How to Become a Photographer in 2024

Modern smartphones shoot no worse than DSLRs – so today, everyone can feel like a photographer. This does not require any special skills – take a couple of pictures and choose the right filter. Some even create their website for a photographer, sharing their work with the world.

Still, taking pictures with your phone and being a professional photographer are two completely different things. As with any other profession, a photographer requires a lot of effort and preparation.

There are tons of articles to read on becoming a phone photographer. But to become a professional, you will have to learn the technique of creating unique personnel, developing your own author’s vision, constantly fighting for your place in a very competitive field, and improving your profession every day. If the decision to become a professional photographer is final, prepare to devote yourself and your time to photography.

How to become a professional photographer: step by step instructions

1. Set a goal
2. Improve your skills
3. Take some lessons
4. Practice constantly
5. Explore all the possibilities
6. Find your niche
7. Get the right hardware
8. Dedicate time to editing
9. Create your style
10. Collect a portfolio
11. Create a professional photography website
12. Build contacts in the professional community
13. Develop a marketing strategy
14. Create a business plan
15. Invest in your development

1.Set a goal

There are many things to consider for the budding photographer.

First, make a list of questions and answers to help you set goals and direction. For instance:

• Why do I want to become a professional photographer?
• What will motivate me when there is no inspiration?
• Am I ready/willing to invest as much time and effort as it takes?
• What can I offer local businesses?
• Can I become as good at what I do as it takes?
• How can I make money as a photographer?
• How much am I willing to devote to my goal?

Some questions will take hours of introspection, and others will require online and offline research. It’s okay if you can’t immediately answer all the questions – many solutions come only with experience.

It’s a good idea to talk to established photographers. They will be able to share their experiences and give some tips on becoming a photographer from scratch.

2.Improve your skills

The major investment in your future as a professional photographer is to improve your photography skills. As Ansel Adams said, ” The most important component of the camera is twelve inches behind it. “

It doesn’t matter if you have photographed all your life or have never held in your hands anything other than dad’s ” soap dish ” – in any case, there is a lot to learn.

The learning speed will depend on the initial skills and level of training. Start by learning basic photography terms, so you don’t get lost in the abundance of professional vocabulary during your class.

As soon as you feel confident with the theory, immediately put the knowledge into practice. Start with a base and work your way up to more complex settings. The main thing you should learn is to adjust the camera as needed to get the intended shot.

3.Take some lessons

You don’t need a formal education to become a professional photographer. There are many self-taught professionals in the industry. However, working with a mentor can add value to a career and dramatically speed up learning.

Take offline courses or sign up for online photography lessons. These courses will provide a solid foundation to begin your career more easily.

The most important thing is that you will be taught by people who have already gone all this way. They will share not only success stories but also experience overcoming difficulties. These are valuable insights that are easy to overlook when learning independently.

4.Practice constantly

According to research, it takes 10,000 hours or 417 days to master a skill. This means that the camera should be your best friend.

Professional photographers are unmistakable the first time around which camera settings are needed for each shot. To achieve this confidence, practice constantly.

Combine practice with a solid theoretical foundation. After examining one set, take a couple of frames with it. When you understand how it works and where it is best to apply it, move on to the next one. As knowledge grows, confidence will grow, and so will the quality of the images.

Do not hesitate. Take pictures of everything and everywhere. This is the only way to see how the pictures turn out in different lighting, weather and settings. Publish your best shots on social networks and place them in your portfolio.

5.Explore all the possibilities

Common mistake aspiring photographers make is to limit themselves to one genre. Even if you immediately know what and how you want to shoot, try several types of photography first.

Each type of photography is unique. And for each one needs certain skills. You will develop skills and expand your range of possibilities by trying different things. After all, if you photograph landscapes exclusively, you will not learn anything about studio photography and practically nothing about artificial lighting.

The more you can, the more you can earn. Check out freelance work for photographers online. Think about which ones you could tackle right now and which ones cause uncertainty. After analyzing, start developing those skills that are missing. Knowledge in different areas is more useful than rapid growth in one narrow specialty.

6.Find your niche

A niche is a specialization. Decide what and in what style you are most interested in photographing. This will determine the next steps and set you apart from the competition. Also, owning a niche is necessary for creating a personal brand.

Through trial and error, you will arrive at the photography style that will define you as a photographer. This is an important step in your career, so don’t rush yourself. Don’t stop until you find exactly your style.

