How did you get started?

[TCUphoto]

I've fallen in love with photography.

I am 26 and interested in starting a small photography business. I feel like I need more experience (and a bigger portfolio) before I go that route. It would even be fun to be the second photographer at a wedding.

So, my question for you: How did you get started?

 

[xjoewhitex]

I got started by taking pictures anything and everything because of how much I enjoyed it, and not even thinking of business until years later.

 

[KmH]

In Sept. 1981, my father-in-law gave me a Minolta SR-T 101 and a couple of lenses.

I went to the library, checked out a few photography books, and started studying.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

So, my question for you: How did you get started?

Took photography my freshman year of high school because let face it, some college prep math or science class wasn't for me, and I got hooked. I took Photography II, and then Advanced Photography in subsequent high school years. After graduation I loosely apprenticed under a professional in his studio. I also worked for a video production company, filming weddings and commercial work from the age of 14 until I turned 20 and moved out of state. I didn't shoot anything for about 8 years because I turned 21 and alcohol and partying was more important, and then on a whim I bought a digital SLR a few years later. I've been knee deep ever since, and now I am co-owner of my own studio.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I bought a camera, made a logo, and the rest is history.

 

[Ajlista]

My dads friend gave me an old cruddy kodak when i was 6, i never did print any photos but i loved taking them, i was able to finally convience my parents that a something semi professional wasnt a waste of money,
I hope to go to school for photography, and get into it as a buisness, BUT I GOT ALOT OF GETTING BETTER TO GO, haha
I wish my highschool had photography classes

 

[PhotoWrangler]

I wish my highschool had photography classes

Check out a local community college. Sometimes they have 'continuing' education classes that are taught by professional photographers. They dont count as college credit, but it may be a way for you to get your hands dirty.

 

[Ajlista]

Really? im only a freshman in highschool, im not worried about the credits, but thats possible?
I didnt know that D :
My school is only three years old, we dont even have seniors yet, and theres some people om the school that are intersted in photography, and filming, so i was trying to get some sort of photography club

 

[Rekd]

I just woke up one day and I was a photographer. That was the day after I had spent nearly half a decade learning to shoot.

Seriously, find what you like to shoot and figure out a way to make other people like it and want to buy it. Don't give up, spend all your time and money, structure your social life around photographing what you love, and like I saw in a quote by one of our members; "drink vodka, actuate shutters, rule at life" or something like that.

 

[iloveshooting]

If you're not in any circles of professional photographers, start networking. You should be able to find some professional photography organizations in your area. If not, check out Professional Photographers of America. You should be able to find a local affiliate here, Affiliate Directory | Professional Photographers of America

It sounds like you have some experience, so you should be able find someone who would use you as a second shooter. You'll need to develop your style. So check out all the blogs of other pros. You'll get some ideas. At first you might mimic others, but don't get caught up copying everyone else. You must develop your own style to differentiate yourself from your competition.

As your experience grows, you'll eventually develop a marketable product. Then you'll have to able to sell your product. So many photographers get lost in the art of photography that they neglect the business. And, as we all know, artists starve. Success in the photography business is 80% marketing and 20% photography skills. Learn how to leverage social media, blogs, seo and, most importantly, local networks in the wedding industry (coordinators, venues, other photographers.) That's it in a nutshell. Best of luck.

 

[imagemaker46]

My Dad handed me a camera in 1969 at age 13 took me to the sidelines of a professional football game and told me to shoot with the 1 roll of film he gave me, pictures I shot from that game were used in the Canadian Football League game program and now I have the largest CFL player photo online site in Canada. I learned everything from my Dad, who is regarded as the father of photojournalism in Canada and has been the mentor to some of the worlds best photojournalists for decades. In 1976 I bought my own gear and having been working as a professional photojournalist ever since, specialising in sports. I've been fortunate enough to travel the world shooting sports, working with some of the best sports shooters, had the opportunity of being the personal photographer to a Prime Minister of Canada, and one of the things I'm really proud of, being able to work as the photo co-ordinator at 5 world championship sporting events where it was my job to make sure all the accrediited photographers were looked after in regards to the best photo positions, it was good to be able to help my peers do their jobs without any concerns.

I still work in photography everyday, although it's not all shooting, it's, editing, working on my website, scanning old negs and slides, and right now in between posting on here, working on the 6000 images from my last 18 day shoot.

It's not all glamour and glitz, it's long hours, dealing with those that don't always understand what I do. But it is the best job in the world, inspite of not being a wealthy material person, I'm wealthy in family and friends from all parts of the world, and I create images that make people happy, that create an emotion in them, good or bad. I just do the job I love, and that's all that matters to me.

 

[Forkie]

I took what I considered to be an "arty" photo with my point and shoot on holiday that I was really proud of, so started taking some more "considered" photos, then bought a bridge camera which looked like a DSLR and used that for a aboout a year and a half improving my composition and practicing with it's manual settings. Then it got stolen, so I used the insurance money to by my first DSLR, now I take it almost wherever I go! Now I have my nice product photography job which involves editing as well, so I get to practice pretty much everyday!

 

[Drake]

I've always enjoyed taking photographs with a film P&S back when I was a kid, but it all really started when I went digital, buying my first 2MP Kodak P&S in 2004. It was way simpler than most of todays phonecams, but it got me anyway. Then there was a little bit better one, then an ultra-zoom compact. I was changing cameras every year, slowly moving on to more advanced models. In 2008 I got to use my first DSLR, which was my small revolution.

That doesn't seem like a long story, but I am just 22 anyway. I am not a professional photographer, and probably never will be, since for me it's just a hobby. I enjoy shooting and hope my photographic skills will continue to develop over the coming years.

But I am afraid it's not what the OP meant asking 'How did you get started'. Perhaps the topic belongs to the Business District.

 

[sanderso]

...

But I am afraid it's not what the OP meant asking 'How did you get started'. Perhaps the topic belongs to the Business District.

I suspect you're right....but good fun anyway!

I had no choice but do photography...it was in my blood-line, always as a hobby. My Grand-Dad shot slides on his Exakta equipment which was then inherited by my Dad who used it for decades. My (now adult) kids were the subjects for decades of snapshops on Olympus, Minolta then Nikon film gear. The DSLRs came after that. (I can't believe all the $$ I've spent developing film!)

Today's goal is to learn to take photographs after years of taking snapshots.

 

[Stradawhovious]

I got tied of taking mediocre vacation pictures, so I bought me a real perfeshional like camera, read a bunch of books, took a bunch of classes, invested in a bunch of equipment, pressed the shutter a few 10,000 times, and now I'm just under half way to amateur, taking some of the best mediocre pictures I have ever taken.