Professional Photographer

How to Become a Professional Photographer

Taking up photography as a profession is a great career choice if you want to make it big in the creative field. Being a photographer does not mean just possessing a photography camera. It takes great skill to learn the art and technicalities of being a good photographer. You should learn how to stand apart from other professional photographers.

I am getting started.
To start off, invest in a good quality DSLR camera. There are many brands to choose from. Do thorough research on the types and brands of DSLR cameras available. Once you have made your choice, visit stores for an in-depth demonstration of how to handle and operate your new camera. Or if you’re purchasing online, do read the user manual thoroughly. If you are not sure about your photographing capabilities, you can invest in a second-hand camera or borrow one till you're confident in working with your own.

I am learning about photography.
No photographer is born as one. You have to learn the techniques and the rules and laws of photography. Enroll yourself in workshops in and around your locality to get hands-on experience. You can also take up photography classes either online or in person to learn a bit more in-depth. They might even teach you tips and tricks and things you didn’t even know. Pick up some reference books if you want and just give your camera a go.

Invest in good quality lenses of different kinds.
Once you have learnt the basics of photography, it is time to learn about different types of camera lenses and how they will benefit you in different ways. There are many lenses to choose from; from the simple wide-angle lens to zoom lens of varying focal lengths to macro lenses to telephoto lenses. Each lens is unique in the way they help the photographer in taking the perfect picture.

Practice makes perfect.

Once you got your technique and camera down, take it out for a spin. Practice taking pictures indoors and outdoors to learn about different angles and flattering lighting techniques. Take pictures of various objects, animals, and people. Learn about the effects and tricks in terms of camera movement and lighting. Only through trial and error will you learn and improve.

Get adjusted in manual mode first.
Every professional photographer knows all the nooks and crannies of their camera. To operate in manual mode, you first need to learn all the terms, such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Once you are accustomed to working your camera manually, you will be well aware of what you should do to improve your photograph.Automatic mode is preferred by newly starting out photographers, but to show off your pro mode, you will need to adapt first to manual mode in your camera.

Mastering lighting.
Photography lighting is crucial to make your pictures pop. You can invest in external lighting for a small price or learn to tamper with your ISO for brighter pictures. External lighting gives added depth to the subject. Hence it is highly recommended by professional photographers especially if you are specializing in indoor photography. If you are a beginner, you can invest in an external flash to practice, and it is a lot cheaper than buying a light set, especially if you're just starting out.

Learn some good photo editing software.
Editing a photo is not just a skill, it is an art. Editing is not the same as manipulation, but both can be used if absolutely necessary. Editing is the process in slightly changing the color, texture, clarity, and brightness of the image, whereas manipulation is the alteration of the image to change it from what it originally was completely. There are many software to choose from, the most popular ones being Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. There are even classes based on various editing software, or you can self-teach it yourself. The purpose of editing a photo is only to highlight specific areas or enhance the image. Most professionals don't usually use or recommend it, but for artistic reasons, it is allowed.

Pick a Niche.
If you are passionate about one particular niche photography, then practice and learn more about it. If you’re into wildlife photography, wedding photography or portrait photography, pick your specialty and try working hard to perfect it. Once you’ve mastered your specialty, you can give out your services to friends and family and eventually build your company. But don’t narrow down your opportunity that makes it hard to grow. Portrait photographers can also shoot a wedding or commercial photographs too.

In the end, if you got the passion, heart, and skill for photography, you can surely make it big in this creative industry.