How do you know if you are good enough to go into photography professionally? For the last few years I've had family and friends saying I should go into portrait photography professionally and other people when they see my photos ask if I am a professional photographer (in my dreams!!!). The thing is I'm still learning (I'm self-taught) and in all honesty I know I can take a nice photo but I don't think they are that brilliant, maybe once in a blue moon I luck out and get a good shot.
So yeah, how do you know if you are good enough? And if you are how do you then go about starting off professionally?
I don't know how to help you on getting started, but I don't think you ever reach a point where you're "good enough" - regardless of how good you are to start with, you'll improve anyway.
I don't know how you would know. I'd love to make a living from photography, but at the moment I know I haven't learnt enough yet, and I don't have the right equipment anyway. I've just started a facebook page just to get my work out there, and see what kind of feedback I get while I just keep learning.
I don't have any advice on how to start up sorry, but I am interested in finding out so I'll be interested to see the replies.
I'm also a beginner and I guess learning will never stop. Even when you're at the peak of your professional career you'll still be learning new things. That's what s great about this thing called photography. From what I have been reading I can suggest you start taking small assignments and feedbacks on those little assignments will help you grow. Start with children's birthday party etc. I don't know if it'd help but I guess you've got to start somewhere right?
starting to make an income from photography is harder than most people think, you have to think about what area of photography to speciallise in, that is your bread and butter, if you can find an avenue that others have overlooked then you can start making a decent wage, if you focus on stuff like portraits, art photography and the like then you will find that the market place is awash with photographers, those that are not better than you usually find a way of undercutting your fees. so its these areas that your photos have to stand out. I have met loads of people who expect a career in photography to be glamerous and fun making huge amounts of cash for something they enjoy, but behind it all there is a lot to think about, you are in effect running a business so you need to think about taxes insurance paperwork e.t.c. The best way to start if you dont want the hassle is to look for jobs working with other photography companies, they are few and far between but they are out there just got to get yourself an awesome portfolio :) failing all that you could always take your best work, print them up put them into mounts and head off to sell your photos at craft fayres :)
Ive known You "Online" for a while now and seen Your Photos over the years and I think You are fantastic! I dont think Im too good with Portraits, I prefer to do Abstract Arty Shots, Your Portraits are always so good and I think You'd do well if You were to get into it for a living, Sorry not really answered Your question have I but just wanted to let You know what I think of Your work :)
Believe it or not, becoming a professional photographer has very little to do with "how good you are." You have to look at photography as you do any other business: you have a product, you wish to sell it, you have to find a market to do that.
A lot of people think being a professional photographer means they shoot photos 40 hours a week. Wrong.
A lot of people think being a professional photographer means owning expensive equipment. Wrong.
A lot of people think being a professional photographer means slapping the words "Professional Photographer" on their Facebook page. Wrong.
A few people think being a professional photographer means earning enough money to support themselves and a business. Right.
At least in the United States there are many laws surrounding becoming a professional photographer. As with any other business, you must file a DBA (Doing Business As) plan with your local government, if you have a studio space you must have a business license, you have to have a separate banking account to handle all financial transactions, and you must pay taxes on your business income. In my life, I've seen three photographers lose everything because they committed tax fraud or were convicted of illegal business practices.
You see, being a professional photographer is much, much more than just calling yourself that and then shooting portraits or landscapes or whatever a few hours a week. You have a business, you have to pay taxes, you need a business license, you need insurance for your equipment, and you need the insurance.
Did you know it was illegal to call yourself "Joe Somebody Photography" without a DBA? Did you know it was illegal to have someone write a check to "Joe Somebody Photography" and deposit that check in your personal checking account? Did you know it was illegal to accept cash for all your photography and not report it on your personal income taxes?
Here is the way to look at it: do you have a product someone will want to buy? Can you sell enough of that product to make a living? Can you pay all your business expenses and still make a profit?
