Consciously think about what you want to photograph, why, and what you want to "say" with the images. Photography is a communications tool, a visual language. The effect of the photo on your viewer should be your principal concern. Say something with your image. Better yet, ground it with words, or ground words with images.

Regarding techniques and technology, the only way to really learn the ropes is to read, do, review, read, do, review. Experience is the art of learning through a mix of failures and successes. Consider every failure a lesson, and every success a lesson, and move on.

If you want to be a great photographer, look at lots and lots and lots of great photographs. Visit exhibits. Read books. Spend time with the few photo magazines we have left. Scour Internet sites of top photographers. Read the stories of how great photos were made, why they were made, and the circumstances surrounding their creation.

Don't stop learning. The craft/art/profession/hobby of photography is ever changing. What we did fifty years ago was great, but what we can do today is great, too. It's not necessarily better or worse, but it is different. We decide whether it's better or worse with our passion and efforts.

I could write a book about the technical side of the craft I've learned over the years. But it is more important to tell you to care. Be a photographer because you have a point of view, a statement to make, a passionate calling to portray something interesting, or important, or compelling. If you have the fire in the belly, learning the technical stuff will take care of itself. You'll care enough to go to the public library (and the Internet) and educate yourself. All that stuff about reading the manuals and practicing 'til you puke is true. Anyone who has really learned to make great images has learned most of it by immersion. Technique is a combination of knowledge, practice, muscle memory, and using the right tools for the job.

I've had kids ask me, "Which photography school should I go to, or which classes should I take?" My answer is, "Grab your camera and your smartphone and go make images. Don't "take pictures" or "shoot" anything. MAKE photographs.

School is great if you need a starting point. But be sure you learn to break all their rules once you learn them. There's a time and a place for structure to help you make sense of things and learn to control the variables. Then there's a time and a place to throw curve balls into the process. It adds spice, flavor, and attention grabbing points of view.

Great images are nearly always a combination of several of these: Moment, Light, Color, Contrast, Line, Form, Perspective, Point of View, Juxtaposition, Pose, Composition, and a whole list of things I can't remember at the moment. In fact, you should make your own list as you learn.

Don't fall into the trap of Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS). "If only I had X, I would make the next, "Moonrise over Hernandez." No, X might make it easier to make a great photo, and it might make it bigger, sharper, or give it better gradation or something, but it won't *make the photo* for you. Only you can make images that work.

Just do it... (Thanks, Nike.)

I would say, "read," The "manual will tell you how to work your camera, not make photos. Study the works of Jay Maisel and Elliot Erwit. Study Philippe Halsman and Ansel Adams, Annie Leibowitz and Steve McCurry and Richard Avedon. Read every fashion magazine you can find and study how those photographers did their shots. With very few exceptions, there are no "original" photographs or poses or settings.

Ask your friends to let you take their photos for practice. Find out what works for you and your style as it develops. Don't be afraid to venture into new areas. Remember, slightly longer lenses (85 mm to 135 mm) work best for portraits and wide angles usually work best for scenics, but not always.

I began working for a very established studio as an assistant back 3 decades ago. There was nothing that was more influential to my photography.

However, I wouldn’t recommend this approach today. Modern day professional photography is not what it was and I really feel the knowledge being passed on today is often contradicting or just plain wrong. The internet is as much a part of professional photography as taking pictures and internet likes/clicks are important. Photographers tend to look for sensationalism in order to get likes/clicks and subsequently photographic work. In order to get these, information can be skewed or complete BS. Some are also very well regarded but their success can be due more to what they do away from the camera than what they do behind the camera. I personally consider some modern day highly regarded pros as being massively overrated and poor photographers. It’s their work away from the camera bringing them success.

I’d approach modern learning today using multiple avenues, not one single person. Find as many sources as you can and then use your own best judgement as you develop experience for the advice you wish to take and the advice you wish to drop.