Now that even a smartphone can help you take high-quality photographs, there are more photographers out there than ever before. But just because you love taking pictures or enjoy photography as a hobby, that doesn’t mean you can become a professional photographer. To go pro, you’ll need not just the right equipment, but also good business acumen.
Almost everyone has a device that can click pictures these days. From smartphones to DSLRs, photography equipment is easily accessible to everyone, and come in a variety of budgets. This means that various people try their hand as a photographer, and many people enjoy it as a hobby.
If you’re passionate about photography, can you turn that passion into a professional career? Of course, but life as a professional photographer isn’t the same as simply taking quality photographs every day. You’ll have to develop your skills to stand out from your competition, know how to market yourself to prospective clients, manage your cash flow, and more.
Here’s everything you need to know about becoming a professional photographer today.
1. Invest in Quality Equipment
While a smartphone and a budget camera are good enough for a hobbyist, you’ll need a professional camera. Alongside a camera, you’ll also need quality lenses, a tripod stand, a camera bag, lights, diffusers and various background props.
Earlier on, you should budget your money properly and start off by buying equipment that accommodates your personal style as a photographer. You can also choose to rent equipment for specific photoshoots where you need high-quality equipment.
2. Get an Apprenticeship or Do a Course in Photography
What separates a hobbyist from a professional photographer is the in-depth knowledge a professional has about their industry, as well as the specific skills they’ve honed over the years.
When you’re just starting out, doing an apprenticeship with an established photographer will enable you to learn more about your field. You’ll learn various tips and tricks, how to click better pictures, and most importantly, how to market yourself so that you have regular clients.
You should also do at least one course in professional photography. The intention here is to improve your skillset as a photographer by learning how to click better pictures from industry professionals. Remember, professional photographers aren’t just good at taking pictures like most people, they’re great at what they do.
3. Website and Portfolio
Your portfolio will draw in most of your prospective clients, so you need to ensure that it’s at par. You can showcase your best work through your portfolio.
If you aren’t sure about your niche and don’t have a portfolio, then do photoshoots with your family and friends to build a workable portfolio. You can add more to your portfolio as you grow as a photographer.
Read about Online Degrees during COVID-19 hard times.
Once you have your portfolio ready, you need to add it to your website. WordPress will let you both develop a website and add your portfolio to it. But you can also opt to either develop your website by yourself, or outsource the work to a website developer. Don’t forget to integrate SEO into your website, or else you won’t be able to attract new clients from the Google search engine.
4. Business Goals and Finding Your Niche
As a photographer, you probably have certain kinds of photography you enjoy doing more than others. Ideally, the kind of photography you’re passionate about should be your niche.
But you also need to ensure that your skills match your business goals. Different kinds of photography have different rates, and there are various niches for you to choose from. You can choose to work as a wedding photographer, sell your photos to stock photo websites, take portraits, do fashion photography, food photography, and more.
To discover whether your passion can enable you to live as a professional photographer or not, you need to look at your business goals.
- What are you hoping to gain out of being a professional photographer?
- How much money do you want to make?
- What are your strengths as a photographer?
- What are your long term goals?
Your business goals will help you understand what motivates and drives you. So if you know that you’re good at networking with people and that you enjoy taking pictures of happy events, then wedding photography will suit you. But if you don’t like networking, but instead prefer to take photographs of animals, then nature and wildlife photography will suit you more. At the same time, you also have to keep in mind that you’ll find more opportunities as a wedding photographer. But a great wildlife photograph can also make your career. This also helps you set your rates. Your rates will depend on your area of expertise, and should ideally be an average of the rates your competitors are offering.
Align your business goals with your passion to make the most out of life as a professional photographer.
5. Marketing and Branding
To get clients, you’ll need to market yourself as a professional photographer. A good marketing plan is essential for this.
Who is your target audience? How can you approach them to ask for work? Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are great places to secure new clients. But when you’re just starting out, referrals will be how you get your career started.
Ask your friends, family, and everyone else you know about referrals. Once you have a few clients, do you can ask them to leave behind testimonials for your website. Testimonials help people believe more in your services and make them more inclined to offer you work.
6. Accounts, Taxes and Insurance
To succeed as a professional photographer, you’ll need to manage your cash flow. While you can hire an accountant to keep track of all your income and expenses, there are plenty of free tools available online that can help you in the same way. Keeping track of your accounts will especially help you when it’s time to file your taxes.
You should also consider getting your equipment, as well as your business as a professional photographer insured. This will protect your career as a professional photographer should your equipment break, or in case you face any legal issues or business disruptions. Browse a range of photographer insurance packages and find the cover that works for you.
Start your journey as a professional photographer with these useful tips, and over time you’ll be able to watch your business grow.
