A simple guide to mastering the art of photography, As we continue to witness massive change and improvement in technology, the field of photography have not only enhanced, its importance in both local and global scene have with time become a crucial part of the improving technological advancements.
In the modern day, digital photography emerged and have become an explosive field; providing strong economic contribution; through job creation, documentary and record keeping etc.
This article provides you with complete and simple steer on how to become a professional photographer.
Becoming a photographer is an interesting and a tasking expedition; which requires passion and consistency for perfection to be achieved.
Nine Step Guide on How To Become a Professional photographer
- Raise the right questions:
Put together list of questions that will help you get a clearer picture about the art of photography, these will help you ruminate on the course of your journey to becoming a professional photographer. Let these questions strengthen your conviction about what you are about to venture into
Ask yourself questions like:
- What motivates me?
- How do I improve my skills?
- Am I prepared to start small and persevere alone?
- Can I work alone as a photography professional?
- Which photography niche excites me?
- What are the gaps that I can fulfill in my local area?
- What value would I offer to my clients?
Set out and take the bull by the horn, commit yourself to the art; take more photos and continue taking them,
Enroll for online photography contests while you perfect in the art.
Make sure you take photos every day, in this we competence can be achieved
- Attend workshops and seminars:
Allow yourself the chance of networking and sharing ideas with your fellow photographers. Join groups on Face book and other social networks, join photographers forum and join those within your locality and attend seminars and workshops; this will keep you abreast with new developments in the industry.
- Get a photography mentor:
You will need guidance from a person who is more experienced in the field of photography; they will help you find an answer to your numerous questions,
Whereas you can check for answers to your question via online communities.
Find a proficient photographer to guide you. Help him out in his assignments and start learning the essentials of photography business from him.
- Obtain the right photography learning:
Photography is one of the few industries where structured learning is not preconditioned for your growth; you can learn photography yourself, practice and improve on your skills.
There so many online courses one can take ranging from; Udemy, Alison, Adorama to YouTube.
A lot of skilled photographers have taken photography courses at top photography schools, universities, or design institutes. Besides a formal course of instruction to develop their skillfulness, a photographer should have an ardent passion, oodles of creativity, and technical skill, decide wisely from the many Photography Courses available.
- Find and participate in photography internship:
Internship affords you the opportunity to practice and upgrade your skill.
Photography internship opportunities can be outsourced from the internet; you can also take internship proposals to professional photographers within your locality. It is important to note that internships also offer you the
platform to learn about ways to market your skills, helps you establish client base; thereby adding credit to your portfolio.
- Get into a niche:
Up next! Get yourself into a niche, photography is so vast; therefore you should choose an area of specialty in it, this will give you leverage and make you stand out among other photographers.
Employ your creativity to art and create your own kind of story
Below are various niches you can venture into;
- Portrait photography
- Landscape photography
- Street photography
- Head shot photography
- Still life photography
- Food photography
- Sports photography
- Wildlife photography
There are too numerous to mention, so find your area of focus and improve on your expertise.
- Get your photography equipment:
Now, you need to get together good cameras, lenses and other vital equipment and catch up to work.
You need good camera to capture high quality images; don’t go and make exorbitant purchases that will wreck your financial capacity.
You can start up by purchasing fairly used equipment but in all make sure you get the right equipment for the type of photography you are focusing on.
Also make sure you invest in the right hardware for post production, you can also rent some expensive material that you cannot purchase at the moment.
- Practice diligently:
Set out and take the bull by the horn, commit yourself to the art; take more photos and continue taking them,
Enroll for online photography contests while you perfect in the art.
Make sure you take photos every day, in this we competence can be achieved.
- Attend workshops and seminars:
Allow yourself the chance of networking and sharing ideas with your fellow photographers. Join groups on Face book and other social networks, join photographers forum and join those within your locality and attend seminars and workshops; this will keep you abreast with new developments in the industry.
- Build your portfolio:
it’s time to make your mark in the industry, create your unique signature and create your own unique photos, up your skill and build relationship with your clients; create social media pages and websites where you can upload your beautiful works for appraisal.
Dear budding photographers, you have all it takes now to master your game in the field of photography, apply the above highlighted steps and see your self grow tremendously into a unique master piece, in addition to the outlined steps, position yourself to market your skills, we will bring you how to best to market your photography skills in our next article
CONGRATULATIONS! For having the courage to begin, you have no limit to what you can be!
