Phill, this is probably the best advice I have ever seen anywhere about photography. You need a mentor, like you said or somewhere to get a serious review of your photos, you do this brilliantly on your website, thank you. You need to practice, practice and practice, then learn from your practicing. Specialising is the key and going with it if there is a market for it. You are going to get nowhere posting vomit enducing HDR landscapes on social media or on peer review for prizes websites. THERE IS A MASSIVE MARKET FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR WEBSITES! THIS IS THE NEW WAY TO MAKE MONEY FROM PHOTOGRAPHY. If a business has something to sell it needs to be out there with an online presence! That online presence has to be of a higher quality than its rivals and that's where photography comes in. A website with garbage amateur photos will fare less well at selling its products or services than a website with images that can be clicked on and expanded to show fine details of what's on offer. It is the same as the difference between putting an advert in a newspaper or a glossy magazine in the days of print media.One word, Cosmo! Professional photographers are a great bunch of people, they can't resist passing on advice, usually good, when they see another serious looking photographer. I have learned so much from what turns out to be photographers walking up to me in the local park (looking confused) and offering advice (NOT BRAGGING), while they were trying to photograph Dragonflys or ducks. I've talked to and seen the work of photographers who make a very good living from photographing: Caravans/holiday homes for rent, products for sale on Amazon, work with interior designers, take photographs of wallpaper (£190 a roll needs a good photographer), Corporate work (photographing staff members for websites etc), event photographers, and last by but no means least two guys that have "Pap" lenses on there cameras ready for photo journalism of anything they come across as they are out and about (they have other lenses and flash systems at hand). So what am I doing to make money? Before and after photographs of facials (NO NOT PORN!), high end Botox, fillers and lip enhancements. Follow the money and sell your professional abillity. QUALITY is and always was what is important! Cheers Phill.
Become a photographer? What would you wanna go do something like that for? Why you might as well come over here and let me bore a hole in your head. It'd probably be more interesting. Photography? Who looks at photographs anymore anyway. If it ain't animated, computer generated and laser guided nobody gives a rat's behind. Are you some special kinda fool? I should take a picture of you. Where's my camera?
Hi, i still struggling to find a client coz i just started doing my full time photography as a wedding photographer. how would i find or know what else i can shoot?
I think your story as a photographer is "the harder you worked, the 'luckier' you get"!
Great tips in terms of the attitude you need to have in order to do well in your chosen area/career – attitude and personality count for A LOT in any job. And these days, so much information about photography is freely available online, so it really boils down to getting out there and gaining experience.
since 1968!!!!!!!, no photography schooling!!!!!!!, u continue to amaze us,,,… i find this video to be both , suggestive with a hint of ur life as a photographer, both cherishable on all counts..like others here i will duly keep ur words in the video in my mind….thanks to youtube, without which i would't have met u…U HAVE CHANGED MY ENTIRE WORLD OF WHAT I USE TO CALL ''PHOTOGRAPHY''..OOPS I THINK AM LITTLE OVER REACTING..BUT ITS TRUE..CANT HELP IT! SORRY!!
22 responses to “How to become a photographer”
Phill, this is probably the best advice I have ever seen anywhere about photography. You need a mentor, like you said or somewhere to get a serious review of your photos, you do this brilliantly on your website, thank you.
You need to practice, practice and practice, then learn from your practicing.
Specialising is the key and going with it if there is a market for it. You are going to get nowhere posting vomit enducing HDR landscapes on social media or on peer review for prizes websites.
THERE IS A MASSIVE MARKET FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR WEBSITES!
THIS IS THE NEW WAY TO MAKE MONEY FROM PHOTOGRAPHY. If a business has something to sell it needs to be out there with an online presence! That online presence has to be of a higher quality than its rivals and that's where photography comes in. A website with garbage amateur photos will fare less well at selling its products or services than a website with images that can be clicked on and expanded to show fine details of what's on offer. It is the same as the difference between putting an advert in a newspaper or a glossy magazine in the days of print media.One word, Cosmo!
Professional photographers are a great bunch of people, they can't resist passing on advice, usually good, when they see another serious looking photographer. I have learned so much from what turns out to be photographers walking up to me in the local park (looking confused) and offering advice (NOT BRAGGING), while they were trying to photograph Dragonflys or ducks.
I've talked to and seen the work of photographers who make a very good living from photographing:
Caravans/holiday homes for rent, products for sale on Amazon, work with interior designers, take photographs of wallpaper (£190 a roll needs a good photographer), Corporate work (photographing staff members for websites etc), event photographers, and last by but no means least two guys that have "Pap" lenses on there cameras ready for photo journalism of anything they come across as they are out and about (they have other lenses and flash systems at hand).
So what am I doing to make money? Before and after photographs of facials (NO NOT PORN!), high end Botox, fillers and lip enhancements. Follow the money and sell your professional abillity. QUALITY is and always was what is important!
Cheers Phill.
Fred has also gained skills in lighting, a feel for when he has enough shots and justified confidence that he's doing OK.
wow nice advice Mr. phillip but if i don't want to work with photographer how can i have knowledge?
Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us. The more I see the more I love you Phill x
Thank you so much! This video is loaded with benefits.
Become a photographer? What would you wanna go do something like that for? Why you might as well come over here and let me bore a hole in your head. It'd probably be more interesting. Photography? Who looks at photographs anymore anyway. If it ain't animated, computer generated and laser guided nobody gives a rat's behind. Are you some special kinda fool? I should take a picture of you. Where's my camera?
You started photography when you are 8. I started two weeks ago when im 30. Now what? Im too late? This video is useless…
Hi, i still struggling to find a client coz i just started doing my full time photography as a wedding photographer. how would i find or know what else i can shoot?
I think your story as a photographer is "the harder you worked, the 'luckier' you get"!
Great tips in terms of the attitude you need to have in order to do well in your chosen area/career – attitude and personality count for A LOT in any job. And these days, so much information about photography is freely available online, so it really boils down to getting out there and gaining experience.
Impressed by your kind suggestion for beginners..
since 1968!!!!!!!, no photography schooling!!!!!!!, u continue to amaze us,,,… i find this video to be both , suggestive with a hint of ur life as a photographer, both cherishable on all counts..like others here i will duly keep ur words in the video in my mind….thanks to youtube, without which i would't have met u…U HAVE CHANGED MY ENTIRE WORLD OF WHAT I USE TO CALL ''PHOTOGRAPHY''..OOPS I THINK AM LITTLE OVER REACTING..BUT ITS TRUE..CANT HELP IT! SORRY!!
CIAO….MASTER
I want to be a concert photographer
Thanks for the tips.
Thank you thank you thank youuu!
no money in nature…she doesnt pay you
yeah but you can just set up a website print businesscards shoot people for free untill your experienced and within a month or two your in business
i can do it all.. i have a massive house..
Thank you Phil, this was very inspiring!
I'm trying to become a photog rapist and this video is useless to me.
Don't let it intimidate you. It's just one guy's opinion.
i say dam the digital age, it made the photography more difficult, film was better, less people called themselves a 'photographer'
Do i get something as i was your 100th like? Please