Author Topic: Career change – want to become a photographer and make a living by it.  (Read 844 times)

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Marty Machine

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Ok, i must rain on the parade :-)

Photography, Fashion & Music are the 3 most impossible areas to "break into", especially with bugger all experience behind you.

You need many years of experience, you need a portfolio of your photographic work to show clients what you're capable of.
You needs lots of spin to win over customers and you need to prove you can offer something more/better than all your opposition.

You'll need to know your camera back to front, and then the knowledge beyond the camera itself is infinite, you need to look at things differently thru photographic eyes and learn the art of composition, image editing and so forth to add punch to your photo's....You then also need to know how to get around unforseen problems during a shoot, re-adjusting youre lighting, reflectors, lens', exposure configs to get around the changes etc. (this all comes with experience).
Most places won't take you on for employment with any less than 3 certificates in photography, darkroom & (digital) editing proof of work.

Firstly, go pick out your best shots and put them in a folder, then visit a few photographic places to get their judgement, if not for work, simply for some realistic feedback of your talent (or lack of), then you'll know where you stand.


I've been a hobbyist then semi-pro/freelance photographer for 25+ years and i wouldn't even try to compete with todays market, although i have some different services to offer that extend ontop of my photo-skills, so i get by when i need to, but i have fulltime work in another trade which is my main security....

my 20c, but worth a lot more :-)
MM