What training do I need?

[brea_shell]

Hi there,

I'm seriously considering becoming a professional photographer, but I don't know what training to do?:confused:

Home course via internet? Uni? College? Short Course?

If there are any professional photographers reading this please let me know what training you have....

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks :)

[EarthSeaSky]

You don't specify what branch of pro photography interests you. I am a semi-retired professional wedding photographer. Never in my life had I any formal training in photography. From advanced amateur status I broke into photography late in my career in the early '90s after a career as a graphic designer. For obvious reasons it is nigh impossible to find a pro who will want to teach you. I learnt by watching wedding pros at work, studying their portfolios and bridal magazines. When I thought I was at least as good as the worst of them I placed an ad in the yellow pages, the rest is history ;)

What I am saying to you is the shortest route to breaking into "the game" is not to study photography per se, but to study the industry. You need to have acquired some good equipment, at least two pro level cameras, and learnt to use them fluently. You also need some entrepreneurial nouse, the ability to promote yourself, develop contacts, and above all you must be dedicated to your art.

Good luck.

[brea_shell]

Thankyou for your reply,

I'm interested in doing weddings, portrait, family and animal photography, but i also love landscape and nature.

There is a home correspondance course run by acq that i'm considering doing, which costs approx $1,000. Do you think this would be a good idea to get me started? Obviously i need to know how to use a camera properly to be a professional, but i've been worried that i wouldn't be taught the hands on stuff, thus making it useless! There is another course run by a nearby college that costs $3,000 that i am considering also to learn how to do everything... but that price is alot for me; much less than a uni degree though.

So any suggestions on a type of camera to get?

I've always been a creative and artsy person, ever since i was a child, and i would love the freedom and flexibility of working for myself, but i guess i never believed in my self enough to pursue something like this, i guess i believed most artists struggle along through life, so i've worked for the "man" thinking it was the only way to go.

If you could give yourself a piece of advice when you were just starting out or thinking about becoming a professional photographer, what would it be??

[EarthSeaSky]

I'm interested in doing weddings, portrait, family and animal photography, but i also love landscape and nature.
A good wedding photographer, aside from being able to handle a camera blindfolded in the dark, must also be a people person and know how to market his product.
There is a home correspondance course run by acq that i'm considering doing, which costs approx $1,000. Do you think this would be a good idea to get me started?Personally, I would not consider a correspondence course in anything.
There is another course run by a nearby college that costs $3,000 that i am considering also to learn how to do everything... but that price is alot for me; much less than a uni degree though.If that nearby college is tafe, and they run a photography basics course, then I would recommend it.
So any suggestions on a type of camera to get?A tafe course in photography basics will probably require you to own an slr film camera, you can buy any number of superb ones now for next to nothing. Digital cams and technology changes daily so whatever you buy now will be very dated by the time you are ready to hang out your shingle as a pro. Meanwhile, Canon and Nikon both cater for the pro market, get yourself an advanced amateur dslr. I am a Nikon man from way back - that's just my bias. On this issue you need to read lots of camera reviews.
I've always been a creative and artsy person, ever since i was a child, and i would love the freedom and flexibility of working for myself, but i guess i never believed in my self enough to pursue something like this, i guess i believed most artists struggle along through life, so i've worked for the "man" thinking it was the only way to go.I too have always been an artsy type, but unlike you I always had confidence in my own ability. If you don't believe in yourself, then no one else will.
If you could give yourself a piece of advice when you were just starting out or thinking about becoming a professional photographer, what would it be??I'd do less "thinking about it" and just do it. The first critical step in becoming something is to assume that you are one. OK, you can't swim and want to become an olympic champ. So dive in regardless, when you come up for the third time you'll find that you can swim after all. At that point you'll experience a huge surge in self confidence. Then all you have to do is improve - a lot :D

[snowygal]

No where near pro here, slowly dabbling in being a part time casual photographer (first wedding booked for next Feb ...mark youll be hearing ALOT from me then :0 )

BUT I believe its something you have to have a passion for.

A good example is the piano, I can play the piano, read music, but can guarentee you I will Never be anything but a basic player simply because I dont have the passion for it.

