Idaho

The best thing you could do is take some basic lessons in photography. You may have to do some research to find them in your area. Don't hesitate to repeat them as necessary.

Joining a photography group or club is also very helpful. The members will be a good source of information for you. You could check the Meet Up groups. Google 'Meet Up groups' to find a photography group in your area.

Trying to learn on your own is the slow way. Classes and clubs are the fast way to get where you want to be.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

Welcome. Look forward to seeing your pictures.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

There are countless resources online. Google a few of your interests. Here's an example of a Google search I did for "beginner photographer."
> Alan

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1NHXL_enUS732US732&ei=YRJJWrqNCJKR_Qbk64TIDA&q=beginning+photographer&oq=beginning+photographer&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l5j0i22i30k1l5.126901.131271.0.131521.22.13.0.9.9.0.138.1023.12j1.13.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.22.1114...0i131k1j0i67k1j0i131i67k1.0.-W82cWc7ZmU

muysabio Loc: Mexico DF

Don't make the same mistake that I made. I thought that the manual was the little book that came in the box. I subsequently found out that the complete detailed manual can be downloaded from the Nikon site: http://downloadcenter.nikonimglib.com/en/products/21/D3300.html I also downloaded the manual to my ipad. I also downloaded "Nikon D3300: From Snapshots to Great Shots". There are a number books on Amazon that refer to the D3300.

Kuzano

Find a local camera club in your area. They usually meet twice a month. Photo walks and hikes. Most belong to a national organization that sponsors competition within the clubs and regionally.

Local Community College almost always have classes on use of the camera's, terminology, and post processing. I taught Photoshop Elements and Image organizing for about ten years at our local community college. We also had 3 film classes per quarter and still do. Film and digital for the basics of photography are not much different. Digital technology just throws very frustrating aspects of computerism into the mix.

I buy and sell film camera's and shoot both film and digital. Interest in film is rising and business is good. Digital buying and selling, Not so good as the camera's lose value overnight.

Your new D3300 is a great starting point, good megapixel point, good file size, sharp images and a fraction of the cost many wannabe pros put out for equipment, yet just as good on the basic functions.

A digital vocabulary from B&H... a major equipment seller:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/glossary-digital-photography-terms

https://quizlet.com/10748033/photo-vocabulary-flash-cards/

http://blog.creativelive.com/common-photography-terms/

gessman Loc: Colorado

You might try these:

https://digital-photography-school.com/dps-ultimate-guide-photography-terms-glossary-words/

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-26493-1.html

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Welcome to UHH. You've been given ample, and viable, recommendations. By all means, have fun!!

inclinerr Loc: South Carolina, United States

Lots of good books out there. Look at Nikon D3300 For Dummies by Julie Adair King
I got the book and it was a great reference that explained everything in easy to understand language with reference photos etc.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/nikon-d3300-for-dummies-julie-adair-king/1119004276/2670746861265?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Core+Catch-All,+Low_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP79700&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsqLSBRCmARIsAL4Pa9Rnd2YJq9qZFAk5PHU_WPr3pIPJStv-xB16Ysz3R98Vr06AF-MVwDIaAj-VEALw_wcB

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

I recommend this book:

David Busch’s Nikon D3300 Guide to Digital SLR Photography https://www.amazon.com/dp/1305269780/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dBssAb7PJBNCZ

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

A very good starting place is the Owner's Manual that came with the camera, although you may find it 'over your head' if this is your first experience. There are a number of better written and organized guide books available which are designed to help a novice. Try B&H or Overstock.com, and others, and search for your camera model. Best of luck & welcome to the wonderful world of photography. Have fun. Happy New Year.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

There's a saying as old as the Internet itself. It was conceived in anger, and became basic kind advice... a sort of reminder!

RTFM — Read the *Fine* Manual

Your camera manual is probably several hundred pages long, if you're reading the right one. You may have to download it from Nikon. To truly understand it, you will have to go through it with camera in hand, trying each feature. It will take several days, if you do it right!

Beyond the manual, there is an EXCELLENT one hour video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmWBW8aZSS0

My wife has the same camera at her work. We watched the tutorial when she first got it, and it was very helpful to her.

Chwlo

You came to the right place. I still consider myself a newbie. And I also have a D3300. It is a nice camera to start your journey with.
I will share two wonderful pieces of advice I got early on.
1st. Take a lot of pictures to both get to know your camera and to decide what you like to photograph.
2nd. Before you get GAS (the need to buy new photography gear) really learn what you can do with your kit lense. Mine is a 18-55. It is a good walking around lens.
I hope you enjoy your gift and new hobby. If you find you must buy a new lens I will recommend the Nikkor 50mm 1.8, it is inexpensive and takes great portraits, as well as being a good walking around lens.
Finally welcome to UHH.

Bill_de Loc: US

If I understood correctly you were looking to learn terminology first. The link below should be what you asked for. It is compliments of one our favored photo stores, B&H

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-solutions/glossary-digital-photography-terms

--

Paul Buckhiester Loc: Columbus, GA USA

If you are a visual learner, I recommend CreativeLive and Lynda.com. Start with the beginners classes. On CreativeLive start w John Greengo’s.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

I sent a couple links earlier....I also shoot with a D3300....My granddaughter makes a living with the D3400, which is basically the same camera. Here is some advice I gave her to get her started. I don,t know how new you are, this may be to basic......if it is oh well, maybe it'll help someone else.

The first thing to do is read the manual that came with your camera…..and watch videos, read what info others here have given you.

There is one thing that one must understand in taking photographs. They are made with light. Without light, you can not take a photograph.

Light is controlled by three things (known as the triangle)
1. Aperture (f-stop) this controls how much light gets to the sensor.
a) It also controls how much is in focus, from front to back.
b) Apertures are, say, f/2, f/2.8, to say f/22.
c) The smaller the number the larger the opening, the more light, the less in focus.
d) The larger the number the smaller the opening, less light and more in focus.
2. Shutter speed, controls how long (the time) the light is on the sensor.
a) it also controls motion, either freezing it or showing it
b) Shutter speeds are like 1, ½, ¼, 1/8……….to say 1/1000, all in seconds. 1 is slow, 1/10000 is fast.
c) To show motion in say a river or waterfall, use a longer time, 1 sec or longer. To freeze it and show no blur, use a faster speed, say 1/250.
3. ISO sets the sensitivity of light on the sensor.
a) It is values of 50, 100,200, 400……….to say 25,600
b) the smaller the number, the less sensitive. The larger , the more sensitive.
c) Also, the smaller settings would be used where a lot of light is available.
d) The larger settings in less light conditions. The larger will also introduce what is called noise, or grain. You typically do not want this.
e) Start off at say 100 or 200 to learn.
4. You only need to change the shutter speed and aperture once the iso is set.
5. Your camera has a light meter on it, use it. It is typically a line of dots with a 0 in the center, a minus on the left and a + on the right. As you change settings this will move one way or another. You want it (usually) at 0. The – side is to little light, the + side is to much. As you learn you may want to go one side or the other on purpose. When it is at 0, the triangle is balanced.

There is also what is called the sunny 16 rule. This says, on a sunny day set iso to say 100 or 200, set the aperture to f/16 and shutter speed to 1/iso. So, if you have iso at 100, shutter speed would be 1/100. This is also starting point settings.

This is very basic and just a starting point of learning. The next step is to PRACTICE, and notice the affects. What I did to start is shoot on in auto mode the try to match it by setting the camera on my own.

My granddaughter started with this and expanded. She does family portraits, lunar, real estate photography, and uses models she has made up to show her makeup work (she is also a make up artist)

Good luck and HAVE FUN.