How to Become a Photographer

A career as Photographer is a professional who takes pictures using a digital camera or high-end camera. He or she captures the memories of the customers or clients in their special moments. A career as Photographer is a fun and exciting career one can opt for. The main role of Photographer is to capture the memories of people. He or she collaborates with the event industries or individuals for the shoots. He or she clicks the images, does editing and retouching, and selects the locations according to events for individual shoots. The role of Photographer is to reproduce and frame the photographs. 

Marketing

Marketing includes the planning of a marketplace product. Advertising lets a consumer or marketplace recognize your services and products. Advertising represents the greatest marketing method. Advertising creates brand strategies gathered data and analysis to better convey the brand. A career as Photographer needs to advertise to market their photographs.

Equipment use

The camera in its simplest form is a light-tight container that carries a lens, a shutter, a diaphragm, a frame that keeps the film in the appropriate image plane, and a viewfinder that enables the camera to be focused on the target position. The role of Photographer is to always be prepared to use all of these technologies and instruments that can be used for photography.

Use of software

The role of Photographer is to make use of the software for image processing is used to modify or improve digital photos. This software category includes a wide range of applications for reformatting a simple image and applying different effects to standard industry programmes which are used by a skilled photographer. He or she will usually use program sketch, draw, or paint to create new pictures.

Editing

Image retouching is the method by which an image is altered to enable it for the final exhibition. Usually, photo retouching conducts activities that need smaller surface changes to a picture. Retouching is typically done after globalized modifications which are the refining of an image. Photo editing allows us to reproduce, publish, and distribute all printed images. To be much more accurate we say editing actually took place by sorting photos and videos.

Research

Research and exploration are key components of the practice of the photographer; together, they form an integral part of the photographic project-making process. Photographers may do their analysis in several various ways, but ultimately a base of photographic work is formed by experience acquired by discovering the medium which is researching photographic background and hypotheses, and witnessing the environment.

Making contacts

The value of Interaction in photography is quite well understood because a photographer does not only appeal to the masses but it also allows everyone to react to almost the same thing. However, through the images, they interact with the world. Each picture narrates a different story therein.

When it comes to photography fields or photographer career types, there are several career opportunities available. Mentioned below are several types of photography:

Fashion Photographer: Fashion photographers not only work to capture the photos at that moment of the shoot, but they also do a lot of preparation work. They are always looking for good sites for their shoots, or the right props to use in the setting that they rely on. They need to mix things up depending on the nature of the photo shoot and are therefore responsible for the full set-up and the takedown of the shoot itself. They work to ensure that the lighting is just right and that all of the elements are well-prepared ahead of time. 

Wildlife Photographer: Wildlife photographers click and produce images of animals or plants in their natural environments. Wildlife photographers also understand the importance of designing and displaying the images to best convey the message of their photographs. They may use digital techniques to enhance their images in print, and they may also work on printing the images on the type of surface that best allows the images captured to appear lifelike and natural. Depending on the type and stock of film used, photographers can develop their own prints or outsource development to a separate company

Aerial Photographer: Aerial photographers take pictures of physical features, buildings, and many more from aircraft for news, scientific research, town planning, rural development, cartographic, economic, and military purposes. They use various types of photographic and sensory equipment to produce black and white, infra-red, color, and three-dimensional aerial photographs and images for different purposes. Individuals in the wildlife photographer career work in aircraft with specialized photographic equipment. They also helped during times of natural disaster and war, aerial photographs of places, buildings, landscapes, and terrain that cannot be reached with ease on the ground are commonly used to help governments strategize military tactics.

Also read - Career as  cinematographer

In a career as photographer, individuals work in a variety of settings which include both indoor and outdoor. The work environment for photographers can change depending on the specialization they opt for. Portrait photographers may work in studios, but they also often travel to take photographs at a client’s location, such as a school, a company office, or a private home. News and commercial photographers may travel locally or internationally, work in uncomfortable or even dangerous surroundings, and must be available to work on short notice. Individuals in photographer career stand or walk for long periods while carrying heavy equipment.

Does Photographer require travelling?

Likely

Travelling in a career as a photographer totally depends on the specializations that students opt for. Mostly all the photographers require travel in order to click pictures at a client’s location, such as a school, a company office, or a private home. Photographers working in laboratories or offices are least likely to travel however other photographers are required to travel on a regular basis.

Employment Shifts

Full Time, Part Time, Hourly Basis, On Call, Work From Home

Individuals in photographer career work in laboratories or offices working a regular shift of nine to five on weekdays. Apart from these photographers mostly all the photographers work more than their normal hours. The shift timings do not exist for other photographers working in different specializations apart from photographers working in laboratories or offices.

Employment Nature

Contractual, Permanent

The nature of employment in the career as photographer, includes both permanent and contractual hiring of photographers. Photographers are hired on a permanent and contractual basis depending on the requirement of the companies. Most firms hire individuals on a permanent basis to get more efficient at their jobs through familiarity with the processes.

Work Place

Home Office, On-Field, Office

Various photographers work in different settings, some work in laboratories and offices whereas others work in harsh conditions. The workplace of different photographers depends on the specialisations that they opt for. Individuals in photographer career do not have a specific duration of work hours on a daily or weekly basis as they require to travel a lot. Individuals who opt for a career as a photographer working in wildlife, sports, aerial, and much more work overtime on a regular basis so that they can complete their desired target at the earliest.  

