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Getting started in Photography
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Hi all, I am new to the site so not completely sure how this works. I have just completed a FETAC Cert in Film Photography but would like to know what sort of qualifications I would need to start working as a portrait, wedding photography on a part-time basis. I am a qualified engineer but would like to eventually change careers but not quite sure how to go about it, ie, what qualifications needed and equipment would eventually need and how to get started in general. I would appreciate any help on this matter. Thanks in advance
Qualification?
You need a good portfolio of work before someone will take you on. That is your qualification.
Equipment? Depends on taste. Canon or Nikon mainly. For portraits and weddings – Canon 5D. Probably 24-70mm f/2.8 lens and maybe also a 70-200mm f/2.8 IS L. Also a flash (580exII) would be needed. And that’s a start.
cwalsh wrote:
Hi all, I am new to the site so not completely sure how this works. I have just completed a FETAC Cert in Film Photography but would like to know what sort of qualifications I would need to start working as a portrait, wedding photography on a part-time basis.
In Ireland and the UK, you don’t “need” any qualification to start a photography practise. What you do need is experience – the more the better. That, and a good head for business. In fact, business acumen is far more important than photographic skill if your desire is to make this your full time job!
cwalsh wrote:
I am a qualified engineer but would like to eventually change careers but not quite sure how to go about it, ie, what qualifications needed and equipment would eventually need and how to get started in general. I would appreciate any help on this matter. Thanks in advance
A qualified engineer? I’d say stick with that for as long as you can. You’ll certainly make more money out of it. There are far too many people already trying to do the same thing as you and most of them are doing it part time (mostly at weekends) and couldn’t care less about how much they make out of it or the quality of the work they are producing. So prices are being driven down and so is the quality and at the end of the day nobody wins. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it’s the reality. I’m not trying to protect my own income here as I don’t yet have one, but I’m currently out of work and have considered turning my photography into a career. But there are so many local amateurs doing portraits and weddings for below cost that it’s not easy to get a slice of the action starting out.
So, as well as learning and practising all you can about photography, you need to get to grips with sales, marketing and finance too. There’s no point in asking what equipment you need because only you can determine what works best for you and that only comes with experience. Buying something based on someone else’s advice could leave you with a big hole in your pocket with tools that don’t really work for you.
Paul and Thorston are so right. I am one of the lucky ones that started 25 years ago and have the business built up. Beleive me it was much easire back them and I know that I would not have a chance if I were starting right now. Its dog eat bigger dog out there right now. I am hoping to get another 7 years and then I can draw on my own pension which I am heavily contributing to right now and which I took with me from a company I worked with until 1991.
I know Thorston and have met him on a few occasions over the last few years and have been admiring his work both here and prior to this site on another site called IMAP and I have to say his work is second to none and I sincerely mean that. He also calls a spade a spade and his advice is spot on. Personally, I honestly think that Thorston should be up in the top 3 photographers (professional) in his area and he must be sickened by the quality of some of the work that is produced and is selling well in his community.
I’m not saying you should give up but do heed the advice given in the above posts and mind the day job.
One other thing that is becoming a big expense in this industry in Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance.
cwalsh wrote:
Hi all, I am new to the site so not completely sure how this works. I have just completed a FETAC Cert in Film Photography but would like to know what sort of qualifications I would need to start working as a portrait, wedding photography on a part-time basis. I am a qualified engineer but would like to eventually change careers but not quite sure how to go about it, ie, what qualifications needed and equipment would eventually need and how to get started in general. I would appreciate any help on this matter. Thanks in advance
hi cwalsh. I sometimes laugh when i see this type of post , because it remind me of myself about 3 yrs ago firstly let me say that will be hard if not impossible to get anyone to take you as a back up shooter for you to gain experience for one reason or another.
If id have known this i would have save valuable time , they (photographers) just wont do it. you may get an offer if you have long enough to wait . but in the mean time im going to tell you how to get started and not tell you all the things that will or could go wrong so it does not discourage you..
Because being a photographer is the best job there is.
Firstly don’t waste your time doing things that wont make you money like shooting models unless you are really great you wont make a living from it, its for the chosen few.Right im sure others will tell how do it and there may be many ways but heres what worked for me.
1. Get a good camera. Whats a good camera ? people will say u need the top of the range making it already difficult for you. Well the truth is you don’t a canon 10d ( not what I use) will set you back about 400 euros and it will be good enough to get you started and it will give a great large print.
2 get some studio and a good flash for fill flash , total for both under 1000 euros.
