How To Go Pro

This morning on Facebook a new photographer armed with her entry-level camera and kit lens and way more enthusiasm than knowledge asked 130,000 random strangers on Facebook for advice on going pro.

Of course, being Facebook she got a ton of bad advice about what gear she should buy.

I offered a different suggestion. Here’s what I wrote to her:

Before you invest in more gear invest in yourself.

Start by reading your manual with camera in hand and go through every menu item and control using YouTube to explain stuff you don’t know. Pay particular attention to the exposure triangle and shooting modes. A lesson or two at a local club would also help.

Once you understand the tools of your potential profession then take more advanced weekend workshops with professional photographers who are working in the way you want to work. Find a professional to work with and learn on the job.

Now start buying the best gear you can afford and by now you will know what you need and you won’t have to ask for advice from 100,000 random strangers on Facebook. (I’ll add here that most of the advice will be coming from newcomers who probably know less than she does about gear and going pro.)

Working as a professional photographer is going to be more about running a business and marketing and advertising strategies than photography.

You should consider hiring a business coach and start designing a business plan and working out a budget and rate sheet.

Think about how much income you need annually (anything less than $100,000 is a hobby) and divide that by 50 weeks and now you’ll see why you need a business coach and a plan.

Most new photographers fail at turning pro not because they can’t shoot (that should be a given) but they can’t run a profitable business. See Vanessa Joy Photography for more ideas.