If you’ve ever dreamed of making money from photography, or admired some of the great photographers whose work you’ve seen, you may be wondering what makes a professional photographer. Here, ClickASnap offers you some tips on what you need to improve your photography and even make money from it.
Practice
Digital cameras make it so easy to take lots of photos without costing a fortune. The more you take the more you will understand your digital camera’s settings, get a feel for its limits and be able to jump to the best settings to capture split-second photo opportunities. You will learn which style suits you and what makes for a better image.
As a professional photographer, you will also need to be able to edit and print images, so practice this too!
Qualifications
There are many photography courses aimed at both amateurs and professionals alongside instructional articles and videos online to get you started. Whilst many self-taught photographers turn their hobby into a business, having a professional qualification can help you stand out.
Understanding lighting, camera stops and composition are just some of the subjects you will learn through formal training. Finding a mentor to help and guide you is a good idea too.
Collaboration
Joining a camera club or an online photo sharing site will allow you to mingle with those sharing your love of photography. You can share images and view other photographers’ work, as well as having a great way to store and organise your images.
Photo sharing sites offer unlimited free storage and a chance to start earning from your photos every time an image is viewed. Online community forums offer help, hints and tips, access to used equipment and some even have a shop for you to sell merchandise featuring your images.
Experience
When it comes to time, you can’t make it go faster, but you can cram in what you do with it. Shadowing an experienced photographer is a good way to learn and gain valuable experience. Offering free photoshoots to friends and family will also give you experience and the chance to build up a portfolio of work. If your focus is nature and landscapes, get out and about and always have your camera with you.
Constructive criticism
Praise and criticism are both important, finding out what others really think of your work will help you grow as a photographer. If you want to become a professional photographer, understanding how others see and feel about your images is all part of you growing and developing. Share your photos and welcome opinions see them as an opportunity to learn.
Most importantly of all these tips is to enjoy your photography, as it will radiate in the images and stories you create. Whatever niche you decide on for your professional work, don’t forget to find time to take photos for your pleasure. Turning a hobby into work can see you lose the love, and to be the best it’s important to keep that love for photography alive.
