How to Become a Professional Photographer

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Pin ItArticle EditDiscussProfessional photography is an excellent career choice for anyone who wants to get paid for using their creative talents. Photography is where reality meets memories. It's one of the few fields where age and college degrees aren't as important as a good eye, a quality product, and self discipline. Photography is a competitive field, however; so be prepared to start small, while you perfect your craft and build a portfolio of your best work. The tips below should help get you started.

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Deciding If It's for You1Start out by speaking to other professionals in the field. Many people already working as professional photographers will be willing to give advice to individuals interested in their field. It's important to ask direct questions about a career you're possibly interested in––this can help you to decide from the outset if you're going to enjoy the work and if you're a good fit. By speaking to the right people they will be able to tell you about the pitfalls and upsides right from the start.

Ask if you can shadow them around for a day or even a week of work. Don't make it hard work for them though; offer to do anything from packing equipment to filling out tedious forms in return for their kind favor!2Explore different types of photography. Professional photographers tend to fare best when they're not spreading their talent too widely. Important knowledge attaches to specific styles of photography that may be missed by a generalist photographer. For example, you may know how to take fantastic shots of babies but haven't a clue what to do when confronted by racing vehicles. This doesn't mean you can't shift from one genre to another, but it does mean that there will always be much learning between each shift, meaning that it's best to concentrate on one area of photography at a time rather than spreading yourself too thinly all the time.Look into different possible areas of photography, such as photojournalism, documentary photography, commercial photography, fine art photography, portrait taking, etc.Be aware that some photography may seem mundane, such as taking school photographs, but it can be a steady stream of income, while high class shots of travel locations can be sporadic in take-up and expensive to obtain. Use your common sense about what is possible at the time.

Putting Together Quality Gear1Decide what type of camera you're going to rely on most. These days most professionals use digital SLR cameras at the high end of price and quality. However, the type of camera you start out with doesn't need to be pricey or even digital; it all depends on the style of photography you want to get involved with and doing your research into finding quality cameras at a price that is currently affordable to you. As you improve and get a bigger client base, you will continue to upgrade your cameras and may even amass various kinds for different styles of photography.

Do your research into the gear that is available currently and the price ranges you can afford. Purchase the best equipment you can afford. Remember that this is an investment and will make a big difference in your future.Try sticking to name brand items to ensure you will have service and parts available when, and if needed.Don't buy a camera that only has automatic focus/exposure/ISO settings. Most higher end digital cameras have both automatic and manual settings.See what is available secondhand. Many used cameras and related gear are available through auction sites (online and at specialized auction houses), through camera stores and perhaps even through friends and family. If you do buy secondhand cameras and related gear, know what problems to look for, as well as the good things you're after, so that you can determine when secondhand gear is either overpriced or possibly damaged.Buy a good quality case to protect your investment. Look for one that is lockable so that it won't get stolen.2Understand that your biggest investment should be your lens. The lens should be the removable kind that you can put on another camera body if you decide to upgrade later.

A fancy zoom lens may seem like a good idea but you will learn more about composition with a fixed focal length 50mm lens. Such a lens will also be cheaper and generally sharper. A fixed 50mm lens has a wider aperture like a 1.8, allowing you to shoot in low light plus the ability to create a æsthetic bokeh.

Getting Sufficient Knowledge and Skills1Consider enrolling in a photography degree program, or taking classes at an art school. As well as learning specific techniques and tricks of the trade from lecturers who are thoroughly familiar with photography, you'll make connections and get advice and critiques.

2Study how-to photography books. Lighting and composition can either make or break a photograph, and there are many excellent step-by-step study guides that will teach you the techniques the pros use. Much of this information can also be found by using search engines (e.g: Google).

3Practice to get experience. Shoot, shoot, shoot. Always having your camera handy will enable you to take photos in different places and of different subjects.

4Be business savvy. As a professional photographer, unless you're employed by a newspaper or publishing firm, you'll be working freelance. And that means you're running your own small business, a fact that requires you to know how to make a success of the invoicing, accounting, profit and loss statements, etc.Take courses on small business management if you're considering opening a studio or running a freelance operation. There's a lot to learn up front so that you don't make costly mistakes down the road.Learn how to keep good records of your expenses. You will need them for your tax returns. You may also be able to deduct certain expenses (like your camera, PC, etc) and receive a rebate.

Finding and Displaying Your Own Unique Style1Strive for originality. Photo editors appreciate pros who can give an old subject a fresh look, so don't be afraid to experiment. When trying to take a great photo, you can sometimes take up to 100 or even more shots experimenting before taking the one you really want. Fortunately, digital photography has opened up a lot of space for experimentation and trying again and again. Be patient and don't give up.

Shoot .RAW files. This gives you more wiggle room in your correcting exposure mistakes. It also makes adjusting the white balance in Camera Raw a snap.2Evaluate each photograph you take. Ask others to critique your work. Put your questionable shots in a separate file, so that you can go back later and correct any mistakes on your photo editing software. Many pros will tell you that they hardly ever take a 100 percent perfect photo.

