So You Want to be a Photographer!

It seems that everyone who owns a digital camera these days wants to become a photographer. The technology is more advanced than ever before, and the cameras have gotten so smart, anybody can take a decent photo.

I get e-mail from lots of aspiring photographers asking how to get into the business. I'm always amazed when we start talking about depth of field, f-stops and DPI, and they don't have a clue about what I mean.

Becoming a professional photographer is about a lot more than being able to take a decent photo. You need to understand what you did that made your image a good one versus a great one.

You need to understand a few basics about lighting, posing, rule of thirds, and yes, depth of field, f-stops and DPI. You also need to understand basic business principals, marketing, sales and bookkeeping. If you are shooting digital, you also need to understand how to refine your images using software like PhotoShop.

Before you hang out your shingle, I recommend that you take a few classes at your local university. They will usually offer adult continuing education classes in business as well as photography.

If you've already conquered those steps, then seek out local professional photography groups. That's a great way to make contacts with people in your community that can help you continue to learn your craft. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Many photographers will even allow you to visit their studios to get a feel for how they manage their business.

One of the toughest things to do as a new professional is to charge appropriately for the services you offer. If you don't make a profit, then you're pursuing a hobby rather than a business. (Just ask the IRS!)

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a professional photographer, please feel free to join our Aspiring Photographer Mentoring newsletter list. Just drop us an e-mail: MomentsPhoto@aol.com and include "Aspiring Photographer" in the subject line.

Lori Reeder
Moments Photography
www.MomentsPhoto.com
"Capturing Moments of a Lifetime"

For information on reprinting this article, please contact Lori: Lori@MomentsPhoto.com or 812/256-5614