Do you dream of becoming a professional photographer? You might wonder how to get started, whether or not you need a degree in photography or if it’s a profitable career path. In this guide, we’ll take a look at six pathways to starting your career. You might decide that some avenues are more in sync with your personality and ideas, and that’s okay. The main takeaway of this piece is to show you there is more than one way to become a photographer.
Once you’ve decided that this is the career you want to follow, it’s important to give yourself an opportunity to both practice your skills and develop new ones for the long-term. Being number one in the industry isn’t a must, but you do need to make sure your skills are on par with business standards. Learning as much as you can early on will ensure that your final photographs are always of outstanding quality, even as your natural style emerges and you experiment with different niches.
Start Doing Portraits of Family and Friends
Those you know can provide a wide range of real lifestyle models for your burgeoning portfolio. Get your camera set up and experiment with different types of shoots; some could be designed as e-commerce clothing shoots; others could be family portraits. Your loved ones will get keepsake imagery for free while you get an array of versatile experience.
Working with people you know gives you a low-risk environment to practice your skills and figure out what type of photography you enjoy shooting. Not everyone wants to do lifestyle portraits, and that’s fine. But flexing your skills in a variety of settings will allow you to diversify your portfolio and become more employable.
Set Up a Social Media Account Exclusively for Photography
Sharing all your professional work on a personal account can hinder your image as a photographer. Have an account that’s solely for business, and upload your best shots there. Make sure you tag your location that might help you attract new clients. For example, #houstonphotographer or #atlantaweddingphotographer can help your posts show up when potential clients are searching for professionals online. Social media is also a fantastic way to easily share your digital portfolio with potential employers.
You shouldn’t forgo a website, though. Instead, use social media as your main hub and keep a portfolio on the web as a resume. Combining both will give you the most well-rounded professional image and enable you to attract clients from both Instagram and Google. You may even decide to inventively promote some of your work using TikTok, where thousands of people will get a behind-the-scenes look at how you bring shoots to life or edit images.
Take Workshops (Focus on Education)
Once you decide what type of professional photographer you want to be, it’s time to invest in yourself and improve your photography and editing skills. Simply put, like most things, the more you shoot and work on your craft, the better you will become. Many people believe it takes 10,000 hours of work to truly master a skill.
Learning from an experienced mentor in person or on an online course or workshop can speed up this process dramatically. Going back to college or university is not always the best option for aspiring professional photographers, as it can be quite expensive with no guarantee of a job at the end. It is definitively worth weighing the options and costs involved. For some people, it may be a better decision to stay at your day job while you train and learn the skill set required.
Another option would be to assist or second shoot once you have the basics mastered. Often these jobs will not be advertised, so you will need to reach out to local professional photographers and studios. Our recommendation is utilizing our SLR Lounge Premium Membership to develop your skills.
Look for Jobs as a Photographer’s Assistant
It isn’t glamorous, but hauling equipment and setting up shoots can teach you the ropes and give you a chance to learn from a professional. This is the common career path for most self-taught artists, especially those who have decided to forgo higher education and want to learn through direct work experience instead. Some of your duties as an assistant may include:
- Preparing cameras and equipment for shooting
- Staging the set for a shoot, including lighting and props
- Directing clients on how to pose during a shoot
- Changing settings or swapping out props during shootings
- Booking appointments, scheduling consultations, and responding to phone calls and emails on behalf of the photographer or agency
- Editing images with software like Photoshop and Lightroom
Choose Your Genre
After you’ve done a few shoots and gotten some real-world experience, hone on a specific genre. There are many genres of photography from aerial to underwater and everything in between. Follow your passion and shoot what you love, but make sure that you choose a niche with actual customer demand. Although some genres may not pay as well as others, if you follow your passion, you will have much more fun and satisfaction.
Read Pye’s thoughts on specializing here. If you decide to pursue the wedding genre, be sure to read our article on How to Become a Wedding Photographer in One Year.
Decide on Shooting for Others or Opening Your Own Studio
Being a professional photographer is more than just taking and delivering good pictures. Unless you’re shooting for another studio, you’ll need to wear the many hats of a small business. Yes, that means you’ll be an accountant, marketer, HR, customer relations manager, salesman (or woman), etc. You’ll need to decide between three primary options:
- Start a business on your own
- Start a business with a business partner
- Shoot with other studios
MArket and Advertise Locally
Reach out to small businesses in your area, like restaurants or hair salons, and ask them if they’d allow you to shoot at their business in exchange for free promotional images. These shots can be placed on their social media where you are tagged, which helps you grow your portfolio while getting on-the-job experience. If they are really happy with your work, they may even hire you to shoot for them in the future.
You can also decide to just photograph some of your experiences at an establishment and tag them on social media. If you ate a great meal at your favorite pizzeria, edit the photo and give them a shoutout. When you have a professional account set up, this gives businesses an immediate way to access you in the future.
Set Up a Shop
Etsy and Redbubble are two major e-commerce platforms for photographers to earn money from their prints. They allow you to have your best images printed on a variety of products. From posters, t-shirts, mugs, and laptop stickers, there are numerous ways you can get your name and art out there while making a small profit. Even though it may not pay your bills right away, having a store also helps you build a presence and earn a little money on the side.
As your business expands, you might find that you’re able to earn more for your work. Some of your happy customers might even reach out to you for commissions. You could also offer courses online using a platform like Udemy; this will allow you to pass on your skills and knowledge to others who are just starting out.