3. Practice practice and practice
4 . build a small folio make sure it is of what you going to target. If its kids family portraits do them, not pics of the local team sounds simple , but you would be amazed at what people do.
5 put yourself out there don’t let people tell you it cant be done, cause it can one year from now you could be in a different job
6. No matter what people say about what price you should be charging , don’t over price yourself. don’t expect to be getting 2000 for a wedding anybody getting that has years of experience and that’s what they charge for….
If you can make a profit doing it for 1000 do it,
500 do it …..it’s a business not a hobby the big pay day will come, also consider doing some for free to gain experience.
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7 copy other photographers styles especially ones that make money from photography they already have the experience of what sells and what does not sell
8. Finally believe in your self if you can dream it you can do it
I know of a course that can help you out in video that you get in you mail box pm if you are interested ill give you the link, its got nothing to do with me but ill pass it on and its free .
All the points above make sense, and all should be heeded.
Yes its a great profession, yes there are pitfalls, you will have great times, bad times and very stressful times. I’m not sure by your original post if you are married & have kids to support, mortgage etc. if not, without sounding too harsh thats a plus.
If you are good the work will come in but it can come in fits & starts. During the last week in April I took three wedding bookings, 2 communions bookings and a family celebration. So far this month, although I have plenty of work on hand I have only had one booking for a small job for a local newspaper. This type of uncertainly can be hard to manage. Next week I could have a load of bookings – but who knows ?Plan as much as you can, try to get a budget for advertising, not sure if you have a website yet but get one. Call to local hotels with a portfolio of work and try get listed as a preferred supplier, contact local schools about school photography. Join the SWPP – although this will not make you a better photographer it is relatively cheap and will give some customers a bit more confidence in you. Its amazing what a few letters after your name can do when touting for work.
Be prepared for rejection and don’t let it dint your confidence, remember that with photography what some people love others may hate and don’t take it personally.
Don’t just get one camera body, make sure to have at least one backup. I operate at weddings with two main camera bodies (to avoid lens changes) and have a spare as backup, as well as a mountain of cf cards & batteries in reserve.
Remember also that a huge amount will depend on luck. There are many really talented photographers out there who have either failed, or are just scraping by while there are also loads of mediocre photographers making a nice living out of it. Sometimes its a case of right place / right time. But as someone once said, the harder I work the luckier I get !
Finally give the customer what they want. A huge amount of business comes from referrals and if you make a couple happy with their album (i.e. give it to them exactly as they wanted it) they will pass the word around as to how great you were to deal with.
Hope this helps & best of luck.
Rgds
Kevin
Hey all, thanks very much for all advice. apologies for naivety or simpleness of the question. I think as of before its mainly a hobby for me and something I really enjoy and would like in the future for it to turn into a career change. I’m not currently going to jack in my job but would love if at some stage to be doing this on a daily basis as something I really enjoy doing. cheers again and to Pixelmadness, any video course recommendations would be great and massively appreciated
regards,
cwalsh
I’ve not read through all the replies above, but the guys who have replied are probably the best qualified as they’re pro’s or semi-pro’s and know that side of the game, but you want to change career and want to know about qualifications. I think 75% of the ppl on this site have thought that or are currently working at doing it now.
IMHO the things you need to make it as a photographer are: Drive, Balls, commitment and a good portfolio.
You’ll never stop learning, be it photography or business skills and ideas.Re: Qualifications: Look at a City & Guilds course (I’m doing one and it’s very very very good), get a LRPS with the RPS or LSWPP with the SWPP esp. if considering portrait/wedding work.
And might I add, by posting shots on here you will get first class and honest feedback, take it on board, improve those errors/short comings and you’ll improve no end.
Brian_C wrote:
I’ve not read through all the replies above, but the guys who have replied are probably the best qualified as they’re pro’s or semi-pro’s and know that side of the game, but you want to change career and want to know about qualifications. I think 75% of the ppl on this site have thought that or are currently working at doing it now.
IMHO the things you need to make it as a photographer are: Drive, Balls, commitment and a good portfolio.
You’ll never stop learning, be it photography or business skills and ideas.Re: Qualifications: Look at a City & Guilds course (I’m doing one and it’s very very very good), get a LRPS with the RPS or LSWPP with the SWPP esp. if considering portrait/wedding work.
And might I add, by posting shots on here you will get first class and honest feedback, take it on board, improve those errors/short comings and you’ll improve no end.
Brian the City & Guilds course you are doing have you a link to it for some info, Is it at a college, or by mail.
