If you are ready to make the jump from amateur to professional photographer, you need to make sure that you do so in just the right way. There are several factors that you should consider if you want to go pro. Let’s take a look at five of them.
Pick a Niche
Professional photographers do not take photos of everything under the sun. While there are some that dabble in multiple disciplines, it is rare that you will find a wedding photographer getting up at the crack of dawn for wildlife photography. Pick your niche, and make sure that you get plenty of practice so you can develop a distinctive art style within that niche.
Have the Right Equipment
You need to make sure that you have the equipment to be able to take on any job and capture any shot that is needed. You will need to have several cameras and lenses to be able to change things up. You also need to understand the camera settings. Finally, the edit is everything – so make sure that you know how to bring your pictures to life in just the right way.
Build Your Portfolio
Your portfolio will be one of the main things that pulls clients to you, so you need to make sure that you have a varied collection of photos that really showcases your skills. Pull these from everywhere – there are even places where you can get Facebook album printing if you have a good selection of photos on your social media!
Build a Website
Once you have a portfolio together, you need a place to showcase it online and somewhere where people can get in touch with you. That means that you need a website! Create a professional website that puts your photographs front and center. It should speak of who you are as a photographer, and what your clients can expect should they work with you.
Set Your Prices
You need to make sure that you have a good list of prices. As a newcomer, you might have to pitch your prices a little lower to be able to interest clients. However, you should never pitch too low, or work for free (or “exposure”). Set reasonable prices and then decide how flexible you wish to be with them. Some people like to be rigid; others are willing to bend and offer discounts when suitable.
Getting started as a professional photographer can be a big leap, but it is one that many people have already done successfully. If you have your heart set on earning your living with your photography skills, the above points will be vital in helping you set yourself up in just the right way. Make sure that the foundation of your business is secure – for it is a business after all – and ensure that you have everything you need to show why clients should decide to work with you. With a lot of hard work, you should soon be able to make a living as a professional photographer.
