OK well how I have gone about this is the following...
- Stay in your current job! if you dont have one get one doing anything *** it cost's!
- Of course start practicing as soon as you can,
- Read as many books as you can get hold of,
- Stay on Talk Photography because it is a priceless tool of knowledge and all the peeps on here are spot on with advice and helping you out!
The main points to start with the actual career wise are...
- Start a course, I did a home study which even though I had been togging for a few years, still covered the basics as well as more advance side. The course I did was with the Institute of Professional Photographers. Google it & have a look.
- Next work out a area you would like to cover, I know you said " Weddings, Portraits, Model portfolios etc (ideally have my own studio in my home some day)" but the only way to really get a foot in these days is to target an area such as portraits and once you become successfully and have gained a good client base then think about advancing.
- Offer to work as an assistant for a pro tog, for free! yes it may sound mad but giving them one day a week could lead you to some well worth experience and poss a payed job sooner or later and from there you can start on your own.
Once you have worked out your first target area then think of what equipment is needed to be able to cover the task's, DON'T rush out and buy things you might not need... We (me as well) have all done it at some point, bought something we thought is a must have and never used it, just to find we could have saved the cash!
Think small at first, do some work for family and friends first for free then as you go on start charging but only to cover cost's! Once you are proficient enough then think of a small profit.
Always carry a camera! ALL THE TIME! you never know when something might happen, I always like to think photography is about skill and ability but also being in the right place at the right time is just as important!
Learn your equipment inside out! start with your camera, then as you get something else, master it before you buy the next thing! never leave it to using the manual later on during a shoot when it could be a paid job!
OK I don't mean to sound ZEN like, but apart from thinking of a target area to work on, in your personal time shoot everything! from up someones nose to landmarks! (well possibly not up someones nose but you get the point!) Make photography a passion because if you get used to shooting different things in different environments then later on it will come natural.
If your going digital then start learning Photoshop or something similar, it will be your best friend at times in need.
Set your self assignments or do the competitions you see even if you don't enter them! get used to working with a brief.
and since its 2.AM in the morn when I'm writing this...
One last piece of advice,
Post as many images on here as you can, OK not every single one but ones you feel are good pics, TP peeps will give you criticism, its a good thing because someone else looking at your pics will give you chance to hear good and bad points to work from.
If you do post on here then please in turn view other peeps pics on here and give your own criticism, it will to help in the way you set up, take and view your own shots.
SO... I know it was a bit long winded but I hope it will help!
Please feel free to PM me if you want to ask any direct questions otherwise I will await your post's in the forums.
Good luck.
Phil
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- AVOID EBAY lol
