Becoming Professional – A Photographer’s Journey

For some amateur photographers, taking pictures is purely a hobby – something fun to do in your spare time that keeps the mind active.
But what about those who aspire to become  professional? Perhaps you’re looking for a career change, or dream of seeing your work on the front cover of a magazine?
We spoke to three photographers to get their view on breaking into the profession.

Bios:

Florence, 20, freelance photographer from ManchesterFlorence Fox: Florence is a freelance photographer based in Manchester and available for hire. She specialises in portrait and wedding photography as well as events, fashion and professional head shots.

Florence, 20, freelance photographer from ManchesterFlorence Fox:
Florence is a freelance photographer based in Manchester and available for hire.
She specialises in portrait and wedding photography as well as events, fashion and professional head shots.

Practice Makes Perfect

As with most things, putting photography into practice is the best way to improve your skills. Florence Fox, a professional freelance photographer from Manchester, tells us how it all began for her.

“My first camera was a Canon 400D with 18-55mm lens – this is a really good starter lens as it covers a wide focal length and is very versatile. I got this when I was about 11 and from that moment onwards I was constantly going around the house and garden trying to capture different shots.”

Gavin Mathias: Gavin is an amateur wildlife and landscape photographer based in Shropshire. He has won several competitions and his prints are available to purchase from his website.

Gavin Mathias:
Gavin is an amateur wildlife and landscape photographer based in Shropshire.
He has won several competitions and his prints are available to purchase from his website.

Put Yourself Out There

Competitions:
To become a successful professional photographer, it’s important to gain recognition. Competitions are a fantastic way of doing this. Whether it be a small local competition or something on a much larger scale for a national newspaper, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

David is an amateur wildlife photographer based in Eastleigh, Hampshire. He is often found at his local zoo capturing shots of the resident wildlife. His prints are available to purchase from his website.

David is an amateur wildlife photographer based in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
He is often found at his local zoo capturing shots of the resident wildlife. His prints are available to purchase from his website.

Gavin Mathias, an amateur photographer based in Shropshire, got his work published when he entered a competition for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. His stunning photo of a kingfisher was one of the final 12 images which became published in the society’s yearly calendar.

Gavin then went on to win a competition when he sent the image below to an Icelandic tour company. He took the photo using his Canon 5DmkII DLSR when on holiday with his wife in Gulfoss, Iceland.

Speaking about his experience, he says: “Competitions are definitely a good way of getting your foot in the door and gaining recognition. You can also sometimes get feedback for your work, helping you understand what you could have done better.”

Pictured above: The image which won Gavin a competition with an Icelandic tour company. “This picture was taken using my wide-angle 17-40mm lens, with the camera on a tripod and a shutter release cable attached. I took three shots, at -1, 0 and +1 exposure, blended them together in PhotoMatix Pro, and converted to black and white.”

Pictured above: The image which won Gavin a
competition with an Icelandic tour company. “This picture
was taken using my wide-angle 17-40mm lens, with
the camera on a tripod and a shutter release cable
attached. I took three shots, at -1, 0 and +1 exposure,
blended them together in PhotoMatix Pro, and
converted to black and white.”

Work for Free:

Aged just 15, Florence was asked to photograph a wedding for a family friend. She used her early experiences to build up her portfolio.

“As soon as I’d done my first wedding, I knew photography was for me. Throughout my time doing a photography degree at Manchester Metropolitan University, I kept publicising myself for jobs to try and get as much experience as possible. Offering your photography services for free is a good way of building your portfolio and getting testimonials to build a good reputation.”

Professional photographers often need an assistant to help them during big events. Take a look on Gumtree or send your local photographers an email to offer your services.

“Put yourself out there and don’t be afraid of hearing the word ‘no’,” adds Florence.

Pictured above: One of Florence’s photographs captured at a wedding in Manchester. “This was taken using a Canon 5D mark 2 and 28-105mm Canon L series lens. It's a great multipurpose zoom lens and is especially useful at weddings as I don't have to continually change lenses. I tend to shoot in a natural style. A lot of candid reportage style is being intuitive and being able to pre-empt a moment or action, and being there to capture it.”

