Photography 101: Here’s What Every Budding Photographer Needs To Know

I’ve always been someone that’s had more than a passing interest in photography. In my spare time, I love nothing more than to go out and take a few snaps of wildlife scenes in my local area. For some people, though, they want to turn their interest in photography into a career.

If you wish to make a living behind the lens, it’s easier than you might think. The difference between one that makes a little and a lot of money is knowledge. As with most things in life, the more you know about a subject, the better it is for your skills. After all; pro photography isn’t just about pointing and clicking only!

Those of you that want to get started as a photographer should take on board the following points:

You need to work for yourself

The majority of photographers in the world work for themselves. Sure, you might find some working for companies. But, those are usually firms that offer other services too. In other words; they are just an agency of photographers.

Being a freelancer gives you the freedom to work whenever you wish, and for whoever you want. It’s one of those career paths that offers flexibility. As you can appreciate, that’s brilliant news if you’ve got a family in tow!

Working for yourself might sound like a scary prospect but it isn’t. Some people might tell you that you’ve got “job security” if you work as an employee for someone else. But, let me say that there’s no such thing as job security! If you lose your job, you may find it hard to get a new one, especially in today’s current economic climate.

When you work as a freelance photographer, you can enjoy having several revenue streams. As an employee, you have just one! That means you have the potential to earn more than you ever could working for someone else. Plus, you’re more likely to have a regular incoming being your own boss. It’ll really help to create your own photography website, too

You need some training

Photographers will often tell you that they teach themselves what they know. While I admire that fact, it doesn’t mean you still can’t “proper” training! For example, you could enrol on an online photography course to learn all you need to know on the subject. And some folks might even attend evening classes at their local college.

While it’s not mandatory, I recommend getting some proper training. That way, you’ve got a good base to build on when you wish to expand your knowledge.

You need a camera

As obvious as it sounds, you can’t do any work without the right tools for the job! Believe it or not, you don’t need to spend thousands on a brand new digital SLR camera.

If money is tight, you could always buy a refurbished one and pick up second-hand lenses.  You can also consider lens rentals in Pittsburg.  As your business develops, you could then invest in a new camera with more features.

You need a portfolio

Last, but not least, potential customers need to see the quality of your work. The easiest way to do that is by setting up a portfolio website. They can then check out your previous work before contacting you to get a quote.

Good luck!