How to be a Professional Photographer?
- GR9 Media
- Apr 11, 2019
- 5 min read
A very commonly asked question I get when people are asking for advice about how to take better images is if a camera or lens is "professional" rather than how to improve their photography skills. A lot of times we focus too much on the tools rather than ourselves and this leads to a lot of self deprecation in terms of our own abilities. Although it is true that better equipment does make a photographer's life easier, it is paramount to understand that a photographer's technical skills and soft skills is often what truly makes him/her a professional. Instead of always worshiping the idea that equipment is the cornerstone of our photography journey, lets for now look at how we can improve ourselves first.
Technical Understanding
Without a doubt, greater understanding of the art is one of the most important components that make up the complex machinery that is the photographer. Without knowing the basic theory of composition, exposure and the methods we can use to control these aspects, even the most expensive Hasselblad cameras will not save an image. Sure there is always the "automatic" modes on cameras but knowing how to have full control of an image's characteristics will take you so much further. That is something buying new equipment will not do for you. So instead of splurging more money on new equipment, take some time to browse the internet for tips, go for photography classes and most importantly practice with your current camera.
Planning
Before going for a shoot, plan. Ask yourself this question: "Based on the shoot's requirements, what do i need to prepare?".
Don't bring gear that is definitely unnecessary because it will weigh you down and make a logistical nightmare even worse. That being said, always be prepared for the unexpected. I remember going for a shoot once which was stipulated to be an event shoot but it soon became a portraiture shoot so try to always bring at least one lens which is an "all-rounder".
Don't just think about the camera and lens, think about whether you might need lighting, a tripod, your laptop etc. Also, always bring extra batteries as well as personal care items like sufficient water and perhaps a small first aid kit.
It may be tough at first to figure out what you should or should not bring to a shoot at first but don't worry, it'll get easier with experience. And this leads us on to our next point...
Experience
Practice makes perfect. After things go wrong 10 times, you will start getting the hang of it. Don't worry if you fail at first, just keep trying. Photography does have a steep learning curve if you want to get serious about it but failure is what is going to teach you about everything else in this list. As a professional you are going to have to deal with a lot of scenarios that are going to make you feel defeated so you have to get used to the initial defeat. If it helps, practice with your friends and go for casual photography excursions together.
Experience helps you to be able to make decisions faster during professional engagements. Be it in terms of shooting or making decisions about how to deal with certain requests. Sometimes, you will get creative blocks and during these times, recalling what you have learnt through your past practice and experimentation will be invaluable in completing the job well. Other times, unforeseen requests may leave you with little time to come up with a solution or answer and this is another situation in which experience is going to help you pull through unfazed.
Soft Skills
Learn to be a respectful and considerate member of society. Be punctual. Always look out for your clients and colleagues.
Sounds like it came out of a student handbook? Well there's a good reason why educational institutes as well as corporations place great emphasis on grooming their members to have these skills. As a professional, you are no longer going to be taking photos for just yourself. Like it or not you have to deal with the expectations and concerns of others. You may have to work with people that did not give you the best first impression or with people that violate your terms of service but you must always remain civilised. Your behavior in front of your clients can make or break your career and as professionals, we do have the responsibility to uphold a level of professionalism. So learn to treat others well and you will be rewarded in the long run.
Also, learn to say no when requests are not feasible or unreasonable. There will be times where there will be last minute changes that you or your team cannot accommodate to for whatever reason. In these cases, try your best but if you know its not something that you can achieve, let the client know in a professional manner and explain why you are unable to do it. It is one of the hardest parts of being a professional to say that you cannot do something but hey, there is only so much in your control eh?
The Nitty-Gritty stuff
When people think about becoming professional photographers, they often don't think about the non-photography related details. At the end of the day, a business is still a business. Administrative matters, marketing, website creation, financial budgeting, networking. These are all examples of things that you need to learn to be successful and for the first few months of starting out as a professional, expect to be spending more time on these than actually shooting paid projects. It may be boring or you may question why you need to do it since you aren't directly getting any returns at the moment from doing them but trust me, it is what is going to bring clients to you in the long run.
Also, always charge your clients appropriately. Remember, you have invested a lot of time, effort and money doing the things mentioned above as well as mastering your craft and acquiring the necessary gear. Always remember that you have the right to be fairly compensated just like any other professional in any other industry. Never feel that you have to drop your prices just because your client thinks that all photographers are always overcharging as they often do not understand about all the hidden costs as well as taxes that photographers have to pay.
Lastly, always take care of yourself. The most important tool in photography is your body. If you don't rest enough, your body is going to start having issues which will affect your photography. Never get caught up with work to the point that you are not having enough rest or are not spending enough time with the people who are important to you. An extra job request accepted this week is not worth it if you are not getting enough of these.
Conclusion
So I hope that this article has managed to give you a clearer idea of what you need to keep in mind if you want to become a professional photographer. So some people might still be thinking now: "Ok fine but what about gear? How important is that?". Well that a story for another article coming soon but let me just tell you this right here, right now. Purchasing a Nikon D5 or a Sony A7III ain't going to make your images much better than with what you might currently have if you don't work on yourself and your skills first. It does help in terms of economical improvements with regards to your tools as well as perhaps reliability but it is nowhere near as important as what you've got in your head and in your heart.
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