photographers and social media personalities, the perfect image has never been easier to capture, and How to Photograph Food puts it all within reach. Chapters include:

  • Gear
  • Lighting
  • Frame and Balance
  • Food Styling
  • Photo Editing
  • Thinking like a Pro

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6. Humans of New York

  • Written by: Brandon Stanton
  • Page count: 304 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: This book is loved by many because of its wonderful and honest representation of people's images in New York. This book is not about high-profile celebrities, rather, it features common people in an everyday setting that you can find anywhere in New York.

Now an instant #1 New York Times bestseller, Humans of New York began in the summer of 2010 when photographer Brandon Stanton set out to create a photographic census of New York City. Armed with his camera, he began crisscrossing the city, covering thousands of miles on foot, all in an attempt to capture New Yorkers and their stories. The result of these efforts was a vibrant blog he called "Humans of New York," in which his photos were featured alongside quotes and anecdotes.

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7. Stunning Digital Photography

  • Written by: Tony Northrup
  • Page count: 226 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: One of the most recommended books read by starting photographers. It contains practical and well-paced lessons that perfectly suit newbie photographers.

This book gives you five innovations no other book offers:

  • Free video hands-on video tutorials.
  • Hands-on practices.
  • Practice quizzes.
  • Classroom support.
  • Free ebook with lifetime updates.

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8. How I Make Photographs

  • Written by: Joel Meyerowitz
  • Page count: 128 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: Readers, especially non-professional street photographers love this book because it is written in a straightforward style with lots of practical examples.

This Master of Photography series is a new approach to photography how-to. Each volume is dedicated to the work of one key photographer who, through a series of bite-sized lessons and ideas, tells you everything you always wanted to know about their approach to taking photographs. From their influences, ideas, and experiences, to tech tips and best shots.

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9. Photography Demystified

  • Written by: David McKay
  • Page count: 140 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: This is an excellent book for beginners to read because it helps them understand their camera and how to use it to its full potential in making good images. It will help you to unleash your artist and technical side.

This book will take you from automatic to full manual settings in a new and easy-to-implement way, giving you the control you need to capture images the way you desire. “Photography Demystified—Your Guide to Understanding Photography, Gaining Creative Control and Taking Amazing Photographs!” has been designed to resolve your frustrations and photography difficulties. This book will give you the tools, education, and practical applications needed to understand how to take great pictures!

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10. Digital Photography Complete Course

  • Written by: DK
  • Page count: 359 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: Readers love this book because each chapter is well organized like a week-long class with pre-assessment and tips. This is best for those who know absolutely nothing about photography.

Go from photography novice to pro in no time! This modular photography course is the ultimate master class in digital photography.

This new edition of DK Books' complete course-based guide to digital photography will help you use your digital camera to its full potential in just 20 weeks. Discover everything you need to know about photography step-by-step, week-by-week.

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11. National Geographic Photo Basics

  • Written by: Joel Sartore
  • Page count: 256 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: Readers, especially newbies love this book because of its high-quality paper and content. The lessons are broken down and well explained.

For digital camera and smartphone users, this easy how-to guide, written by an experienced National Geographic photographer, imparts the essentials of taking great pictures.

This entertaining book from beloved National Geographic photographer and Photo Ark founder Joel Sartore shows aspiring photographers how to take great pictures, from framing and F-stops to editing and archiving. Whether you're using your phone or a DSLR camera, you'll learn the fundamentals of photography--and how to put them to work every day.

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12. DSLR Photography for Beginners

  • Written by: Brian Black
  • Page count: 126 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: Readers, especially beginners, love this book because it covers the basics of digital photography, materials are well presented, and well explained key concepts.

If you want to stand out from the crowd and capture all those magic moments for posterity, this is the book for you. Most guides to Digital SLR photography will overwhelm you with jargon, but you and I both know that's not what photography is all about.

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13. Beginner's Digital SLR Crash Course

  • Written by: Deep Cove Publishing
  • Page count: 73 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: Newbie readers love this book because it is engaging and has a perfect explanation of the different settings on the camera and how to use it. You can learn so much in less than an hour.

Do you want guidance on how to take better pictures?

That's what this guide is all about; making the most of your digital camera so that you can create beautiful photographs. You won't find all the complicated technical jargon that fills other books and blogs.

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14. BetterPhoto Basics

  • Written by: Jim Miotke
  • Page count: 513 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: Readers, especially beginners love this book because it excellently introduces the reader to the world of digital cameras.

If you can press a button, you can take great pictures. It’s as simple as that. In BetterPhoto Basics, Jim Miotke shares tips and tricks to improve your photos right away, no matter what camera you’re using. Too busy to read a book? No problem—flip to any page for an instant tip to use right away! Learn to compose knockout shots, make the most of indoor and outdoor light, and photograph twenty popular subjects, from sunsets and flowers to a family portrait.

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15. Digital SLR Cameras & Photography For Dummies

  • Written by: David D. Busch
  • Page count: 304 pages
  • Buy it here: Amazon
  • Why readers love it: Newbie readers love this book because of its simplicity. Readers easily the complexities of photography and the equipment.

The perennial DSLR bestseller—is now expanded with more photography tips. The book has remained the top-selling book on DSLR photography since the first edition was published. Written in plain English and complemented with full-color photos, this hands-on, friendly guide covers the mechanics of the camera; exposure, lenses, and composition; how to capture the action, portrait, and low-light shots; editing and sharing images; tips for improving your digital photography skills; and much more.

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meet the author
Samantha Walls

I'm Sam Walls, COO of Starter Story - a platform and community for entrepreneurs and future founders to learn what it takes to build a great business. I joined the Starter Story team approximately 3 years ago, with the goal of providing our readers with the best, most valuable, and inspirational content on the internet.