Careers: Photography/Career

Advertisement


Question
QUESTION: How did you get started in your profession? Because I hope to be a professional photographer myself one day.

ANSWER: Always enjoyed taking pictures.  Something really fascinate me about images.  I started a loooooong time ago.  Actually did darkroom work back then with film!  New and better world with digital.  So many more creative possibilities.  Yet, little of being a photographer (unless you work for another studio or a newspaper/magazine) involves photography.  It is a business.  Businesses take marketing, management, merchandising, management, and some management.  Oh, did I mention that businesses require management?  So, while you improve on your photography skills and learn everything there is to know about the subject, try to take some courses in accounting, business management, and marketing.  Believe me, you will come out ahead.  No, you will not make enough money in the job to hire all those people.  You might even add web design to your skillset.  Good luck!  Don't forget Photoshop training, it will be your constant companion.

Louie




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm also writing a paper about photography for my writing class and i was wondering if you could tell me what you think what elements are needed to make a good photograph?

ANSWER: Impact is the only element that is needed.  How you achieve that is open to artistic interpretation.  But without impact, you don't have a good photograph.  Composition would probably rate the highest of all the factors that contribute to a great photograph.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: would you agree that if a photo was taken in black/white it would have more of an impact and effect?

Answer
Photos are no longer "taken" in b/w.  In this digital age we have amazing flexibility to create variations of a b/w photo that would have otherwise taken hours in a lab.  I can create options and see which have the impact that I desire.  B/W photos do have impact, but not necessarily have more impact and effect.  Too much depends on the subject.

Careers: Photography

All Answers


Answers by Expert:


Ask Experts

Volunteer


Elegant Images Weddings

Expertise

Wedding photography as a career Marketing wedding photography

Experience

Four years experience in running a high end wedding photography studio

Organizations
Professional Photographers of Oregon, Professional Photographers of America. National Association of Photoshop Professionals

Education/Credentials
Self taught photographer who has attended numerous seminars all over the country. Seminars by Bambi Cantrell, David Williams, Sandy Puc keep me at the forefront of the industry.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.