I Want To Go Pro

So a new photographer posted some nice images of a young friend on Facebook. In the comments they asked a few thousand random strangers what they should do to go pro.

All of the comments were complementary and posters made a bunch of different suggestions about how they would have shot the portraits our new photographer posted. This is typical of new enthusiasts to photography who mistakenly think it’s all about the camera and the image.

Here’s what I said:

Too funny as your question has nothing to do with your images which despite the often contradictory, confusing and just dead-wrong comments of thousands of random strangers on Facebook are pretty good.

So to improve and go pro take a bunch of lessons from teaching professionals. Get a business coach as most new photographers don’t charge nearly enough to feed themselves. Shoot a lot but only post your very best on your own professional online gallery. Only post photos of the same type you’re trying to sell.

Never post on Facebook as most of the comments you’re going to get are from other enthusiasts of varying experience and skills.

As you start volunteer your photographic services to local charities and non-profits special events and hand out a ton of your business cards. Join your local business improvement organization.

Marketing your photography business will be much more challenging than your photography business.

I should have added pay for and attend the big photography conferences held in Los Vegas on an annual basis that have to do with your type of shooting.

BTW the photo was a test shot using my Rolleicord TLR and scanned with my new Epson V-600. Things are starting to come together.