How To Become A Photographer Part I: The Ultimate Checklist To Get You Started Save Preview

Although I used to be a gear-head, I have learned through experience that you really don’t need that much equipment to be a great photographer.

It is easy at the beginning to think that buying a bigger and better camera, will make you a better photographer… the truth is, it took me three years to outgrow my first amateur camera, and another two to upgrade to a full-frame more professional body.

I would suggest you start with an affordable crop sensor SLR, or mirrorless, and one or two lenses. A mid-range zoom, and a prime (either a 35mm or a 50mm) to start with. If you have no idea what I’m talking about or want to learn more about beginner gear for photographers, don’t worry, you can start here!

Next-up is software needed for post-production. I would encourage you to get the Adobe Photography Bundle with Lightroom and Photoshop. It might be a while before you learn the ins and outs of post-production, but as soon as you start taking photos, you can start organizing them, and even enhancing them in Lightroom. It’s a good idea to get the software and start learning it as you learn how to use your camera. And if you’re to get going on mastering the ins and outs of Lightroom, check out my Lightroom Masterclass – it’s truly EVERYTHING you need to know about Lightroom IN ONE PLACE.

Should you spend the money and go to school, or learn your skills online?

What about an online course?

What if you are self taught and just wanna start making money?

Well, like I said, there are many different approaches, and it all depends on your level of comfort going into a job with the skills you have.

For me, once I decided I wanted to become a professional photographer, I wanted to learn and make sure I knew all the things I needed to know, in order to confidently charge people money for the work. But I have a lot of fellow photographer friends who are self-taught and have a successful career as well.

I’ll tell you this:

I went to film school, and during those three years, I taught myself how to shoot photos on a DSLR. But once I knew I wanted to pursue photography professionally, I did a one-year professional photography diploma program, and in all honestly, it wasn’t until that year of school, and a year of working full time in a studio for a fashion brand, that I felt confident enough in my skills and my work was up to a professional standard.

This isn’t to say that I wasn’t doing shoots and even charging for them, but it was a slow build-up of rates, and array or work.

Regardless of what way you chose to learn, one thing is for sure: YOU SHOULD BE CONSTANTLY LEARNING, AND LEARNING A LOT.

Nowadays there are so many learning options online from free information on Youtube to professional courses (like my Lightroom Masterclass!).

The one thing you need to do is make sure there are no gaps in your learning because your knowledge and expertise must match up to what you are selling and eventually reach that professional level. You can’t charge professional rates if you aren’t a pro. However, a pro isn’t just made out of school.

Being a professional photographer is a mix of three things:

1. Experience

2. Creativity

3. Professional business etiquette

If you’re thinking, well how will I know if there are gaps in my learning, no worries I’ve got you covered!

I made a list of the basics that every photographer must know and master below.

• What is exposure and how to control it
• What is shutter speed, how to control it in-camera, and how it affects your image
• What is aperture, F stops, how they modify your image and proper settings for focus control
• What is ISO, how it affects the quality of your image, and how to use it
• Lenses: different types, focal length, quality, and how they modify the look and feel of your image
• Lighting: quantity, quality, direction, and type of lighting (natural light, studio lights, and flash photography)
• Focusing: how to properly use autofocus and make sure your images are sharp
• Framing: the rule of thirds and other principles
• Composition and angle: how to use the space and your tools to turn a three-dimensional situation, into a flat image that still tells a story and has depth
• Posing: how to direct models, actors, and non-performers, plus how to pose families, couples, and co-workers
• Color: how to use rules of color to create pleasing images
• Technical: the difference between camera types, sensor sizes, resolution, raw images, and proper workflow from shooting to editing.
• Post-production: importing, editing, and exporting your images with Lightroom, and advanced editing with photoshop.

The best way to get good at photography is by simply taking photos.

If you are just starting out, you should spend hours shooting for fun, shooting for friends, learning skills, and shooting everything you can all the time.

Here are some ideas and ways for you to get out there and practice:

• Assist a photographer with more experience than you
• Shoot your family events for fun, until you get better and better
• Rent an hour at your local studio, get a friend to model, and practice lighting and posing (There is no shame in learning as you go, and this can be a great way to get your first gigs working in exchange for experience, networking, and portfolio building.)
• Go out for a walk and JUST SHOOT anything and everything

I hope you found this post helpful and that you have a better understanding of how to become a photographer, especially when just starting out.

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