Tips for first-timers

For the new photographers out there. Few things I learned the hard way: 1. Dress like you belong. You're not a spy. You're a person with a camera at a mall. Act like it. 2. Know your gear before you go. Fumbling with settings when the moment hits is the fastest way to miss it. 3. The first ten minutes are the hardest. After that, you settle in. Trust the process.

Adding to this: scout the location first. Go the day before if you can. Walk it like a normal person. Find the angles. Find the light. Find the exits. Know where you're shooting before you shoot.

Patience. That's it. That's the whole tip. You can have the best camera, the best angle, the best light. But if you don't wait for the right moment, you get a technically perfect photo of nothing. Wait for the moment when they forget anyone's watching. That's the shot.

One more: upload within 24 hours. The platform penalizes late submissions and honestly the freshness matters. You remember the feeling better when it's recent.