Have you ever wondered that what if you could make Photography your career? Have you ever imagined getting paid just from clicking pictures? Well, there are certain options in this career path, sometimes if you get lucky, then you might get the chance to roam around the world and explore new places through your passion, that is Photography. How cool is that? Getting paid and enjoying your hobby at the same time. Now, this is something that is up to you that you want to do part-time or FULL TIME in this field. You do not even have to do your boring office jobs and push your hobby to the edge, just to meet month ends. But again, it is not all cherry blossoms, and you have to stay aware of plenty of things before you plunge in.
No doubt, Photography can be as great as a hobby to make some extra cash here and there, but there is a different section of knowledge that you have to acquire if you actually want to have it as your main gigs like a full-time job or business without having a backup plan of another job in mind.
LEARN THE BASICS
Whatever you do, it is very important to know your basics to the core so that you will be even more confident in whatever you do. Other people’s opinions won’t get to your head because you know well.
Learn about the terminologies because if you are growing your own brand or thinking of joining a firm or company as a professional photographer, then you must know your words. What terms are needed in which place because it reflects your awareness and the quality of attention to detail. If you truly want to ace in Photography, you should be able to figure out the terms and knowledge about shutter speed, apertures, white balance, light meter, and all the basic settings that you necessarily need to know so you can get a hold onto the exact thing that your client wants from you. The easiest way to get clients on your good side is understanding and in a right way what they want and how they want it. The less time you take in getting yourself on the same page as them, the more chances of them in becoming a potential client of your brand.
IDENTIFY YOUR NICHE
In a world, where everyone is inspired and influenced by other professionals in all respective fields, The niche factor is very necessary for a photographer to know what is unique in(and for) them. It is very crucial for photographers who are new in the career field to know what different they can offer to their company or clients. I believe, everyone has their own signature styles, but obviously it won’t show up suddenly. You have to experience a lot of hit and trails to finally find your unique style.
Well let me let you in, here is a way to know what actually is your niche. Find out what genre of Photography catches your interest, observe what kind of genre do you follow, mostly without having a second thought.
It might seem like It’s tough to adjust your focus if you’ve shot and played with a lot of genres of Photography. What if there’s a particular genre of Photography that you would really love to shoot in, but you’ve not tried it for once? If you’re an amateur photographer, now is the time to explore and experiment by trying out as many genres as you are able to. Take classes on a different kind of Photography, let’s start with nature photography or maybe Street photography. Pay extra attention to what genres of Photography excite you, and what you love the most. Those are the key points in finding your niche. After cracking the jackpot, you can always have room for improvement. Polish your uniqueness and show your best creativity in your portfolio, which is my next point.
CREATE A PORTFOLIO
A great portfolio helps a photographer to quickly and simply present their work with their potential clients. An attractive portfolio will let you have plenty of work, while an unattractive one will bring you very fewer clients and that too with less payment. But what does it take to create a great portfolio? And how do you recognize non-doable one, even while you are the one reviewing your own work?
While it is not important or does not come with a hard and fast rule to have a template, portfolios are like a mirror of the photographer. It shows what he or she is or what they are capable of bringing out at its best. Every photographer has their their own style, and these portfolios are just as varied as an individual photographer’s personality. Here are some points that might make your life a little easier.
Don’t include similar images – you might include a single genre but try to add various kinds of photos related to the same genre. Keep the genre consistent but bring out variations that you can offer your client to get them on your side.
Do cut back – don’t think adding everything from your bucket will help your portfolio. It will just confuse your client and make it harder to seal the deal. Add only your BEST shots. Don’t use images that might look inconsistent with your style. If you have a photo with perfect composition and exposure, but if it’s not going with your typical style, don’t add it. Your portfolio should explain more than just the fact that you have the knowledge of the technical aspects of Photography. It should present your artistic magic too.
RESEARCH ABOUT YOUR MARKET VALUE
Now let’s talk money! One of the most important topics to clear your doubts about from the very first beginning. If you are thinking of starting something professionally and launching it in the market, then do your research about the market first. See what the initial legit rate a professional photographer would charge is, and then you can search for the top-level numbers afterward. Many amateur commercial photographers make their mistake in setting their prices. Most of them set a low bar and get underpaid for a longer time. This wouldn’t be helpful for you if you want to make Photography your main gig.
You need to see your financial sheet. How much is your expenses every month, how much you are paying for the taxes and etc. it would be a downfall if you don’t make aground in the market with the collective value of your work? How much it is taking to print out, how much is going in your traveling while working on a project for your client, how much contribution you would like to put in from your gear’s section. If you are doing indoor shoots, how much your electric and lighting bills are charging you. Everything should be noted down properly and from that make your conclusion with keeping the market study you did earlier, in mind. Or, you might want to try out Freelancing.
OUTLOOK :
You have to keep this in mind that if you are in the initial phase of making the transition, you have a real jackpot because you have the opportunity to bring out some extraordinary ways to make your work different and amazing and really stand out in the market.