Lots of great advice there. Just to reiterate what Brian said, its a good idea to post your work here
and you’ll get some solid advice/help in return. PI exists to help photographers so… :)cheers
I’ll second Petes comments. Great advice from all. Thanks for taking the time.
I’ve been doing it full time for 17 years now and before that for another 9 so if anyone ever has a question and I can help you only have to ask and dont be afraid to ring me up ……. its not a problem !
liamtinney wrote:
Brian the City & Guilds course you are doing have you a link to it for some info, Is it at a college, or by mail.
Hey Liam, I’m doing my course on a Wednesday night in Newtownabbey, it’s a bit of a trek for you I know, I think Andy McInroy did the same course up in Derry, might be worth PM’ing him for the location of the college. There’s another 4 ppl on this forum doing either the Level 1 or 2 course with the same tutor as me and they’ll all say it’s worth it. There’s a couple of places doing the same course via correspondence over the internet and post, but I think they’ll be a bit more pricey. Look at ICS Distance Learning and Open Learning.
You could also do the course run by the Amateur Photographer mag at http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/spi/, I nearly did this one and it seems to have evolved since I considered it too.Here’s a link to the C&G course structure.
Things you’ll need:
1. A couple of decent camera bodies, and the best bits of glass you can afford for them. It does make a difference in terms of quality, but also her indoors does the odd wedding a few times a year and more than once has got taking to someone about what gear she uses, and they know their bits. She used shoot weddings on film with her Hassleblads, but the last year or two she’s been using a borrowed 1D or 5D.
2. A decent portfolio. Even one job, one set of pictures, can get you referals if the customer is really pleased with the result they’ll pass your name on. Be brutally honest with yourself when putting a portfolio together and get feedback not just from family and friends but also from people who have experience…here and on other photography forums for example.
3. A shed load of luck. Every year the colleges here and in the UK turn out hundreds of wannabe photographers, if not thousands. That’s just colleges, not to mention hobbyists who want to make the leap to full-time or the amatuers who do the odd job. Competition is fierce for any work that becomes available. You could be very good at what you do and not get a sniff of anything, or you could be decidedly average and have enough work to keep you going. Luck plays a huge part but I’m a firm believer in luck being largely dependent to a great extent on the amount of effort put in. Being good isn’t enough, you have to work incredibly hard at promoting yourself. You are your business and you have to sell yourself every week.
4. Offer something that no one else is doing. This can be difficult in a saturated market but I still think it’s a key requirement if you want to set yourself apart – in any business. If you’re just doing the same thing as everyone else the only thing you’ll win on is price, and while that might be okay to get a coupla jobs under your belt it’s not a long term option if you need it to be a main source of income and support you and/or your family long term. Under-cutting everyone else isn’t sustainable if everyone else is doing the same, but it can get you a foot in the door. It’s a crude but effective short-term tactic and unless you’re churning through an awful lot of work it’s not going to make you rich, and you’ll also burn yourself out and potentially screw things up and so lose credibility long term. That something else that no one else is offering can simply be quality of product, how good you are (and not just with a camera but also with people: likeability and a professional demeanour, along with competent skills, is hugely important) or a different approach/style to the way you shoot people (in a way that is appealing of course, no sense in having a different style if it’s not appealing). I’ve worked with a few really good photographers over the years, but it’s the ones who are charming that have the edge for me and that I would use again…others are just as professional but if there’s no personal connection it’s hard to sustain a long term working relationship. With portraits and weddings I think you have to make that personal connection very quickly, people will be swayed by first impressions if all other things are equal (price/portfolio/etc).
5. Qualifications are not the be all and end all of things and I’d rate them far below the other things I’ve mentioned. However, a good course will give you a lot of knowledge and a chance to experiment, find your feet and get feedback. That’s as good a foundation as you can expect, but it’s not an instant pass to success because all the other elements mentioned have to be in place too. Another option is to become an assistant, but that can be a gruelling experience and there’s no guarantees of success there when you decide to go out on your own – the advantages though are that you see how a photographer works, get an understanding of how the technical side of things work in a real world environment, the business side of things too as well as some client facing experience which you don’t get at college. The last option is to just go out on your own, which both herself and I did straight out of college nearly 20 years ago. I bust a gut (well, ulcerated them anyways) trying to make a go of it, and she went from strength to strength. I became her bestest assistant ever (and still am in some aspects) but conceded defeat after 5 or so years and took another path altogether. I see how hard she works and I can’t say it’s got any easier, aside from having a list of regular clients it’s a tough gig with long hours and high expectations. Compared to what she puts herself through my job’s a doddle…but, of course, I don’t tell her that ;)
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