2 answers
Warren
Student
New Orleans, Louisiana
3
Questions
Asked
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What steps should I take to be a professional photographer?
I always had a liking for taking pictures and wanted to make it a career. #photography
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2 answers
Dennis Cox
President at Photo Explorer Productions, Dennis Cox LLC
44
Answers
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Updated
Dennis’s Answer
"If it was easy, everyone would be doing it." That was what a workshop instructor, a very successful studio photographer in New York City, told me in the 1980s. Photography has always been highly competitive and to have an edge in the technical aspects, especially multiple lighting set ups, was essential at that time.
Well, now that everyone has a camera in their smartphone and digital cameras make shooting in all lighting conditions simple, everyone IS doing it. Stock photography in particular is practically impossible to make a living at now that millions of images are accessible online, many available for licensing for a few dollars (a decade ago a couple of hundred dollars could be charged and relicensing in textbooks, sometimes over and over for several years, was common).
Photojournalism as a career is also dead in the opinion of many. Newspaper photo staffs in many cases were eliminated as reporters were told to take their own digital photos.
So what is left as a photography career? Commercial studio work, often requiring expensive sets, may still be possible for a few professionals with big reputations made with extensive self-promotion. And on the lower end, there seems to be some photographers making a simple living with local clientele doing weddings, family and school portraits, and head shots for small businesses.
So if I haven't discouraged you yet, then my advice for learning to be a professional photographer is either to go the self-taught route while attending workshops and some college classes (how I did it) and/or assisting in a pro studio, or attend a good junior college with a strong commercial photography program that includes business courses. But avoid university programs that will be very expensive and probably teach fine art photography (useful only if you want to be a fine arts professor someday yourself). Expensive commercial photo schools like Rochester's should also be avoided (high end Brooks Institute in California was once another such option but subsequently went out of business).
In my honest opinion, photography is best these days as a hobby or avocation. Getting a college education or technical school training in another area is preferable if you intend to have a good income. And a good income is needed to buy the photography equipment and computers needed to be a photographer, as well as to travel if exploring the world photographically is your passion as it is mine.
Well, now that everyone has a camera in their smartphone and digital cameras make shooting in all lighting conditions simple, everyone IS doing it. Stock photography in particular is practically impossible to make a living at now that millions of images are accessible online, many available for licensing for a few dollars (a decade ago a couple of hundred dollars could be charged and relicensing in textbooks, sometimes over and over for several years, was common).
Photojournalism as a career is also dead in the opinion of many. Newspaper photo staffs in many cases were eliminated as reporters were told to take their own digital photos.
So what is left as a photography career? Commercial studio work, often requiring expensive sets, may still be possible for a few professionals with big reputations made with extensive self-promotion. And on the lower end, there seems to be some photographers making a simple living with local clientele doing weddings, family and school portraits, and head shots for small businesses.
So if I haven't discouraged you yet, then my advice for learning to be a professional photographer is either to go the self-taught route while attending workshops and some college classes (how I did it) and/or assisting in a pro studio, or attend a good junior college with a strong commercial photography program that includes business courses. But avoid university programs that will be very expensive and probably teach fine art photography (useful only if you want to be a fine arts professor someday yourself). Expensive commercial photo schools like Rochester's should also be avoided (high end Brooks Institute in California was once another such option but subsequently went out of business).
In my honest opinion, photography is best these days as a hobby or avocation. Getting a college education or technical school training in another area is preferable if you intend to have a good income. And a good income is needed to buy the photography equipment and computers needed to be a photographer, as well as to travel if exploring the world photographically is your passion as it is mine.
Alwyn Velásquez
Senior Product Designer (UI/UX)
60
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Alwyn’s Answer
Attend a photography school, become an assistant to a well-known photographer and do freelance on the side (even while attending school if you can); take business and marketing courses; find an accountant who understands the photography business and relentlessly hustle for work (great work)! Promote the heck out of yourself as a photographer through all online channels (500pixels, EyeEm, Instagram, Flickr) and even start a Yahoo channel on photography. Success lies in talent and sheer determination to work. Photography is one of the hardest creative endeavors to make continual money.