Many of those who dedicate themselves to photography as a hobby end up turning it into a profession. It makes sense to make a living doing something you love, especially if you’re also good at it.
If you are considering making the leap from the amateur to the professional world, there are a few points that I would like you to take into account. They will help you direct your professional projection in the right way.
Professional photographer..?
The expression “This is an amateur job” makes us believe that the amateur or amateur photographer produces worse results than the professional. Does “professional” quality always mean “better” quality? Not necessarily.
I have already explained on more than one occasion that the difference between an amateur photographer and another professional is that the former does it out of love for art, out of hobby; the second does it for a living. It’s the only real difference. From there, you can find better and worse qualities in both groups. We have all seen excellent photographic works by amateur photographers, by a friend or colleague, who see them and are extremely impressed; and others from professional photographers who do not reach a minimum decent quality. You find a bit of everything. So remember: going professional means that you start earning a living like this. The quality of your work is another matter.
Clarified this point, what do you have to take into account if your goal is to become a professional photographer?
Things to consider when wanting to become a Professional Photographer
This is like everything. You can jump into the pool and think “I’m a professional photographer”, and leave everything in the hands of luck. There will always be some clueless client who will hire you regardless of how you are doing. Or you have the other option, to consider it as a project, draw up a strategy, set it as an objective and start working on each of the following elements or “useful” elements to be closer to the objective.
Photo camera
Undoubtedly you need to get a good SLR camera, if possible, a professional range. These cameras usually cost a relatively high price, but it is assumed that when you dedicate yourself to photography professionally, you end up amortizing them in a short time.
The reason you need a professional camera has nothing to do with the quality of the photo. Or very little. Many photographers do wonders with initiation reflex cameras. The difference is in the way these cameras work: with a professional DSLR you work comfortably, you reach most of the functions at the touch of a button thanks to their dedicated buttons (instead of having to go into the cumbersome menu every time you want to change something in the settings). In addition, professional SLRs are usually much more durable and resistant, since it is understood that you are not going to give them occasional use but rather intensive and continuous use.
Objectives
Forget your basic 18-55mm lens. As a photography professional you need specialized lenses. There are special ones for portraits, sports photography, Macro, landscapes, etc. Think about the type of photography you want to specialize in. From there you will find the answer to which objectives you have to buy.
Even if you have to invest some money in some objectives, don’t worry, it is a long-term investment. Generally a goal will last you a lifetime. The camera body loses value over time, new models quickly come out with more megapixels, better ISO behavior, etc., but the objective is there, time passes and its value practically does not decrease.
Accessories and lighting material
White background, black background, interior lighting kit, light boxes, one or two external flashes, reflectors. Over time, as a professional you will accumulate a good wealth of material that you will acquire according to your needs. You don’t need to have it all from day one. And just like the lenses, the type of material you need will depend on the type of photography you want to specialize in. Portraits usually require a bit more investment. What is certain is that a powerful flash and a good reflector will be needed almost from day one.
Venue/Studio
As you can imagine, you need a place or work studio. At first, this is not usually very well defined since if you cover weddings and social reports you may not need a work studio as such, or at least not necessarily. On the other hand, if you specialize in fashion photography, models, etc., you will need to prepare a space (which can be in your own home) to attend and work with clients.
Courses and Studies
Although you can master the photographic technique in a self-taught way and learn to produce great photographs on your own, I am not going to hide from you that an academic study of a Degree or Master of Professional Photography will provide you with a lot of knowledge that will be good for your career as a photographer. In an official photography course (in a good one) they not only teach you technical knowledge, things about composition, exposure, editing and digital retouching, but you also learn the dynamics of the professional world, you meet teachers who are professional photographers at the same time, You have closer and more direct contact with modeling agencies, advertising agencies, etc. In a professional photography course you receive guidance on the type of photography in which you should specialize, how much you should charge for your reports, and endless tricks and tricks that you only acquire by being in intimate contact with the people of this world.