It's not the photo equipment, but your "eye" (really, your creativity and mind), that makes for a great photographer. With re-usable memory card, the expense of shooting with a digital camera is minimal (your time and storage medium) after the initial purchase. So shoot away! Analyzing your photographs will teach you how to be a better photographer.Look at magazines/photo websites/the work of professionals constantly. Don't copy but do learn from their examples.Look critically at your own work and run your best shots past friends and mentors who are more accomplished. The more critical your eye, the better your own photographs.Programs like Photoshop and/or Corel Photo Paint will always be handy when making a good photo great. Helpfully, knowing what to enhance by playing around with these programs will actually improve your understanding of what makes for a better photograph, helping you to frame your images better, etc. when you take them.3Build a quality portfolio. Buy a good quality leather or quality cardboard ring binder for holding your photographs. Select a handful of your best prints and put them inside acid-free plastic sleeves. Label each one with your name, address and phone number, so when a client asks to see samples, you're prepared.

Maintain a good online portfolio. This will allow you to send potential clients to your website or page to see the full range of your abilities. Put client testimonials there as well, as soon as you start getting them (remember to ask for some at the outset).Consider having digital copies ready to email to potential clients. Always include a watermark to prevent copying without your permission.4Invest in a photography marketing guide. This is an all-encompassing guide that most pros would use to market their work. The best guides give the complete contact information of relevant magazine, greeting card, and book publishers.

5Enter photography contests. This is an excellent way to start building a resume of credits, especially if you win. Be sure to read the rules of the competition closely though––some rules allow for touch-ups, others for none at all and if you fall foul of this, it can affect your reputation.

6Ask small businesses in your area if they would feature a small exhibition of your work in return for occasional photographic services. This can be an excellent way of getting your work noticed in all sorts of different situations in return for very little input and gaining more experience!

7Make CDs of all your work. This is especially important for digital photographers. Many clients nowadays actually prefer viewing photos on CDs.

Keeping Your Work Yours1Copyright your work. You can fit hundreds of low resolution shots on a CD and copyright all of them for one low fee as apposed to copyrighting individual "good" photos. You can do this by copyrighting it as "the collective work of____".Unless given as a gift or favor or donation, never give away your photos for free and always retain your copyright. There is little enough money to be made in creative pursuits without retaining your control over them. That's the true purpose of copyright, to help the creative artist retain a say over both profits and use of the items you create, so make use of it!

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Edit TipsChoose a side: Nikon or Canon. It's really a matter of personal taste and how intuitive the camera feels when taking pictures. Stick with your chosen brand's accessories, as this ensures greater ease of use.Carry a compact, "point and shoot" camera with you everywhere. After all, you can't grab those great shots if you don't have a camera on you...Invest in a good heavy duty tripod. The cheaper flimsy ones are not all that stable and defeat the object of having a tripod all together. If you grab the occasional video clip, ensure your tripod has a "pan head" which will allow smooth movements while filming, rather than producing jerky, irritating pans.Make sure you adjust the white balance! If you're shooting in RAW, leave the camera on auto and correct it later using your favorite image-editing software.Shooting manually using a Digital SLR is a really good way to learn and understand major concepts.Try and get a camera with a hot shoe (place to attach an external flash) and possibly even a external lights connector for doing professional portraits, wedding photos etc.

Edit WarningsA good way to get your equipment stolen is to carry your camera in a custom photo carrier emblazoned with, e.g. "NIKON" or "CANON" - far better to carry your camera in an old diaper bag, backpack, etc. to avoid tipping off thieves. Companies like Stuffbak sell economical, durable, numbered labels which allow honest finders of your equipment the means to return your lost valuables for a reward, which you can offer via their online or phone retrieval services.Protect your eyes! Would-be photographers (and even professionals) forget the most critical, precious part of their photographic equipment. Use UV-protective sunglasses outdoors, wear protective lenses when grinding, sanding, pounding, or weed-whacking, and get annual eye exams from a professional to detect early, treatable glaucoma, cataracts, etc.When using a digital camera, avoid deleting pictures using your PC and a card reader. Instead copy the pictures you need and once done, delete the pictures using your camera. Some older memory cards become unreadable if formatted/deleted via a PC. However, this problem has become less common in recent times, as manufactures use better standards of manufacturing and greater compatibility.When you have your equipment in your car, try keeping it in the boot (trunk) of your car to keep it hidden from would be robbers. Alternatively, keep it covered with a bath towel or something similar; a blanket the same color as the upholstery or floor carpet covering the gear will make it appear seamless and as if there is nothing to see there.If you are planning to buy second hand equipment, make sure it is not stolen gear! A good sign of original ownership is the sales receipt, so ask for it. Some other signs to point to legitimate goods are chargers, user manuals cables etc. If these are not available, there is a good chance that the items are stolen. Obviously, this is not always the case, as some people just lose everything! But keeping these things does tend to suggest that the camera has been well cared for, and is therefore a safer investment.

Edit Related wikiHowsHow to Write a Photography CritiqueHow to Become a Wedding PhotographerHow to Take Better PhotographsHow to Choose a CameraHow to Get a Job As a PhotographerHow to Become a Photographer at a Young AgeArticle Info Featured Article

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