Eye & Pen: Lifestyle, Travel, Photography and Literature
  • Main
  • Blog
  • Topics
    • Accommodations
    • Bucket List
    • Cheap Travel
    • Culture
    • Essay
    • Destinations
    • Inspiration
    • Interviews
    • Narratives
    • Personal
    • Photography
    • Restaurants
    • Reviews
    • Safe Travel
    • Travel Planning
    • Trip Update
    • Weekly Wanderlust
  • Photo Gallery
    • Photo Gallery – All Places
    • Photo Gallery – Aruba
    • Photo Gallery – England
    • Photo Gallery – Europe
    • Photo Gallery – Iceland
    • Photo Gallery – Ireland
    • Photo Gallery – Italy
    • Photo Gallery – Northern Ireland
    • Photo Gallery – Other
    • Photo Gallery – Scotland
    • Photo Gallery – USA
  • Services
    • Blog Coaching
    • Graphic Design
    • Hire Brandon
    • Advertising
  • About Brandon
  • Contact

Tips on becoming a professional photographer

12/10/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
It’s a thrill that only the true photographer can appreciate – the tweaking of the lens and the shutter speed; waiting for the right light to hit before you take your snap and, as the digital viewfinder loads your shot, you’re treated to a perfect picture of your creation.
Within such a hobby there’s always that desire to try and make it professionally, and if you have the right level of talent, determination and fortitude, you’ll find that there are various ways to break into such a competitive creative field.

With that in mind, here are just a few tips to turn your passion-filled snapshots into a profession.

Get a photography degree
Earning a photography degree is the ideal way to ensure that you’ll understand your art and its function in far more detail. It’s certainly one of the best ways to make connections in the photography business, build up a folio and give yourself the time to figure out everything you need to get ahead in the photography industry. 

That’s not even mentioning that you’ll have first-hand contact with tutors who are professionals in their field, allowing you to gleam all you can from their photography-fuelled minds.

Understand your equipment down to the minutest detail
There’s a great story about the infamous film director Alfred Hitchcock that show just what a master of his form he was. After ordering a specific lighting arrangement on set, saying where the camera should be placed, what lens should be used and how it should be focused, he was asked by his director of photography if he’d like to look through the lens to see how the shot looked.

Upon being asked this, he explained that he already knew how the shot looked in his head, so why would he want to look through the lens to see what he already knew? The man understood his equipment in such great detail that he could shoot an entire film in his head, with every specific figured out down to a tee.

While it’s not necessary for you to have quite such a prodigious relationship with your equipment as Mr Hitchcock, it is essential to know every facet of photography if you want to be taken seriously in your field. Figure out your DSLRs from your Dianas and you’ll be far more likely to get paid for the art you love. 

Be prepared to start at the bottom
In any creative field, it’s unrealistic to expect to be paid from the offset for your snapshots. Instead, you’ll have to build up an effective folio that will show your range, professionalism and skill with a camera before any big business comes calling.

The real trick is to find a job wherever you can, doing favors for friends, taking amateur snapshots for websites and smaller magazines, and generally paying your dues before the cash comes rolling in. 

(Photo by mikebaird via Flickr)
(This post was written by Kevin)
2 Comments
Renuka link
12/10/2013 04:10:27 am

Practical tips and helpful too. Even I want to hone my photography skills through a professional course or assisting a learned photographer.

Reply
Brandon Elijah Scott link
12/10/2013 08:30:12 am

Practical tips are definitely helpful. I know there are many community colleges that offer certification courses in photography. This could be a good place to start when looking to enhance your skills.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Sign up for my VIP email list:

Picture
Picture

Article Topics

All
About Blogging
Accommodations
Bucket List
Cheap Travel
Culture
Destinations
Discussion
Entertainment
Environment
Essay
Fine Art Feature
Gear
General
Giveaway
Green Living
Guest Posts
Inspiration
Interviews
Lifestyle
Luxury
Narratives
Not Recommended
Other
Personal
Photography
Restaurants
Reviews
Safe Travel
Trip Planning
Trip Update
USA Road Trip
Video
Weekly Wanderlust

RSS Feed

Monthly Archive

November 2021
September 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012

*Disclaimer: All blog posts featuring products, reviews, or suggestions for products or services are governed by our Disclosure. Products were received free to review, so to provide authentic opinions and content for our readers. The opinions and ideas in this post are the writer's own and are uninfluenced by any other person or business. We receive no compensation for product reviews. Links within non-product review posts may be sponsored.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.