What are some ways to get into the Photography industry?
a_ROC asked:
Im planning on going to Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara after high school and would really like to know of ways to get noticed, or ways to get into the business. I also prefer freelance photography, so advice would be really appreciated.
Im planning on going to Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara after high school and would really like to know of ways to get noticed, or ways to get into the business. I also prefer freelance photography, so advice would be really appreciated.
I think the common way is to try to get a job assisting someone famous to make the connections. You can send letters and slides of your work to well known photographers.
You could submit photography to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. To see some of the best teen work in the country:
.
These are the kids that people are watching.
I almost went to school for photography 3 separate times after high school and decided against it because of the cost. Photography, to me, is one of those things you either have or don’t have… sure there is a lot to learn no matter how much you are interested in it or have a ‘knack’ for it. I took a few classes while I was an education major then I just started taking pics for people I knew and places I went…. I made a website that is easy for me to maintain (I am not one to make a website from scratch, I went through bandzoogle.com) and I read books and worked at a camera store. YOu can shadow someone in your town, I didn’t. If you know of someone getting married ask if you can take pics… I did my first in black and white (the hired photographer didn’t mind) and the couple liked my photos better than the ones they paid for! I originally wanted to be a freelance photographer to do travel and scenic type stuff but somehow wound up as a professional wedding and portrait photographer and I did it independently! You can see my site at bluetreephotography.com. I greatly encourage you to pursue it whether through school or not and don’t be closed off to trying all types of photography… I didn’t want to do people but it pays the bills and helps me to do the travel stuff! best of luck!
qualify from brooks then you will be noticed, they will also teach you everything else you want to learn
a
If you know anyone who has a current Mac computer, you
can use IWeb to create a website showing your recent
photographs. Set up an .mac account [$99 per year] and
publish your IWeb webpage(s).
Acquire from Vistaprint.com a colorful business card
by selecting from their many templates a suitable one
that meets your needs. Make sure to list the URL of
your website along with a telephone answering device.
Do not place your home address or anything personal
such as a cellphone on this businesscard. Then when
you receive the finished business card, pass it around
to various churches, temples and the like to solicit
business.
When you receive a major photography assignment, visit
your local professional camera store and “rent” the
necessary camera equipment to fulfill this assignment.
When starting out, you don’t want to tie your money up
with a piece of camera equipment which because of ever
changing technology “becomes obsolete.” Remember, that
90% of professional photographer are not “buying”
camera equipment continually which can easily become
outdated; instead, they merely “rent or lease” the
camera equipment for set period of time; thereby
keeping their money for other expenses. Even though
you may have your heart set on an SLR and film, you
may have to give up that concept for the moment, since
digital photography offers the most economic method of
photo reproduction. Digital imagery is easy to edit on
a computer and the print quality is often far superior
to regular film-generated prints.
You want to buy an “essential/basic” DSLR system which
has an all-around affordable accessory lenses, then
consider the award winning Pentax KD series beginning
with the Pentax K100D 6.1 mp DSLR with “image
stabilization” built into the camera body. “Image
stabilization” is essential for allowing you to take
telephoto pictures at weddings, parties, while on the
go and you don’t have to drag along a tripod to steady
your camera. Unfortunately, Canon and Nikon have
chosen to install their “vibration reduction” devices
into very expensive auxiliary lenses. But getting back
to the Pentax K100D which comes in a starter kit
consisting of two Pentax lenses: a 18-55 mm. normal
lens and a 50-200 mm. telephoto which sells for $650
at samys.com. Again, the Pentax K100D starter kit runs
circles around the D40 Nikon!
For digital print processing, find a private
professional film processing lab who can handle all
your client’s print orders. And with a resale license,
you will be qualified for considerable “professional”
discounts on lab fees. A search on the Google and
Yahoo for wholesale photo albums will connect you with
various distributors who, again, you can sign on as a
photography studio and get a dealer’s pricing for any
number of albums, guest books, etc.
Instead of renting a studio, take people pictures at
local parks and beaches and for indoor shots, go to
the client’s residence or office to set up a photo
shooting environment which consists of a set of
lights, reflective screens, background drapery, etc.
Good luck!