Being a professional photographer is more than just taking great photos. It is a business. You need to do it legally, you need to make a profit, you need to support yourself. Can you do that?
@jasonbarnette@asrai - both of these are great advice. Its not as easy as putting your photographs up and someone buying them. Trust me I have tried that for years.
Look at it this way.. Photography is an art.. everyone has their own style and their own flare of what they like and how they portray what it is. To sell your art you have to have a fan base.. And I am sorry I do not mean friends and family - though they are good for getting you started. I mean people who you do not know who look at your work and go "Wow, I like this person's work"
I have spent the last 2 years building a fan base, developing my skills, flare and my own style of what I like.. It is a constant learning process and while I have sold the odd print here and there and had the odd shoot here and there it has not been something I could make a living off. But it is something I am passionate about so I have kept with it.
Hang in there it is a long road but one that is really rewarding when you get there
If you like portrait work, that's fine but it may help your advancement to try and join forces with a successful local photographer. Even if you team up with a wedding photographer as second camera it will give you experience.
Try doing something educational to, if you gain a qualification, like an A level you can get immediate entry into the Royal Photographic Society and that alone makes you more marketable. I've done all of these things and am now doing a degree in photography. I've done weddings, events etc, but I've decided that I enjoy photography too much and want to keep it purely as a passion.
10 years ago I would have walked over hot coals to become a pro photographer and in many ways wish I had. I had a very good job and a very expensive family and guess I chickened out. Go at it slowly to start with, you've undoubtably got a natural talent. I wish you luck, but if it's something you really want you will find a way..
Build up your portfolio by doing free shoots. Email local photogs to do mentor sessions. They're more likely to help you if you can show them your work when you email them. Start off cheap and as you build a client base, increase your prices. I like to keep prices just below the better photogs in my area.
You'll never know till you try! So go try.
Thank you all for your replies and great advice and suggestions.
Studying - I would love to do a photography course be it A-Level of something else. Sadly at the moment I don't have the money or time to do it but, probably won't have that time for another couple of years.
All that comes with your own business - My Dad runs his own business, my Mum is a book keeper and my husband has a law degree so on aspects involving that side of business I'm very lucky in having readily available and wonderful help and advice.
Bulding up a portfolio etc - Last year I did start up a facebook page ( http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sarah-White-Photography/123779384317253) to try and promote myself but also offering free photoshoots for free so I could (a) build up my portfolio and (b) get some experience of interacting with people I didn't know. I had two wonderful ladies I didn't know take up my offer and two wonderful friends also take up the offer. I also have a "poster" up in my eldest son's school Parents Room. It's just trying to get the confidence to be more forward in putting across what I am offering and maybe having more faith in my abilities.
Mentor sessions - We do have a photographers about a ten minute walk from where we live and I did wonder about approaching them to see about mentoring etc, but I really don't have any idea how exactly to go about this and what to say to them. I know that if I was studying it would maybe be easier to approach them but would they show any interest in someone who isn't studying?
Making Money -Oh I don't believe it's a quick and easy way to make money and every photographer makes "millions", in fact if I did go into business very affordable photography is what I would like to offer, some places just ask silly money for photos when at times if say you are a parent all you want is a keepsake photo or two of your child. I have ideas about packages and costs I would like to offer.
AGain thank you all for your replies and thoughts, it has given me a lot to think over and look into.
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I don't have any advice on how to start up sorry, but I am interested in finding out so I'll be interested to see the replies.
Your photos are fantastic by the way :)
Ive known You "Online" for a while now and seen Your Photos over the years and I think You are fantastic! I dont think Im too good with Portraits, I prefer to do Abstract Arty Shots, Your Portraits are always so good and I think You'd do well if You were to get into it for a living, Sorry not really answered Your question have I but just wanted to let You know what I think of Your work :)
A lot of people think being a professional photographer means they shoot photos 40 hours a week. Wrong.
A lot of people think being a professional photographer means owning expensive equipment. Wrong.
