How to Improve Your Photography Skills When it's Raining Outside!

Some hardy souls try to take photos in the pouring rain, but I'm not one of them! Neither my camera gear, nor myself are big fans of the wet stuff. So I thought it might be useful to give you just a few ideas for skills you can improve at home while you're waiting for the rain to finally stop. 

Photo Editing Techniques to Explore

• Experiment with Presets & Develop Your own Style

  Try applying built-in or downloadable presets in Lightroom or other editing software to see different moods and finishes. Refine these presets, adjust settings like contrast, colour temperature, or clarity, and save your own versions to develop a signature style over time.​

  
  

• Research and Use AI Remove Tools

  Explore the latest AI-powered object removal features in Lightroom and Photoshop. Practise removing distractions (stray branches, litter, walkers) from your landscapes. ​

  
  

• Creative Effects: Orton Effect and More

  Experiment with the Orton effect, which adds a dreamy glow to landscapes and is popular for atmospheric scenes. Research other creative looks, such as adding subtle vignettes to help viewers to focus on a particular area, or split toning for different moods.​​

  
  

• Selective Editing

  Use tools like radial and graduated filters or adjustment brushes to target specific areas—brightening a foreground, adding warmth to light patches, or recovering cloud detail in the sky. Precise local adjustments can dramatically improve impact and balance.​​

  
  

• Dodging, Burning & Depth Enhancement

  Paint light and shadow with dodge (lighten) and burn (darken) tools to add depth, direct attention, and create a more three-dimensional landscape.​

  
  

• Colour Grading & Consistency

  Explore split toning and HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) controls to fine-tune colours—subtle adjustments can create different moods.​

  
  

Home-Based Photography Projects

• Just like your photo taking skills, your editing skills also develop over time. Spend some time reprocessing some of your older favourite landscape images to see how your improved editing skills can improve previous images.​

• Practise still life photography with household objects, focusing on lighting and composition with natural window light or simple reflectors.

  
  

Skill-Building Exercises

• Create a shot list of locations to visit when the weather improves, noting conditions, times of day, or specific techniques to try. See this blog on how to develop a shoot plan.​

• Analyse favourite photos (your own or others’ on social media) to identify what you like and how you might improve your compositions or techniques.

  
  

Photo Management

• Review your photo storage and management. Make sure that your photos are stored in an orderly way (either by date or by subject) so you can easily find them. Consider storing raw and processed jpegs separately.

• Reviewing your photo backup strategy is vital, especially as your collection grows. For beginners, the “3-2-1” rule is a reliable approach: keep at least three copies of your images, saved on two different types of media (e.g. external hard drive and cloud service), with one copy stored off-site or in the cloud. Popular cloud options include Google Photos, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox. Consider automating backups, so new files are copied as soon as you import them. 

  
  

Review Your Photos and Look for Areas for Improvement

• Look for recurring mistakes: spot patterns in missed focus, awkward crops, blown highlights, or dull colours.

• Compare similar shots: identify which versions work best and why—what makes one image more visually compelling than another?

• Keep written notes: jot down quick ideas for fixing issues, new techniques to try, or questions to research for future shoots.

  
  

Final Words

It's true, none of the above are anywhere near as fun as getting out and taking photos, but forced downtime due to poor weather is a great opportunity to do some of these dull things that you might never otherwise get around to, and will help your skills and workflow in future.

Want some help improving your photography skills?

Don't forget that if you want some direct help with your photography, I offer a range of 1-2-1 photography courses for Devon based folks. If you're not nearby then I also  offer residential workshops for beginner photographers or improving photographers.

About Gary Holpin Photography

As a professional photographer based in Devon, my journey began along the stunning South West Coast Path. Disappointed with my initial attempts to capture its beauty, I embarked on a second 630-mile journey, this time dedicated to mastering photography. Today, I'm a nationally acclaimed photographer with award-winning landscape photos.

I specialize in providing top-notch property photography, business photography, and drone photography services to businesses across the South West. Additionally, I offer comprehensive photography training courses tailored for both businesses and individuals. Whether you're looking to enhance your corporate image or improve your personal photography skills, my training programs are designed to help you capture stunning images.

As an award-winning and widely published photographer, I frequently share my passion for photography and Devon through engaging talks at local camera clubs and community groups. My expertise spans the entire South West region, ensuring that clients from Devon, Dorset & Somerset benefit from high-quality photography services and training.