Do you have a passion for photography that you’d like to turn into a profession? Making money out of photography isn’t easy, but with enough drive and determination you can make it possible. Here are just a few ways to take your photography hobby to the next level.
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Get educated
A formal education isn’t necessary unless you’re hoping to get hired by someone else. Even if you don’t get yourself a qualification, it can be worthwhile reading up on various techniques and terminology. Learning how to edit photos is also important – taking a Photoshop course could be handy.
Equip yourself
Getting the right equipment is also essential. If you’re already a photography enthusiast, you’ll likely have a camera and a few lenses. On top of these essentials, you’ll probably want to stock up on memory cards and get yourself a few accessories such as a light kit for interior shots and a lens cleaning kit. You may also want certain software – this could include general programs like Photoshop and more niche software like Moments Designer. A durable camera bag is also needed for keeping your camera safe from damage when on the go.
Know your niche
Photography is a vast field. Finding your niche will allow you to build up a more focused portfolio that makes you more attractive to employers and clients within than niche. You could focus on events like weddings. You could focus on commercial photography for adverts and packaging. You could work in fashion or music. You could even be a forensic photographer. Experiment and see what kind of photography appeals to you.
Make use of social media
Social media is a very important medium to use when turning photography into a profession. On top of having an Instagram account, you should set up a Facebook and Twitter page for displaying your photos. These are great marketing platforms to show off your style and attract attention. Social media is also a great place to connect with employers and clients. You may be able to find models and companies to work with – Linked In is especially good for this purpose.
Snap up every opportunity
Getting a career in photography requires being bold and grabbing every opportunity you can, especially in the beginning. At first, it could be worth just offering your services for free to build up a portfolio. This could involve doing free shoots for budding models, helping out local businesses by photographing their products for promotional purposes and volunteering to be photographer at a friend’s wedding. You can consider documenting it all with a blog that can allow you to describe each shoot. As for finding paid jobs, don’t just wait for advertised vacancies to come up. Contact companies and potential clients directly and provide links to your work. By doing this you’ll eventually build up a name for yourself and could find that your start attracting business without having to do much groundwork.
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