How To Become A Photographer - 6 Steps For Success

By Vince Terry

Earning the jazzy title "photographer" begins with something as small as a genuine interest in taking pictures. You don't have to be a rocket scientist. With the exception of photojournalism, you can definitely learn the craft as you go.

You can begin with a carefully selected camera to use. A digicam with a mega-pixel count of 3 to 5 will work okay. You don't really need to splurge on something costly. There are a few accessories you may not want to do without though, like a camera case and a tripod to protect your camera from exterior elements and shakes, respectively. Pretty soon you'll want to get your hands on a higher-end unit that's costlier but worth the price for your photography sessions when you gain more experience. Remember you want to enjoy the craft first. Once you've mastered the skills and want to level up, that's when you should consider investing in a higher-end camera.

Point and shoot. Your subject can be anyone or anything. Your photo-shooting rampage is for a good cause: building up an impressive portfolio which you can flaunt. Showcase a variety of details in your portfolio: lighting, subjects, angles and backgrounds. It's a good idea to ask your family, friends and acquaintances to help you out. These people can serve as your subject in the photo shoots. Establishing a niche can also aid you in buffing up your portfolio.

Link your photographs to a specialty. Your choices are varied here. For instance, some individuals specialize only in news, others in advertising. Take time to decide what your niche will be. How about doing weddings, portraits or special occasions?

Think of freelancing. Considering your moonlighting opportunities in photography, you may want to raise your expectations beyond receiving a straight monthly salary from just a single employer. Expect to bounce from one job to another, learn to sell your skills if you want to be gainfully employed. Several techniques in marketing can help you draw in your clientele base. A good way to sell yourself is to direct people to your own website that showcases some of your best photographic works. More security measures are now in place to protect your photos from being stolen or re-used online without your consent, so rest easy.

Assist a professional photographer. Although photography jobs abound, the usual route is to start out as an assistant photographer. Make the most of the experience to learn how to take fantastic photos. Who knows you'd turn out so good that you can even have your own assistant someday.

Educate yourself. Your resources are myriad: books, websites, library materials and seminars. Always aim to improve yourself and your output with new techniques.

Starting out with photography is really just a piece of cake when you have a genuine interest in and the passion for the art itself. Expect a lot of fun and excitement with this art, since in photography, things are never quite the same over time. - 26221

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