How to be a Photographer!

Are you interested in becoming a photographer? If you're like me when I started out, you most likely have no idea what to try to do first. Don't worry because I've been there, and have a few techniques that you most likely want to think about if you're really serious about the idea.

Step 1: Before You Can Start, You Require a Camera

First, you need to research cameras and equipment within your budget. Try websites such as Amazon, B & H photo, as well as other online stores. You will need to browse through tons of comments and ask for advice from friends to increase the likelihood of grabbing the right model.

Step 2: Understand How to Use Your Digital camera

The camera naturally has an owner's manual, right? Find it underneath your bed, or on-line, and read through the entire thing, at minimum twice. Don't skip over features you don't think you need, because you don't really know what you'll need yet, do you? You must also go through search engines and use a technique I like to call "Searching for Questions" - enter any question you have about your camera online, and if you're smart, you're likely to find it has already been answered on some forum or blog somewhere, where you can then get your answer. Make no mistake - you will need to read a TON of articles before you can call yourself a guru, but this is so often the case in life.

Practice taking images as much as you can. Take an overwhelming amount of photos. Hard drive storage space is cheap, after all!

The vast majority of artists and technicians also learn a great deal by examining the work of others, so its also a good idea to seek out other photographers and find why they do or don't inspire you. Make a list of your top people, and their coolest work. Ask yourself right after each photoshoot how you can use their photographs to improve yours, and you will better understand how to become a photographer.

Step 3: Every Photographer Needs a Portfolio

You'll need to track your progress as the months go by, so start arranging some sort of folder layout on your computer. Try grouping your best photos for each month, and for your all time best. You can even use many different categories for these, which will eventually become the basis for your portfolio.

Once you have constructed your own portfolio, the very next thing you need is your own web site. There are a lot of free websites out there that you can find just by searching, and you can use them to get started pretty fast. Set yourself up with what you are able to, but make it a goal in mind to have a real formal dot com as soon as possible.

Step 4: Making the World Discover Your Photography

You will definitely also need some social network profiles (like facebook, twitter), because sometimes people are more comfortable interacting with you there. Make as many as you can, put together a bio for each, and link them all to your primary web site. Share them as much as you are able to with friends where ever you go, and even print business cards.

At that point, if you make it this far, you might think you will have it made, however also remember that the process of learning is never ever complete. If you would like to get ahead, you must always be improving not only your photos, but your marketing and other skills too. It may sound a bit grueling, but imagine all the incredible photographs you will be taking one day and it might just seem worth the effort. At least it does to me. I love photography.

I hope you've found this post insightful and helpful. If you have enjoyed this post and you think it might help you in your voyage to being a photographer, help us out by giving a website link back and a mention. Thank you!