A lot of people think being a professional photographer means slapping the words "Professional Photographer" on their Facebook page. Wrong.
A few people think being a professional photographer means earning enough money to support themselves and a business. Right.
At least in the United States there are many laws surrounding becoming a professional photographer. As with any other business, you must file a DBA (Doing Business As) plan with your local government, if you have a studio space you must have a business license, you have to have a separate banking account to handle all financial transactions, and you must pay taxes on your business income. In my life, I've seen three photographers lose everything because they committed tax fraud or were convicted of illegal business practices.
You see, being a professional photographer is much, much more than just calling yourself that and then shooting portraits or landscapes or whatever a few hours a week. You have a business, you have to pay taxes, you need a business license, you need insurance for your equipment, and you need the insurance.
Did you know it was illegal to call yourself "Joe Somebody Photography" without a DBA? Did you know it was illegal to have someone write a check to "Joe Somebody Photography" and deposit that check in your personal checking account? Did you know it was illegal to accept cash for all your photography and not report it on your personal income taxes?
Here is the way to look at it: do you have a product someone will want to buy? Can you sell enough of that product to make a living? Can you pay all your business expenses and still make a profit?
Being a professional photographer is more than just taking great photos. It is a business. You need to do it legally, you need to make a profit, you need to support yourself. Can you do that?
Look at it this way.. Photography is an art.. everyone has their own style and their own flare of what they like and how they portray what it is. To sell your art you have to have a fan base.. And I am sorry I do not mean friends and family - though they are good for getting you started. I mean people who you do not know who look at your work and go "Wow, I like this person's work"
I have spent the last 2 years building a fan base, developing my skills, flare and my own style of what I like.. It is a constant learning process and while I have sold the odd print here and there and had the odd shoot here and there it has not been something I could make a living off. But it is something I am passionate about so I have kept with it.
Hang in there it is a long road but one that is really rewarding when you get there
Try doing something educational to, if you gain a qualification, like an A level you can get immediate entry into the Royal Photographic Society and that alone makes you more marketable. I've done all of these things and am now doing a degree in photography. I've done weddings, events etc, but I've decided that I enjoy photography too much and want to keep it purely as a passion.
10 years ago I would have walked over hot coals to become a pro photographer and in many ways wish I had. I had a very good job and a very expensive family and guess I chickened out. Go at it slowly to start with, you've undoubtably got a natural talent. I wish you luck, but if it's something you really want you will find a way..
You'll never know till you try! So go try.
Thank you all for your replies and great advice and suggestions.
Studying - I would love to do a photography course be it A-Level of something else. Sadly at the moment I don't have the money or time to do it but, probably won't have that time for another couple of years.
All that comes with your own business - My Dad runs his own business, my Mum is a book keeper and my husband has a law degree so on aspects involving that side of business I'm very lucky in having readily available and wonderful help and advice.
Bulding up a portfolio etc - Last year I did start up a facebook page ( http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sarah-White-Photography/123779384317253) to try and promote myself but also offering free photoshoots for free so I could (a) build up my portfolio and (b) get some experience of interacting with people I didn't know. I had two wonderful ladies I didn't know take up my offer and two wonderful friends also take up the offer. I also have a "poster" up in my eldest son's school Parents Room. It's just trying to get the confidence to be more forward in putting across what I am offering and maybe having more faith in my abilities.
Mentor sessions - We do have a photographers about a ten minute walk from where we live and I did wonder about approaching them to see about mentoring etc, but I really don't have any idea how exactly to go about this and what to say to them. I know that if I was studying it would maybe be easier to approach them but would they show any interest in someone who isn't studying?
Making Money -Oh I don't believe it's a quick and easy way to make money and every photographer makes "millions", in fact if I did go into business very affordable photography is what I would like to offer, some places just ask silly money for photos when at times if say you are a parent all you want is a keepsake photo or two of your child. I have ideas about packages and costs I would like to offer.
AGain thank you all for your replies and thoughts, it has given me a lot to think over and look into.