12 steps to become a successful professional photographer

1. Find the right mentor

You would find the answers to most of your questions through research, both online and offline. Go to photography talks, exhibitions, and seminars. You would meet a lot of photographers in these events, and you can get a lot of answers directly from them. There are a number of online photography communities that you can become a member of. Some of the answers that you seek will come from a structured education, and some answers will only come with experience and time.

Related post:  Top 7 free and paid photography courses online

2. Get the right photography education

Professional Photography is one of the very few fields where a structured training is not a pre-requisite. You can self-learn, practice and improve your skills without going to a formal educational institute. However, it can add a lot of value to your career, skills, and experience.

A lot of professional photographers have taken Photography Courses at Schools, Universities or Design Institutes. Besides a formal course of instruction to develop their skill sets, a photographer should have a keen eye, oodles of creativity and technical ability. We have listed a few simple steps to get you started.

Choose wisely from the many Photography Courses available.

A wide range of photography courses from Photography Certificate programs to Masters level courses is available.

The Certificate Photography programs can be completed in a few months. They help students learn essential skills and knowledge in photography. These programs cover the basics of:

• Fundamentals of photography.
• Principles of Digital photography, how to use Photography software and image manipulating techniques.
• History of photography and foundation of film photography

The Associate Degree in Photography is offered in various Art Schools, Colleges, and Universities. The Associate Degree course typically lasts for two years. The curriculum is technical and prepares students to learn the different types of photography and use various techniques – from transparency and negative films to working in a natural setting. Students also learn to acquire skills for making photographs in a studio.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography is typically a four- year course available at a University or College. The course includes in-depth curricula and supporting coursework. It entails a study of the fundamentals of photography, digital and film photography, its narratives, history, and techniques. The course also teaches understanding imagery in Editorial, Advertising, and Fine art photography.

The Master's Degree in Photography or Master of Fine Arts prepares students to explore theory and gain essential practical experience. The Master's Course is available for students who have completed the Bachelors Program.

Online Photography Courses

If you are currently employed full-time, you can choose from a range of Online Photography Courses that will give you a good understanding of the basics. While the really good ones are paid, there are several free online photography courses also available. You can take up these courses in your free time and improve your skills. You can also join photography workshops during weekends to build your portfolio. Reading a lot is essential, and there is ample information available on photography blogs and podcasts to get an understanding of the basics of photography – composition, aperture, shutter speed, ISO settings, depth, white balance, etc... You can always learn additional skills on lighting, posing, equipment, flash and improve your editing skills as you go along. Start small and then begin working on your images using photo-editors. Gradually you will learn the art of perfecting your pictures using settings in the professional editing software.

3. Develop your photography skills.

There is no “right way” or "wrong way" to become a better photographer. Some people take a class or get a college art degree with a photography focus. Others believe that college is a waste of time for becoming a photographer. You may find that you can teach yourself about photography from books and experimentation, or you may want to learn from other professionals. Whatever you decide to choose, if you work for it you can achieve it.

4. Obtain the appropriate equipment. 

2. The type of equipment you need will depend on the type of photography you are doing, but you will likely need one or two camera bodies and a variety of lenses for different situations. You will also need a quality photo editing software.
   

   • You may need additional equipment for lighting or if you want to create an in-home studio. Again, this depends upon your photographic specialization.
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   Purchase equipment frugally. Having quality equipment is important for taking high-quality photos, but you need not invest all of your savings in brand new, high-end equipment before you really start your career. You can buy used equipment in good working condition, purchase older models at a discount after a new model comes out, rent equipment, or even borrow equipment until you are sure that your business will be successful.
   

   • When you do need to purchase gear, keep track of it for taxes since it is a tax write-off.
   • Lenses are often a more important investment than camera bodies as they can be reused if you ever buy a new camera and usually provide a larger jump in image quality.
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   Know your camera. Before you book your first paid photo session, you should know every setting, error message, and quirk of your camera. You should be able to change lenses with your eyes closed. Fumbling with equipment will make you seem unprofessional and could affect the quality of your final product.
   

   • Read your camera’s manual front to back. The manual will give you a lot of detail about the features and function of your camera in a way that generic photography sources do not.
   • To become really proficient, practice extensively at home. Experiment with light and shadow, try different settings on your camera, and learn the ins and outs of taking pictures with your available equipment.^[5]
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   Research camera technology and photography tips. Pick up books, magazines, and online articles for the most up-to-date information on camera settings, tips, and tricks. These will help to teach you new ways to use your camera and lenses to create great photos.
   

   • Make sure you are knowledgeable in how to use your other camera gear, such as a remote flash or different lenses. Having a background in these will significantly improve your photos.
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   Learn to use editing software. Even the best photos may need some minor editing. Using a quality editing software can take your photos from “good” to “great.”However, be wary of over-doing special effects; your clients may not like photographs that are overly stylized or edited.

9. Do a Photography Internship with a Professional Photographer

If you’re a young, budding photographer, look out and network with other photographers and mentors. Never shy away from getting feedback about your work. You are eventually going to make a living, based on the quality of your work.

Look out for vacancies and get a job as an intern or an Assistant to gain hands-on experience that no university or school can teach. The key is to get professional photography experience by applying the knowledge and skill-sets that you have learned in the real world. During your internship, focus on learning how a photography business is run and how to deal with clients.

1. 10. Find your niche. Try multiple areas of photography before settling on one as your favorite. For example, you may focus on portrait, wedding, sport, or landscape photography. Find your area of expertise and use it to your advantage in your business.
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3. 11. Build a complete portfolio. In order to get hired by someone who isn't a close family member or friend, you will need to have a portfolio to show. Use photographs from multiple shoots with different subjects to highlight the range of your talents. Make sure that your portfolio is comprised of more than just five or ten photos. People will want to see the great work you've done.
   

   • If you need to round-out your portfolio with modeling or posed shots, hire amateur models from local agencies. Offer free prints in exchange for free modeling.

   12. Grow your photography business

   Your number one priority from here on is to grow your photography business. Everything that you and all the choices you make will impact your success - the kind of work you do, the clients you work with, how your price your photography, your specialty and area of operation - all of these affect your photography business. Make sure that you are consistent and are continually marketing yourself, meeting new people and most importantly retaining old clients. 

   
   

   Keep your passion for photography alive and continuously strive to do great work that would make you stand out. That's the sure-fire recipe to pave the path to your long-term success as a professional photographer.