Good luck with it

[taffography]

when i was using film i was doing friends weddings for the cost of film developing and beer (i used to drink a lot in those days lol)
this is a gr8 way to try your hand if your confident enough, you could even attend some parties, engagement birthdays etc to find your confidence that way. I even used to dress my kids up as bride and groom and spend hours taking pics lol
imagine how scary it was taken wedding photos on film as an amateur photographer with no way to view b4, we are spoilt with digital now, but the fine shots still seem to be the inbetween
good luck in your ventures

Taff

[taffography]

p.s
hey amber wanna play me some mozart its the 250th anniversary of his death this year
or maybe even some chopin to put us all in a loving caring mood :D

taffthetattoedclassicallisteningcooldude

[EarthSeaSky]

No where near pro here, slowly dabbling in being a part time casual photographer (first wedding booked for next Feb ...mark youll be hearing ALOT from me then :0 ) BUT I believe its something you have to have a passion for. A good example is the piano, I can play the piano, read music, but can guarentee you I will Never be anything but a basic player simply because I dont have the passion for it. Good luck with it
Well at least you can read and play music, Amber. I have a slavish admiration for anyone who can play an instrument. As a kid I really wanted to learn but those damn crochets and quaver thingies got me totally bolloxed. So I devised a system of my own for writing music that I "composed" on the family piano. I got a terrible beating from my dad when he discovered that I had painted numbers on every ivory key from end to end, through middle C! :D

[LyndaC]

Mark, there are much less permanent ways of learning the notes. When I learnt I had a guide which sat at the top of the keys with the letters on each one. I was an organ player though, and when I learnt I also had to have an extension for my feet as I was too short and couldn't reach the pedals :D I would also cheat and write the names of the notes on the sheet music too.

[EarthSeaSky]

Lynda, now you - it's just not fair! :( for me, sheet music will always be about as readable as encrypted hieroglyphics.
But in common with taff, I am a great lover of Mozart and Chopin and have been enjoying ABC FM's celebration of Mozart's
250th Anniversary. But returning to photography, here's Pamela at her clavinova, at home in Illinois.
As guest and photographer to her daughter's wedding, she played American pops to me last October. :)
http://www.photo.net.au/members/d/1940-2/PamPiano.jpg

[cassarilda]

May I throw in my 2cents worth?

Brea, if you want to get into photography, depending on your age, you might want to consider working for a photographer as an assistant... this way you learn the trade, the acts of being personable, and the business. Then, if you decide after all the good and bad times, that it is for you, you can go onto a course or continue assisting until you feel ready to ask to be a 2nd photographer in their studio or go out on your own (Im talking after years here).

Ive done both paths.. I did photography at high school, then at uni, and whilst at uni Ive assisted photographers (mainly wedding/portrait due to my timetabling).. this has helped me gain a more rounded view on photography as an art and as a business, and I wouldnt have done it any other way.

I believe that by assisting you learn what it takes to be a good photography business person, and by doing a course, you learn what it takes to take a good/great shot. Many photographers WILL teach you things as you go, and during the course of the day at weddings etc, you may not touch a camera other than to hand it to the photographer, and maybe later to change films, so its usually in the breaks, or at their home they may teach you a few things. Studio photographers are the same.. you will sweep, make coffee, sometimes be the stylist getting that piece of hair out of the way, and you may not go anywhere near the camera... but eventually they will teach you bits and pieces and its up to you to absorb everything around you.

So yes... :D Its hard work either way you go, and I would suggest doing a basics course before going to a photographer - most wont care if you have experience or not, so long as youre good at carrying bags and not complaining and are eager etc etc (PM for a longer more extensive listing of an assistants responsibilities :D ) - but it wil give you a better understanding of whats happening

OOpss. did I rant again? ;)



ETA: OH and Mark (EarthSeaSky) Im a Canon girl myself... care to compare?! :D

[Mouskie]

I got started by going to camera club and learning, learning, learning. Then to the net for ideas and then to a couple I knew who modelled for me on the beach. Gave me some sample pics to show prospective clients who knew people that knew me.... Doing one well led to another to another but I have had a few dramas along the way with camera equipment malfuncting on me, getting lost, bridezillas etc.
Not an easy line of work as you need to have very good people and business skills. Be artistic, organized, computer literate etc and be flexible because things rarely go as planned. You have to think on your feet and stay on those feet most of the day - lots of energy needed.
Read lots of good books too. Bill Hurter's The Wedding Photographer's Handbook is a good one.