For many people, turning their photography passion into a viable business is the ultimate dream. But having a creative talent doesn't always equate to business acumen! In this article I'm going to give you some tips to help you get started with your own photography business. Everyone has different ideas about what's important, but these are the things that either helped me along the way, or that I wish I'd known earlier!
CAMERA EQUIPMENT When it comes to gear, I like the adage of ‘building slow and smart’. As your business grows, you should invest in more equipment. Don’t go out and bankrupt yourself before you’ve even started! What do I think you need as a bare minimum? Here’s a short list:
• Camera that allows you to change lenses
• Lenses – a fixed 50mm and a decent zoom lens will get you started in most areas
• Flashgun
• Memory cards
• Spare batteries
• External Hard Drive for backups
• Computer or laptop with sufficient memory to handle your camera files
• Photoshop / Lightroom or another editing programme of similar capabilities
• Camera bag
If you’re an enthusiastic photographer, the chances are that you’ll have most of this equipment already. Start with the gear you own and build from there as you sell your work.
BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO No one is going to hire you if you can’t show them examples of your work! You need to get your best work organised and go out and shoot more if you need to.
This story is from the Issue 117 edition of Photography Masterclass Magazine.
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This story is from the Issue 117 edition of Photography Masterclass Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE LOWDOWN ON THE SIGMA 15 MM F/1.4 ART FISHEYE LENS FOR SONY
Still, I don't want you to think I'm trying to give you the ol' bait-and-switch, so I'll say right from the top that this lens is quite pricey, and it's certainly not for everyone.
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: DINA BELENKO
In this issue, we interview Dina Belenko, the conceptual still life photographer whose work transcends the boundaries of imagination.
PROVEN TECHNIQUES FOR CAPTURING THE BEAUTY OF FIREWORKS
Snapping the perfect shot of a fireworks display involves more than just pointing and shooting.
7 REASONS TO USE A DEDICATED CAMERA INSTEAD OF A SMARTPHONE
Nearly all of us us have a smartphone in our pockets and the included cameras have led to a real explosion in photography.
7 COMPOSITION TIPS THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOS
If you've wondered why some photos just look better, one of the secrets is often the composition.
THE LOWDOWN ON THE CANON EOS R50 MIRRORLESS CAMERA
An ideal camera for entry level photographers on a budget
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: DAVID WRAGG
In this issue we featured David Wragg, an English automotive studio photographer. David caught our eye when he shared one of his images with us on Facebook where he captured the sleek curves of the front end of a classic Jaguar E Type.
MASTERING SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY: TECHNIQUES FOR CAPTURING THE ACTION AND FREEZING THE MOMENT
Sport is such a broad and encapsulating term. People across the world love playing and watching a huge variety of sports – from tennis, through football and formula one; every sport will appeal to someone.
THE BENEFITS OF SHOOTING IN APERTURE PRIORITY MODE:
How Aperture Priority can help you achieve creative control over depth of field
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Whether you’re a professional photographer or just enjoy taking images as an amateur, it’s easy to fall into a comfort zone of always shooting the same thing.