Pictured above: One of Florence’s photographs captured
at a wedding in Manchester. “This was taken using a
Canon 5D mark 2 and 28-105mm Canon L series lens. It's
a great multipurpose zoom lens and is especially useful
at weddings as I don't have to continually change lenses.
I tend to shoot in a natural style. A lot of candid reportage
style is being intuitive and being able to pre-empt a
moment or action, and being there to capture it.”

Invest in the Right Equipment

In a digital era, anyone is capable of picking up their camera and giving photography a go, whether you have a mobile phone, compact camera or DSLR – digital single-lens reflex camera. However, if you’re going to start charging people for your photography services, you need the right tools for the job.

David Mallenby, an amateur wildlife photographer from Hampshire, says: “Before getting my DSLR about five years ago, I used to take photos with any old camera. Since investing in a more professional camera, things have got a lot more serious and photography is now something I put a lot of effort into.”

Join a Camera Club

Most counties in the UK have a camera club or photographic society you can join. Whether you’re a complete beginner, amateur or professional, they’re a great way of meeting people with the same interests as you.

David says: “Competitions and impartial advice can really help you get into the profession and improve your game. Camera clubs also offer a support network, which can give you a real confidence boost.”

As well as competitions, camera clubs also run workshops and have lectures from professional photographers.

Florence says: “Camera clubs for many people can be a great way of getting into the profession. They can give you a great deal of confidence and knowledge in terms of equipment. Talking to people with varied experiences can be really useful. Impartial feedback will also help improve your photography skills.”

Consider Your Style
In such a competitive market, it’s important to adopt a unique style and stick to it. It’s fine to look at a professional photographer’s work for inspiration, but try to think about how you can put your own spin on capturing an image.

David says: “Rather than just taking a photo, really think about the overall image you’re capturing and consider how you can make your photography different. You need to create your own style so it makes it clear that you took that photo, meaning your work will be instantly recognisable.”

David often photographs wildlife on trips out to the zoo with his two year old son.

“I like to capture wildlife photography in moments that really show animals to their full extent. By capturing their eyes you can really connect with the animal. It’s about making your photography more than just a nice picture of an animal and really capturing their character,” he adds.

Pictured above: David’s image of Kaia the Amur Leopard at Marwell Zoo. “She typically hides away from the crowds, except when it approaches feeding time. Then she tends to prowl around. On that day, she happened to be prowling next to the viewing window, which gave me a chance to get a photo on the same level as her. To reduce glare, I had to push my Canon 60D, 50mm lens against the window, which meant I had to manually focus as well. After that, it was a case of waiting for the right moment and firing off a burst of photos to maximise the chances of getting a good shot.”

Pictured above: David’s image of Kaia the Amur Leopard
at Marwell Zoo. “She typically hides away from the crowds,
except when it approaches feeding time. Then she tends
to prowl around. On that day, she happened to be
prowling next to the viewing window, which gave me a
chance to get a photo on the same level as her. To
reduce glare, I had to push my Canon 60D, 50mm lens
against the window, which meant I had to manually
focus as well. After that, it was a case of waiting for the
right moment and firing off a burst of photos to maximise
the chances of getting a good shot.”

Be Prepared for a Challenge

You can be the most organised person in the world, but photography mishaps are sometimes unavoidable. Both Gavin and David have faced some challenging situations.

“I’ve gone out once or twice on a long hike with the intention of taking some good landscape shots and left the tripod connector at home, so I was unable to connect the camera to the tripod. I’ve also dropped a lens in a stream, meaning my autofocus doesn’t work so I have to manually focus for everything,” says Gavin.

“I was taking some photos of my two-year-old son at breakfast. He was struggling, so I put the camera down on the floor. He then knocked a glass of water straight off the table, which fell all over my DSLR. Canon cameras are usually quite water resistant, but in this case mine wasn’t. I’m currently camera-less while the insurance company decide whether or not it’s repairable or replaceable,” David says.

Before taking the photography plunge you need to be prepared for all aspects of the job, whether that be marketing your business, travelling to events, updating your portfolio or editing.

Florence also points out: “You need to be realistic about your goals. Photography is not the kind of industry where you can just jump in and start earning loads of money. It takes a lot of time and dedication to become successful. To begin with you’ll need to put in a lot of time, which essentially you’re not getting paid for, but a few years down the line your efforts will really pay off.”