Becoming a Professional Photographer - Part One

getting started

Sep 19

Written By

So, you have a nice camera. Your friends and family keep telling you that your work is phenomenal and looks professional. You love taking pictures.

How do you know if you should jump in and be a photographer? What does it all entail? How do you even get started?!

Those are three questions that have pretty lengthy answers, so I may end up breaking this into more than one blog post once I’m done writing it all out. But here’s the deal - if you are looking for the nice “everyone should be a photographer!” answer, you should probably just move on and not read the rest of this. Not everyone is cut out for this business. Some people are amazing at taking pictures but can not make it as a professional photographer for other reasons, and I’m not about to pretend that everyone can.

Take what is written here with a grain of salt (and maybe a margarita to go with it), and know that in the end - you know what is best for you. No matter what I say here - it’s your life, and I would rather you do whatever it is that makes you the happiest!

How do you know if you should be a photographer

You love learning - about photographs, light, people, cameras, settings, flashes… all of it excites you. You love feedback, are willing to learn from mistakes, and can take constructive criticism.
You love people - ok, this is more relevant if you are looking at wedding or portraits, and not quite so much if you are looking into being a landscape or nature photographer. But really, all aspects of photography as a profession will deal with people. Even if it’s just the people you are selling your work to after it’s all completed.
You are willing to hustle for the first 3-5 years. Most photography businesses fail within the first 3 years. The one’s that don’t? They are working on their business, learning everything they can, and applying it all in order to make it. This isn’t a get-rich-quick job. It is a work-for-hours-upon-hours-doing-something-you-love type of job.
You are willing to put just as much work into the business side of your business as you are the shooting side. You will not survive if you don’t learn how to run a business. When people ask me about what sort of classes they should take in college to be a successful photographer, the last thing I suggest is classes on photography - business and marketing are my number one suggestions. You need to know how to run a business, market your business, and make tough choices.
You are willing to spend money to make this work. Photography equipment is expensive. Yes, you can take good pictures with a lower quality camera and kit lens. You CAN. But you will be limited on how good that camera and lens perform, and what lighting you can photograph in.
You are willing to learn from others…. This sort of goes with number 4 and 5 - You can either work hard and long, and slowly grow, and look back and thing “how did I ever think I was good when I started?!” (True story, I think that every time I look back). Or you can mentor with another seasoned photographer to have them get you to a place where you can start making a livable income off of photography. But mentors cost. And good mentors cost more. And why would you ever learn from a mediocre mentor instead of a seasoned professional? Most of those seasoned photographers have put in a lot of time and a lot of money to get to where they are at in their business. Please do not expect them to help you out for free just because this day and age photographers are all about community over competition. I am 100% for community over competition (obviously, or this blog wouldn’t exist), but being wiling to help out a friend is different from someone expecting help for free just because they want to start a business. Be willing to pay if you want to learn from someone else. (I do offer limited mentoring sessions - see here)
Final point for today - you have had someone that is not a friend or family member review your work. Yes, willingness to learn and passion for photography matters most - but if your friends and family are just being nice, you probably need an unbiased opinion. (I’m happy to review anything! Just shoot me a message here: contact me)