Without a doubt, you can become a professional photographer without having to go to a photography school or academy, but if you can afford to study a degree or master’s degree in photography, do it. It will be very good for you.
Website/Portfolio
You cannot pretend to establish yourself as a professional photographer and not have a website or online portfolio. An online gallery is your showcase for potential clients who might be interested in your work. You need to have some kind of online presence that goes beyond the typical profile on social networks like Flickr, Instagram or Pinterest.
There are a multitude of online services that allow you to set up your own website or online gallery as a photographer, I especially recommend one, which is the one I describe, step by step, in the following tutorial.
Charge as Self-Employed, or not?
One of the first decisions that you are going to have to make in your first weeks as a professional photographer is the method of billing and collection. The most legal thing would be to register as a freelancer and start issuing invoices to all your clients and in all your jobs. This means that you have to register as self-employed, pay a monthly fee (at least in Spain) of more than 200 Euros if I am not mistaken, and set aside a little money from all your income for VAT and IRPF taxes. .
Satisfying all these requirements is a bit complicated at first since very few jobs are covered and very, very little is paid. It is very common, therefore, to start working the first 2-3 jobs without declaring. When you see that you are beginning to have a more or less stable rate of income, you begin to consider billing as a freelancer.
In any case, and as far as I understand, the law in Spain contemplates that the need to register as self-employed arises at the moment in which you begin to receive a “regular” income. In other countries I do not venture to give an opinion. I don’t know.
Update: I clarify, given the stir caused on social networks by this paragraph: I do not invite nor will I ever invite anyone to do work in black. I think that is wrong. I believe that if you do illegal work you are participating in the construction of fewer hospitals, the hiring of fewer doctors, the repair of fewer roads and the feeding of fewer needy people. I’m just saying that, according to the legislation of each country, you may be exempt from declaring in your first jobs until you reach a minimum annual, serious, significant and regular income, from which you begin to be obliged to declare. Since I don’t have the detail and since this will be different between countries and even in the same country from one year to another, don’t take this article as a reference. Get advice from a tax professional before making the decision.
How much do I bill for work?
Each photographer has their own billing policy. There are those who try to offer competitive and extremely cheap prices, there are those who seek to position themselves as a “Premium” option and charge a high price. Only you will know how much you should invoice for your work, since several factors come into play that only you can assess. To name a few:
- Have you specialized in a rare genre, or on the contrary, are you in a market saturated with photographers who do the same type of photography as you?
- Are you just starting out and therefore are you interested in charging very little or even giving away jobs to attract clients and build a portfolio, or on the contrary, do you receive too many jobs and are you interested in raising the price to filter a bit and dedicate yourself to the most solvent clients? ?
- Do you offer something different that other photographers do not offer? Any complement that makes the client feel exclusive and pampered?
Specialization
The professional photography covers many genres. Choosing a specialization will depend on several factors. Competition is clearly an important factor, it is not the same to have to make your way in a saturated market than in an emerging one or one with less supply than demand. As a professional photographer, the first thing that comes to mind is the typical wedding photographer, but the one who covers sporting events is also a professional photographer. Anyone who photographs for National Geographic or the Lonely Planet is a professional photographer. And the one who makes the posters for McDonalds or Burger King is also a professional photographer.
Some criteria to take into account when choosing a specialization:
- Economic claims: Brands and companies pay better than individuals. If what you want is to make a fortune, you will have to make a detailed study of the remuneration bands that are paid in your geographical area for the different types of photography.
- Desire to travel: Some photographers charge just enough, but they are constantly traveling from one place to another, covering events or portraying natural landscapes. For them, being able to travel constantly with expenses paid is much more valuable than any money. It compensates them.
- Future projection: The type of photography you specialize in will condition what you can become in the future. For example, being a product photographer brings you closer to the world of advertising and marketing. Many Directors of advertising agencies started out as product photographers. If you prefer to specialize in the world of sports, who knows if tomorrow you will found your own online sports magazine or website?
The “ideal” time to start as a Professional Photographer…
… is today. Right now. If you like photography and want to start earning a living with…