Today I have decided to take that first initial step towards becoming a professional photographer. This move has come out of personal choice (since I like photography) as well as out of necessity.
Because I am an Internet Entrepreneur and run several web properties which constantly require fresh quality images for articles.
While until now I have been the main source of photographs for them, I have observed that when ever I needed a quality photograph, I would have to turn to others. Which in a dog eat dog world, isn’t all that pretty or easy.
So from now onwards, I would try and do at least one photo shoot a week, and try to produce at least one professional quality image from it. This would not only help me produce images that my websites currently require, it would also help me create a photo bank, which I can use in future. Not to mention, shooting often and trying to improve my skills each time, would help me become a much better photographer.
While it sounds simple enough, the catch is, I can not afford to travel to scenic places like Khajjiar every week. So I would have to improvise and try and see interesting and article worthy images in my neighborhood and city, and try and capture them through my lens.
This should help with not only improving my landscape and architectural photography skills, but also people, macro, vehicle and abstract photography, areas where I am seriously lacking.
I would also try and document each of these photo shoots to ensure that not only I can go back and see my progress, but you can also get some tips/ideas out of it to improve your photography skills.
Of course the ultimate goal would be to have a photograph of captured by me, be on the cover of National Geographic Magazine. A feat I am sure will take a lot of effort and patience to accomplish, but will get accomplished one day for sure.
So let’s start the journey to become a professional photographer…
Ps. all the photography related posts will be filed under the photography category.
4 Comments
A good beginning. Hope you achieve what you’ve begun. Since you’re traveling to such pitifuller places, dont miss out on photography opportunities.
Thanks Saad 🙂
One suggestion about your career: take a look at the kind of photos you do best. Then look at your potential markets. Where the 2 meet is where you might stand a chance of making a living.
I am a working pro with 40+ years of paying my rent with a camera. Early on I worked with some of the most beautiful women in the world and discovered that I was one of the worst fashion photographers to ever hold a camera! I am, however a great ‘people’ photographer.
Today, most of my clients are in the corporate and media fields. I also love to travel and manage to pay for most vacations with photos shot along the way. And- probably most important – I love what I do!
You were kind enough to answer a question I posted on IndiaMike, so I thought I’d pass along my bit of ‘sage advice!’ Take it for what it’s worth.
Maury
Thanks Maury,
I really appreciate your advice and I am sure as I continue to try and improve my photography skills, I’ll be able to narrow down to a niche with which I am most comfortable with and also interested in. Though I personally want it to be travel photography as this is something I truly enjoy.
Ps. lovely website and beautiful photographs Maury 🙂