This week on Behind the Views: André Alexander (@formgestalter). André first picked up photography to document the hiking adventures he would go on with his dad. “Through him, I developed my love for being outdoors, discovering beautiful places, and capturing the magic they convey on camera,” he recently shared with T+L. By 2016, André became a freelance photographer, shot his first commercial campaign, and started his photography journey on social media. . André’s advice for aspiring photographers: “Practice, practice, practice. The more you try, the sooner you will find your own style. Learn the basics, such as focusing and exposing. There is nothing worse than a blurry picture,” he says. “It’s best to find a niche based on your talent and passion. This can range from portrait to travel to commercial or stock photography. Aspiring photographers can start as freelancers and should focus on building a network. Social media offers a great opportunity to potentially reach many people, but there’s certainly a lot of competition out there.” . When asked about his approach to shooting, he says, “I always try to take advantage of those special hours in the early morning and before sunset that add some magical dust to any shot. I also play with 'layering' by including a foreground, subject, and background in my images. These layers create an interesting touch by pulling the viewer deeper into the picture and telling a whole story.” . In André’s go to gear bag, you’ll find a Nikon Z7II camera, lenses ranging from 14mm to 400mm, and various drones. . All photos by @formgestalter