So you like to take photos. However, you would like to earn a living and become a successful photographer. Here are 5 steps that are important on your path to success.
1. Believe in Yourself
Nothing, absolutely nothing can be accomplished if you don’t believe in yourself first. As a great prophet once said, “As a man think, so is he”. Being confident in your abilities is the first law of the land in photography. Yes, there are thousands of professional photographers, and it can be quite intimidating. However, you have to know, that if you love photography, then you can become a successful photographer. No matter how many professionals are out there, you can also become a professional. Think about it this way. They are a wide variety of soap brands on store shelves world wide. However, Dove soap does not stop selling Dove soap just because Irish Spring soap and Lever 2000 sell soap. Of course not. They continue to provide, promote, and sell their own brand. So, on that note, just remember that you can accomplish great heights with your own brand, if you first believe in yourself.
2. Practice Makes Perfect
The more you practice, then the better you can become. Photography is an art. So if you want to become a successful photographer, then you must give work, time, and dedication to the craft. Maybe you want to be a portrait photographer. Then get mom, dad, sisters, brothers, husband, wife or whomever you can. And PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Take photos! Whatever you do, just take photos! You can’t get better if you don’t practice. And you most certainly can’t become a pro if you never work at becoming one.
3. Learn From Others
Take the time to study other photographers that inspire you. They are so many great photographers. It’s always a positive to learn from those who have become masters of the craft. Become a good student first. It’s always some valuable information to learn, and besides experience itself always being the best teacher, it always helps to learn from those who have been successful as a photographer. It’s also a great idea to attend seminars and webinars. You can also watch and take notes from tutorials. Become an assistant to an already proven professional. Use these sort of experiences to gain more experience. Be teachable, and most of all, stay consistent in learning.
4. Learn and Understand The Business
When I first began my photography business, I had one camera, with a kit lens, some business cards, and promotional flyers. My very first gig was an anniversary party for a friend of mine, and I was so nervous. I actually managed to do a job that he was pleased with, but I did have my share of concerns and worries about my lack of experience throughout the night. I was new to the business and I didn’t want that to be blatantly obvious. I’m really glad that I catch on to things pretty quickly, because that particular night, I learned the importance of providing good lighting, because they were times when it was really dark. I also learned about lens size differences when it was time to take a big family photo with that kit lens (I was physically sweating at this point). And the on-camera flash and shooting in automatic mode was a huge rookie move. That night could have easily been a disaster because I didn’t understand the business. It’s a whole lot more to taking pictures than just taking pictures. So continue to learn and understand all you can about photography and be the best photographer you can be.
5. Invest In Yourself
Remember how unprepared I was on my first gig ? Well, Ive come a long way since then. I’m no longer just using that kit lens. Furthermore, I’m well stocked on lighting and I now possess a lot of other accessories to play with. As my equipment has improved, my business has also grown. Iv’e been able to promote my business on a higher level, and do bigger jobs. It is most vital that you continually invest back into your business. Especially if you are relatively new to photography. Certain jobs will call for certain things, and you don’t want to be in a position where you can’t provide a service fully for a client who’s paying you (Big NoNo). So make it a point to always invest back into your business. These are my 5 tips to becoming a successful photographer.