Photography Poses and Other Cool Stuff

I feel like becoming a photographer won’t happen for me…advice?

6 Responses to “I feel like becoming a photographer won’t happen for me…advice?”

1. 

   Rick M

   - 12th Jul, 10 02:07pm

   As you’ve stated, you feel becoming a photographer won’t happen…then it won’t. It never will if you feel defeated before you even start. Next time ask…"I’m determined to be a photographer, any advice?" Until you change your frame of mind, apply at McDonald’s.
   References :

2. 

   Bhaskarmishra Mishra

   - 12th Jul, 10 03:07pm

   if u want to become photographer than it great first buy a high quality camera if u have than its great
   than start practicing in you home like put some junk and try to focus on only one object then try to focus on all object it will take some time but try different type angle
   References :

3. 

   D700 Doug

   - 12th Jul, 10 03:07pm

   First buy a good pair of shoes.

   Second use them to walk into every photographers shop or office in your district and sell yourself to them, take a portfolio of your best work make a portfolio if necessary. Be prepared to make coffee and sweep floors. Study photography, live and breathe photography, use your camera untill it becomes part of you. Photography and document everything around you.

   Start submitting to stock agencies start looking at writing articles for magazines look learn sell yourself .

   and do not take no for an answer.
   References :
   35 years of pro photography

4. 

   BonCerise

   - 12th Jul, 10 04:07pm

   I agree with some of the other people here. If you doubt yourself, it won’t happen.

   I was in your position a few years ago, I was dying to get into photography from when I was eleven. But to be honest I was terrible. But I didn’t give up.

   So you say your friends are all photographers, are they actually photographers or just good at photography?

   It’s pretty basic really, take lots and lots of pictures. Publish them on line. Take your camera out with you everywhere you go. Invest in a good camera, some good lenses, flash and a tripod. Make contact with other photographers. Show them your work, let them know your interested. Learn how to develop film and use a film camera. Read up on the technical side, and on composition, and practise what you read. Try out all aspects of photography. If you take pictures somewhere (like at a school fare, or a national trust property) email the photos to them. They may get printed and if you ever go out for a job, it makes you look good. If it snows, or floods or rains heavily, or you take an unusual or interesting picture, send it to local papers for the same reason. Enter contests too, that will make you look great. Don’t be discouraged EVER.

   I’m doing this at fourteen, I’ve already had a pro model shoot, and have another lined up. I’m shooting gigs at Guilfest and taking dark room courses. It only happened because I made contact with like twenty photographers, emailing them my work and expressing my interest. If I can do it so can you.
   References :

5. 

   Eric Lefebvre

   - 12th Jul, 10 04:07pm

   First and foremost … you are starting a business and doing so costs money. Don’t look for a free or cheap solution cause you’ll get what you paid for. Just remember that much of the money you sink into starting your business is going to be tax deductible so it’s not as expensive as you first thought.

   Weddings are very word of mouth so as you do more of them you will build your reputation and then you’ll have find that people will be calling YOU. Now the problem is that that can be rather slow. What I did to jump start my business is that I went to a Wedding Show. Got 6 weddings out of it without any other effort and my kiosk was HORRIBLE!

   I’m going again in September and my kiosk will be much better, I also won’t have just come out of a coma like with the other Wedding Show so that’ll help … :/

   The problem with photography is that it’s better to be a good business man than a good photographer if you want to succeed.

   The wedding show is costing me 1200$Can + power + materials /show but I put aside a portion of my income for growth and for running a business so it’s all part of how I price my services. While it’s expensive, it gets me access to interested customers like nothing else can.

   You need money to make money, most businesses don;t start being profitable for something like 2 or 3 years. But you have a business where the initial start up cost is minimal (you don’t have to buy a building or anything) so it shouldn’t be too bad.

   Stop thinking like a photographer and start thinking like a business man.

   I cringe when I see photographers saying they’ll do weddings for 500$ … that’s not a sustainable pricing scheme. The person is basically doing that work AT A LOSS.

   (((500$ – relevant sales taxes) / 2 for income tax) – material costs) / 2 = what goes to the photographer and what I’d put back into the business … more or less.

   500 – 15% = 425$
   425 – 50% (better to put asides too much than not enough) = 212.50$
   Material costs (prints, equipment rental, assistant’s cut, location permits (as needed), gas) let’s say you were alone, it required very little driving and are just doing one a DVD so about 25$.
   212.50-25 = 187.50

   So that leaves the photographer with 188$ … how are you supposed to pay for web hosting, web site design, new gear, business cards, transportation to meet new clients, adverts in the papers, replacement computer when your current rig dies, blank dvd’s and cases, ink cartidges for your printer, new batteries … oh and food and rent, medical bills, clothing … ?

   Think like a business man … it’s the only way to survive.

   That’s all the advice I can give you.
   References :

6. 

   mister-damus

   - 12th Jul, 10 05:07pm

   join the club . . .
   References :