For many, the allure of becoming a professional photographer is a strong one, and it’s not difficult to see why. The ability to capture moments that will last forever in perfect clarity can take a few years of practise to get right, but it can be a fascinating and fulfilling profession that thousands of people around the world delight in, and can even end up paying enough to live off. This is a breakdown of what it takes to become a professionally paid photographer.
Photography Courses
The best place to start is by attending a few photography courses, which are usually hosted by a veteran photographer that wants to try and teach what they’ve learnt. These classes can vary in price, but some of the most expensive ones can see a beginner photographer learning how cameras work, the best kinds of light to use, and even some editing skills to make their work more appealing. These are obviously ideal for anyone wanting to take up a profession as a photographer, as they provide on-hand experience that can’t be found through online lectures or books, but these courses usually also demand a higher asking price.
Getting The Right Gear
This is the next big challenge, and perhaps the one that’s most likely to put off new photographers due to the high prices of cameras and camera equipment. This depends entirely on the type of photography that a beginner is interested in, but for the most part, a DSLR camera is mandatory, which includes the camera body, the lenses, the case, storage cards, and a computer or laptop to edit the photos that are taken.
DSLR cameras are some of the most expensive items around, with many complete camera packages being worth thousands of dollars. For those that want to break into the photo world on a budget, they might have to try and find second hand camera equipment before they can start.
Take Pictures
With gear in tow, the next step is to take as many pictures as possible. This serves a number of purposes, with the most prominent being that it allows practise with the equipment being used, the best kinds of light, and learning how aperture and shutter settings work.
This is a great time to start understanding what makes a good picture and what doesn’t, and what actions need to be taken to improve the overall quality of a picture. For those that want to photograph models, for example, will need to learn the right placement of lighting as well as which settings are able to best capture the model’s face and/or body.
Software and Editing
Another important skill that a photographer needs to learn is how to properly edit the photos that they have taken. This means working with software such as Adobe Photoshop, which is a powerful tool that can enhance the quality of any image, or give it new qualities altogether.
Software like Photoshop might seem daunting to use at first, but it can be a very useful tool that gives the photographer better post processing results and ultimately better pictures.
