Everyday Blog

Digital cameras are getting popular and everyone is their own amateur photographer.  But to become a professional does take a lot of hard work and a significant investment in time, effort and money.

In the past, there are only two ways to become a professional photographer: Get a degree or certification in it or study under an already established photographer as a PA (Photographer’s Assistant).  Being a PA is the preferred method as you get on-the-job training to see if photography is right for you.  Look online for a studio that specializes in school photography, on-location shoots such as weddings or business/catalog photography.

The next method, a degree program is also good as you have plenty of time to build a strong portfolio, which is essential for any photography job.  Unlike a PA, you will learn all the technical aspects of photography while building a body of work to land you your first job, which you may be able to get without being a PA at all. It will be easier to find work as a freelance photographer with a degree.  Look for a BFA (Bachelor’s of Fine Arts) as these degrees are more studio intensive.

The third and last option is to go out on your own as a freelance photographer, without a degree or relevant experience.  Becoming a freelance photographer will be much more difficult, its not an impossible route. You need to take as many pictures as you can at as many events as possible, with or without compensation. Develop a strong portfolio (and experience) and have an impressive website.  Put up ads everywhere you can for free, as you need to keep your overhead costs low in the beginning.  Get some good business cards and give them out everywhere you go. Do everything possible so that you can to build your reputation, and make sure you have invested in professional equipment including at least one digital SLR camera body with additional lenses, flashes and some lightings.

Now that you know what are the routes to take in order to start a professional photography career, make sure you know which is the best for you.  It would be a waste to invest all that money into good equipment and have no use for it.