What do I have to do to start in a Professional photography field?

Question

I'm 17, and I really would like to be a professional photographer once I get out of high school. What do I need to do to start out in this field? I've taken a year of digital photography, and that is what sparked my love for it, but I have no idea what to do next. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Do you want to be a photojournalist? A fashion photographer? A portrait photographer? A nature photographer?

The best thing you can do is to master your craft. See if a local studio is looking for any photographic assistants. See if any of your local papers are looking for either staff photographers or are accepting work from free lancers.

You can also join a local camera club. You will also probably want to take some time to study film photography. The broader your experience, the greater your chances at success.

You might also want to look at either college or film school. You can make contacts there that will be very helpful as you establish yourself as a photographer.

Good luck.

Answer 2

More school would help... This is a dog eat dog business and everyone has a digital camera. Those of us that have a higher education usually make more money.

Decide what your speciality will be. Practice taking lots of those type of photos. Check them out with others, other photographers, friends etc. You'll get a lot of 'wow you really take great photos'. Don't buy that praise... Remember the old advertising lour... for every person that says you're doing good there are 10 that think you are so so..

If you survive 4 years of college or 4 years in the Service and decide to STILL take photos for a living Remember that you need to hit the ground running...

What part of the country do you live in... Know what works for the photographers in your area..

Well that's it for now... I have to get up at 5am, get into a plane with no doors on it, take some shots of dirt where they plan on building some homes... Cost $600 and this is a spec job... that means that I'm paying the $600 along with other photographers that are competing for the same contract. I'm lucky I'm also a piolet with a family plane. It would cost me more if I rented everything. My son in law is flying the plane...he still charges me but I do get a discounted rate...I'm only telling you this part because you really have to LOVE taking photos because after a year or two the magic may fade and it will then become a JOB.. No more freebees.

Remember Education, Education, Education... and you'll be sure this is really really what you want to do..
George S

Answer 3

You do not need to go to formal school to become a photographer but you have to learn it from somewhere be it from a class room environment or from you reading and doing things on your own.


1. You should learn the technical aspects of photography and your camera (composition, shutter speed, rules of thirds, depth of field etc), once you understand these you will be able to create better images.

2. Shoot in "M" (manual mode) because you will have more control over your camera and not the other way around. When you are in one of the "Auto" modes the camera will just read the highlights and shadow areas and try to get you a picture. The camera is not smart enough to know what you are shooting.

3. You can start reading all kinds of books on this subject and get information from the internet. This includes web based classes, manufactures web sites to personal blogs.

4. Buy the best DSLR camera that you can afford this also includes good lenses. Take out your camera and manual sit down and go over all the buttons and knobs etc.. this is the best way for you to learn what your camera can do.

5. Start shooting with your camera to get practice and from what you are learning from reading and doing you will get better. Practice does make perfect. Take notes while shooting and then look at your photos on the computer find the best one from that set and see what you did to get the shot and why you like it more than the others.

6. You can get yourself a job as a photographers assistant (be it payed or free) and learn from that person.

7. My suggestion is to find a part of photography that you would have an interest in and point in that direction and specialize. You will try to produce a better image of that subject opposed to just "having" to shoot it.

8. Areas of photography include portraits, wedding, product, nature, travel, fine art and journalism. Some of these career fields require a studio with special lighting others do not but require different lenses and other equipment and techniques.

Since you have access to the internet here is a start: Some you have to pay for and some are free.. start with the free stuff of course.

http://www.photonhead.com/beginners/......
http://www.betterphoto.com/home.asp......
http://www.shootsmarter.com/
http://www.webphotoschool.com/
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/pagequerier.j...

http://www.lexar.com/dp/index.html?cmp=e...

Studio Lighting info
http://www.photo-seminars.com/Portraiture/lesson1.htm
http://www.studiolighting.net/portrait-lighting-styles/

Photoshop classes
http://www.russellbrown.com/

Just incase you need info on a degree
http://www.photographyschools.com/

Hope this helps,
Kevin

Answer 4

Learn photoshop. If you cant afford it start with GIMP, its a free program thats similar. Open your phone book and ask every single photographer in it if you can be their intern. You will make a lot of people angry, but don't give up until you get to Z. (Just remember not to meet with anybody alone, try to stick to studios with business addresses. Work for free if you have to. Walmart, places at the mall, Olan mills, you dont need experience. You can go to school, but consider if the amount of debt you will be in is worth it. If you start with your portfolio NOW you can get scholarships. You may also want to consider majoring in business and minoring in photography or art. Just keep at it, you can learn from pro's (for free) just like you can learn from teachers. Photographers usually work alone or in small groups, so really consider carefully if art school is the best option (if you want to be a portrait photographer).

Answer 5

you need to look at doing a collage class just yo get some background into why a photo works and how to get the best from your camera.
start asap sending out images and get a web site so people can see your images
Hope this helps and good luck

Answer 6

Practise practise practise.
Create a portfolio online.

Answer 7

i would start a photography website (please view mine freewebs.com/johnnyphotography) and then try to promote your website (like myself) and try to get known.
Johnny