So, You Want to Be a Professional Photographer?

Thinking about pursuing a photography career? Starting a photography business may seem like a daunting task, however, with hard work, photography courses and some good photography tips you will develop excellent photography skills and set your career path on the right track to being a good photographer. Progression from being an amateur photographer shooting images and videos part-time to being a self-employed full-time photographer has so many potential benefits. From setting your schedule, taking potential clients that you feel you would perform best by their events, the type of photography that you want to pursue is out there for you. Vloggers and Content Creators as well.

Many people think professional photography is all about taking creative shots in exotic locales, big cities, and small towns—but if you want to make a living off of your camera, It’s best to hang your romanticisms at the door. Before you quit your day job and become a hobbyist into a photography job, there are a tutorials, tips and tricks you need to be aware of, before you enter the world of professional photography.

Pursuing Your Own Photography Business

If you pursue a career path as a wedding photographer, which require good knowledge of Portrait Photography, so you will be able to a pro with your DSLR camera and camera settings. Portrait Photography, especially when done in the sun requires specialization in the industry to properly shoot stills and videos which can grow your reputation as a tremendous Portrait Photographer. Remember great digital cameras and some good photography classes wouldn’t hurt, in fact we highly recommend them if you plan on pursuing a photography career. Learning the fundamentals of photography for different lighting conditions like shutter speed, ISO settings for both dimly and brightly lit situations are just a few examples of these fundamentals you should be familiar with prior to starting your business will teach you the right way to be a professional photographer and how to run your own photography business. Many of the ways to learn are available today as online courses.

Be prepared, as a travel photographer or shooting a documentary or vlog that you will be posting to social media. Your hours might be a bit different, but one thing's for certain, it’s a myth that being a professional photographer means you have complete control over your hours. You will have more flexibility than the 9-5 worker, but at the end of the day your schedule is largely determined by that of your potential clients and current clients. If you're shooting portraiture of some office execs downtown, expect to battle the same rush hour traffic as the typical businessperson.

The Customer is Always Right

This old adage is as true for professional photography as it is for any business, the customer is always right. This is especially true if you’re in portraiture or wedding photography. The first thing you’ll learn is that the amazing shot you took at that creative angle where the lighting was simply sublime, won’t mean a thing if the client doesn’t like the way their smile looks.

Marketing and Web Design

You’ll probably spend a lot more time searching for clients and working on your marketing machine then you will at photo shoots. Be prepared to learn the basics of search engine optimization (SEO), internet marketing, basic web design, and lead generation. The first thing you will have to do is set up a website where you can point your services and host your portfolio. There are many ways to do this without having to learning to code. You could hire someone to make a website for you or learn how to use a content management system like WordPress. When you go into business for yourself, maintaining steady streams of income is a must.

It’s Not About Having the Best Camera, It’s About Having the Right Camera

You’re running a business here, and that means you need to make prudent financial decisions about the gear you invest in. When you’re starting out you might not be able to afford the best camera in its class. Sometimes you don’t even want the best camera in its class. It’s often more about finding the right camera for the job. Follow this simple rule and you’ll be more cost effective in your business.

1. For instance, if you are a Vlogger or Content Creator check out the amazing Sony Alpha ZV-E1 Full-frame Interchangeable Lens Mirrorless Vlog Camera. With this full frame wide depth of field powerful Vlogging camera, and it’s powerful 12.1MP Exmor R sensor, made for 4K, sensitivity and speed shooting coupled with amazing smartphone integration and great livestreaming capabilities. Your best work in digital photography is a step away.

2. Another great digital camera option is theCanon EOS R5 Full Frame Mirrorless Camera Body + 24-105mm F4L IS USM Lens Kit. This wonderful Camera Kit contains Canon’s new Full-Frame CMOS Sensor Image Sensor & DIGIC Processor, a 5-axis IBIS In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS) system, High-Speed Shooting up to 20 fps, amazing uncropped 8K RAW and 4K 120P Video (higher frame rates than many DSLR cameras can shoot in 4K and would need to be set to FHD). Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus with a Vari-angle touchscreen LCD and great content storage with dual memory card slots.

3. Is your career in landscape photography? Need the right camera for this? The Sony a7C Full Frame Mirrorless Alpha Camera Body + 28-60mm Lens Kit. This camera is the smallest and lightest full frame mirrorless camera which makes traveling with it a breeze. With amazing connectivity via bluetooth and Wi-Fi with access to the fast 5 ghz spectrum band, great specs, this camera makes the anxiety of lugging around a large heavy camera a thing of the past.

4. Do you specialize in commercial photography? Need a high-end digital DSLR camera that will have the specs and power needed for to create images and video that your clients will view as an art form? Commercial property owners are always looking to lease, lease lease. Therefore, they will want a beautiful photo representation of their building spaces and attractive skylines near their property. When capturing images and video recordings in this field or others a great DSLR camera for you is the Nikon D850 45.7MP Full-Frame FX-Format Digital SLR Camera - Black (Body Only). With it’s included 45.7-megapixel back-side illuminated full frame image sensor, FX-format, Up to 9 FPS continuous shooting with full Autofocus performance, 4K Ultra High Definition full-frame video, 8K time-lapse (wow!), 120p slow-motion, touch focus, 153-point AF system with 99 cross-type sensors, the settings you need whether in autofocus or manual mode can fit your needs.

You’re Going to Have to Spend Money to Make Money

This is probably true of any entrepreneurial endeavor. While you don’t want to buy the most expensive camera without thinking, sometimes the job will require the best camera in its class. It’s all about your current abilities and what the potential client is looking for. Consider rentals if you need a particular lens that’s outside your budget. A lot of your money however will go to things that weren’t exactly at the forefront of your expectations. Long commutes, air travel, hotels, and eating out. In order to create that fine art from your exposure you will need to be a good photo editor. HDR photo editing software like Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop will cost you a pretty penny too.

Remember to Have Fun!

Don’t be discouraged by the amount of work that goes into becoming a part-time or full-time professional photographer. They don’t call it a job for no reason. Even if your clients aren’t looking for the most creative shot, you can always ask them if they’ll let you experiment on the side. As with painting or getting paid for your fine art, you have to put yourself out there before you can get recognized. Keep taking those creative angles, maintain your vlog, and market yourself well. Find a niche that you can truly call your own, and you’ll be well on your way to making your income as a professional photographer!