Study the market. Not everything you like will make money. Explore trends in photography and see how the popularity of different genres has changed. It is important that your niche is not unique but also in demand.

Defining a work style does not mean that photography in other genres is prohibited. A niche is just a specialty that customers will recognize you by. You can and should develop in other genres in your free time and try yourself in different styles.

7.Get the right hardware.

The most common photography myth is that good photographs require expensive equipment. This is not true. For a professional photographer, the quality is important, not the price of the equipment.

Use whatever equipment you have or buy an inexpensive camera for a budding photographer. Don’t buy if you know you won’t be using camera accessories in the next couple of months.

Invest in good optics. Explore different types of lenses and pick one of good quality for yourself. It won’t be cheap, but it will last much longer.

If you can’t buy good equipment, rent it. So you can save money and test the equipment before buying. Renting is also a great option for one-off projects that require specific hardware.

8.Take the time to edit

In the hands of a professional, Photoshop does not spoil the pictures but improves them. Even the most incredible footage needs editing. No matter how you set the light and settings, no camera will “see” the frame the way you do. And leave the hashtag #nofilter for Instagram.

Post-processing brings out your style. Dedicate as much time studying editors as you do photography. The most popular tools today are Photoshop and Lightroom, which are Adobe-based. But besides them, there is a whole list of free photo editing programs.

Try different programs and choose the one that suits you before purchasing a paid subscription. Don’t forget about technique – a good monitor is as valuable to a photographer as good optics.

9.Develop your style

A photographer can be considered successful when he is recognized by one photograph. But to achieve this, you need to find your style.

Come up with a concept: Collect your best work and see what brings them together. Try to describe your style in a few sentences, including composition and the photos’ emotions.

Then come up with some rules that fit this concept. Observe them in your future work. Please make sure they are workable in all settings and under different conditions, and most importantly, they do not limit your creativity.

10.Build a portfolio

For people to order your services, they must see examples of your work. Build a portfolio – a collection of your best photographs for clients to see.

A good portfolio is key to a successful career. Add only those works you are proud of and in style, you would like to continue filming. Update your photos regularly.

Check out professional photo portfolios of other photographers. In addition to inspiration, you will get an idea of ​​how many photos on average should be in a portfolio and how best to post them.

11.Create a professional website with photos

A photographer without a website is like a ship without an engine: you can somehow cope without it, but you won’t even come close to unleashing your potential.

Having a professional website with photos is a must. It makes it easier to share your work with the world and attract potential clients.

You can share your work on other platforms and social networks. But for you to be found on Google, you need SEO tools for photographers only available on the site.

You can also advertise your services, receive orders for filming, share digital albums with clients, tell about yourself, and even sell photos online.

Check out how to create your photography website and use portfolio templates created by professional designers.

12.Make contacts in the professional community.

Networking skills are as important to a photographer as having a camera or laptop. To succeed, learn to build and maintain connections with customers, colleagues, and companies.

Look for business opportunities through collaborations. Create visual content for different companies, or reach out to brands as a photographer for collaboration.

A photographer’s career is directly related to reputation. Most clients will come to you with a recommendation. Try to be memorable and make a good impression on the people you work with.

13.Develop a marketing strategy

With a portfolio ready and a clear roadmap, get started with personal marketing. See which social media sites are in tune with your style and build your presence there. Social media will increase the reach of viewing photos and provide an opportunity to connect with colleagues and potential clients worldwide.

Other than that, there are tons of marketing ideas for photographers to help you get noticed. For example, blogging, participating in photography contests and handing out business cards. Feel free to experiment – no one succeeds in creating the perfect marketing strategy the first time.

14.Create a business plan

The most successful photographers become business owners. If you want to be one of them, develop your business skills in advance.

Even a freelance photographer needs a business plan that will indicate the type of work and its cost. A photographer’s salary largely depends on properly evaluating their work.

15.Invest in your development

The professional photographer never stops learning. You will notice that you will have room to grow even after many years of work. However, personal and professional development is worth the money and time.

Subscribe to photography blogs and magazines to stay updated with the latest industry news and events. Go to masterclasses and watch online lessons. Start a personal project to shoot after hours. Shoot in genres that have nothing to do with your niche. Come up with new filming ideas to constantly evolve your style. Most importantly, keep your passion for photography.