Becoming professional

photo_heather

photo_heather

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Hi everyone,


I hope you are all well and having fun with your cameras.

I just wondered if anyone can help me out with regards to studying in order to hopefully one day become a professional photographer.

A friend directed me to the Institute of Photography but despite them offering courses you don't actually gain any qualifications from doing them, only knowledge from the online materials.

I would like to one day "go pro" but I've absolutely no idea how to go about this.

I've enrolled on a 10 week online Open University course but again you don't really gain any qualifications from this.

So, in a nutshell, how do I/what do I need to do in order to begin my journey of becoming professional?

Many thanks in advance :-)

-Heather
 
You don't need any qualifications to "go pro".


You just need to shoot and have the income from it as your main source of revenue.

I'm sure there are many people on here without any qualifications who get paid every day for their work, as well as many probably with all the qualifications and don't sell a bean.
 
No qualifications needed- just a good eye for an image and some half decent equipment ( that you know how to use) to grab that image :eek: I have no formal qualifications in Photography, but make more than a few pounds a month from Photography :D

Les :thumbs:
 
Consider studying on how to run a business too, because if you can't do that effectively it's unlikely to matter how good a photographer you aspire to be, you'll never make a living out of it if you can't run it as a business.
 
Shine On said:
Consider studying on how to run a business too, because if you can't do that effectively it's unlikely to matter how good a photographer you aspire to be, you'll never make a living out of it if you can't run it as a business.
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Agreed :thumbs:
 
I used to be a pro no qualifications,it was my portfolio that got me my first full time job as an photographer assistant.

:)
 
Qualifications by and large mean nothing in photography... either you can take a great shot or you can't. Learning how to take great photos is where you should be aiming right now, not some pointless piece of paper that most people couldn't care less about.

As someone above said you need to learn how to run a business to 'go pro' and be successful... if you can do that AND take awesome images you'll be on to a winner.
 
As above, unless of course you want to be employed by a large organisation as they generally want graduates.
 
As above. What field of photography do you want to get into?
 
Hi everyone,


Thanks so much for the responses.
It's so refreshing to have a place to stick up a question and very quickly have various responses. Much appreciated.

Everything you've said makes sense, I just wondered in order to become a bit more professional is it better if I gained qualifications to *show* what I'm capable of but I'm sure a portfolio would suffice.

I'm not big on having my own studio or anything, certainly not for a long time anyway but I would just love some regular work and experience. Not for the money really although that would help! ;-)
 
What sort of photography are you looking to do? You say you are not looking to own a studio. But what sort of photography do you enjoy or see yourself making a living from?

Bear in mind that right now many employers are getting rid of staff photographers so unless you are willing to go it alone via the self employed route, chances of you being a 'professional' are dwindling each day.
 
do a business course along side any others that you decide to do.
 
I would say once you are confident that the work you can produce is as good as, if not better than any other person selling the same genre of photographs, then get your portfolio up together and market your work.

You could of coarse learn to right click and "Save As" like a lot seem to be doing :lol:
 
You'd probably be better off getting a qualification in marketing tbh whilst working on your photography skills.
 
Why is it every one on here says do a biz course . NOT EVERYONE WHO GOES PRO wants to SELF EMPLOYED

Being self employed is a crock!!

I have a pro for 25 years and 20 worked for companies... It's the best way.. you just shoot and enjoy your work

Self employed is work work work and photography becomes 20% of your work load.. the rest is c r a p like marketing and paper work and finding clients etc etc.. Get a job and a wage and enjoy taking shots and being paid for it....

You will need a good eye and the the piece of paper for that... both is a good thing



Not everyone wants to run their own one man band business...... If you do then good luck...

business studies would be more valuable and lern to promote your self... But you will more of that than taking images......
 
Lez325 said:
No qualifications needed- just a good eye for an image and some half decent equipment ( that you know how to use) to grab that image :eek: I have no formal qualifications in Photography, but make more than a few pounds a month from Photography :D

Les :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Les I think you have hit the nail on the head with knowing how to use your equipment

Very good advice
 
Dont waste your time with qualifications, you need to learn about your camera and you own style. Get your self out there. Website, magazines and such. Its not an overnight decision. You'll build up a client base as you will a portfolio.

And more importantly have fun
 
Daryl said:
Why is it every one on here says do a biz course . NOT EVERYONE WHO GOES PRO wants to SELF EMPLOYED

......
Click to expand...

Lack of imagination? Stupidity? or just the OP doesn't really want to be a 'professional' in any sense you'd recognise? ...

photo_heather said:
Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for the responses.
...

I'm not big on having my own studio or anything, certainly not for a long time anyway but I would just love some regular work and experience. Not for the money really although that would help! ;-)
Click to expand...
:cuckoo:


Same answer, most people don't seem to get:thinking: - if you want a decent job working for someone else as a photographer, get a degree. If you're happy to be freelance or self employed - do whatever you like.

If the OP has no desire to be running her own business (which appears to be the case :shrug:) - a load of people wasted their efforts with their well thought out - 'You don't need no qualifications - theyz a bit old skool innit' answers :D
 
photo_heather said:
I just wondered in order to become a bit more professional is it better if I gained qualifications to *show* what I'm capable of but I'm sure a portfolio would suffice.
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Qualifications don't show what you can do. A portfolio does though.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
Qualifications don't show what you can do. A portfolio does though.


Steve.
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I wish companies would learn this. I got turned down for a job recently. My portfolio was "fantastic" but I didn't have a photography qualification.

Not sure a 'grade' in how to take a photo is more important than evidence that I can actually take a photo :bang:
 
erictearle said:
I wish companies would learn this. I got turned down for a job recently. My portfolio was "fantastic" but I didn't have a photography qualification.

Not sure a 'grade' in how to take a photo is more important than evidence that I can actually take a photo :bang:
Click to expand...

The degree tells the company that you can learn to do things in an organised manner - no degree will profess to show skills with a camera.

BTW I'm not suggesting you'd be a worse employee than a graduate, but many companies insist on a degree for employees (where have I heard that before).

You simply shouldn't be surprised to find companies requiring a degree, if you wanted to be employed as a staff photographer you should have researched that whilst you were still in education.

Most working photographers don't have a degree, but they're freelance with no-one to wave their degree at. There's nothing to stop you from doing pro photography, but you'll probably need to be self employed.
 
Phil V said:
The degree tells the company that you can learn to do things in an organised manner - no degree will profess to show skills with a camera.

BTW I'm not suggesting you'd be a worse employee than a graduate, but many companies insist on a degree for employees (where have I heard that before).

You simply shouldn't be surprised to find companies requiring a degree, if you wanted to be employed as a staff photographer you should have researched that whilst you were still in education.

Most working photographers don't have a degree, but they're freelance with no-one to wave their degree at. There's nothing to stop you from doing pro photography, but you'll probably need to be self employed.
Click to expand...

I have a degree and 2 diploma's...just not in photography
 
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