Presence in Geographical Area

Rural, Semi-urban, Urban

The top colleges for photography are mostly situated in urban areas or cities. Cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kanpur, Delhi, and many more can be considered educational and job hubs for photographers as they provide both education and job opportunities for photographers. Photographers can be seen in all urban, semi-urban, and rural areas performing their tasks as demanded by their job roles.

Time Pressure

Not Likely

The career as photographer is more of a creative profession. Individuals who opt for a career as a photographer working permanently hardly face any time pressure. However, one who works as a freelancer for big organisations is more likely to face time pressure. Also, in situations such as reaching deadlines or project completion, photographers might be required to handle time pressure and work for long hours to manage their work.

Overtime Details

Photography is a profession that requires a lot of creativity which sometimes works as a hindrance in accomplishing the projects. Working overtime is quite normal in the career as photographer. In a career as photographer, individuals are generally required to work more than their scheduled time.

There are several types of career opportunities in photography in India. But, to be able to grab an opportunity one must possess some skills in a career in photography. Here, in this section, we have discussed how to become a Photographer.

Creativity: Individuals who opt for a career as a photographer are born creative, however, this is a skill that to a great extent can be learned and constantly improved. There are several ways by which one can inculcate this ability. Few of them are to follow the works of successful photographers and attend workshops and shoots. Visual photography is an enhancement of creative activity to digital photography. The aim is to encourage innovative thinking and promote creativity with fresh concepts that go beyond a simple picture. 

Composition: Composition is the artistic dimension in the career as photographer that helps in understanding how and what is required in an image to look beautiful. The aspect of composition is simply the photographer’s taste and creativity. Candidates have to learn how to think deliberately and intelligently about what looks good in a frame and why. There are certain universal principles that candidates should learn, rather than reinventing them through trial and error methods.

Business sense: Not all photographers work independently, Working as a freelancer or selling prints requires photographers to have their own business manager. In a career as photographer, one must handle everything from shooting to marketing their product. Photographer artists must have business skills to survive in this field. Business sense is recognizing how a business earns a profit and accomplishes its objectives and outcomes.

Technical skills: To be a successful photographer artist these days, photographers need to know the latest technologies. This includes improvement in both hardware and software. Hardware, in this case, refers to cameras, lenses, tripods, lights, and all the other physical equipment a photographer might use. Softwares are the applications used by photographers to edit an image. Some of the equipment is extremely complicated to use until and unless a photographer masters it. 

Attention to detail: To be successful in a career as photographer, one needs to deliver pure perfection, meaning that everything before, during, and after the shot has to be flawless. An eye for detail helps photographers to ensure that all elements within the photo such as the lighting, the composition, the subject, and everything else are in proper proportion to convey the right vision. 

Patience: Patience is a key component of workplace success. You have to confront those circumstances many times which takes time and patience. This is a field where things just won’t go photographers' way at times, for example, the lighting won’t cooperate, models or clients will be exceptionally difficult, or when their camera just won’t give them the desired results. In a career as photographer, individuals must have the patience to handle any situation with ease and help them to grow in this field. It is just to focus on getting the job done and not surrender, as well as be serious. 

We have provided below major certifications courses for photography. Aspiring individuals can opt for these courses to upgrade their photography skills.

Some of the popular career opportunities in photography are mentioned below:

Photography Assistant: A photographer can begin his or her career by either joining a photograph firm or approaching a professional photographer to work as an assistant photographer. The job of an assistant photographer is to plan, set up, and complete the photo sessions with the photographer either at the studio or an outside shoot location. They also help customers, they are involved in configuring as well as operating the photo equipment. They also assist the photographer in giving creative and technical advice.

Camera Operator: Photographers gain experience using still cameras to capture images. So this skill helps a photographer to become a camera operator for video events such as television shows, movies, or televised sports. They may work in a broadcast studio, as a cinematographer on a movie set or as a videographer at an event, like a wedding. They use hi-tech cameras and use different types of camera lenses or filters to achieve the desired effects. Camera operators work closely with directors to ensure that their videos meet the needs of the production. Some camera operators edit their work using computer programs.

Photographer: After gaining experience of several months under professional photographers, one could go on and find a job for himself or herself in a company as a photographer. An individual can work as a portrait photographer, commercial or industrial photographer, aerial photographer, news photographer or even work as a freelance photographer. Jobs for photographers are available in almost every kind of industry.

Director of Photography: The Director of photography is also known as a cinematographer. He or she is the main person who handles the camera and the light crew while shooting a film or any commercial video. The Director of photography should be good at handling people. They typically have to manage photographers, designers and others who contribute to the finished product. They are responsible for making artistic as well as technical decisions that are related to the images.

The job growth in the case of career opportunities in photography is considered comparatively higher than the other kinds of specialized photographers. But, it is considered to be a very competitive branch of photography since there are several renowned professionals already out there. Individuals in travel photographer careers in the media line face a very stagnant growth but the job is comparatively more secure. They do not depend on clients or fashion shows in order to find work. News is everywhere therefore, they are supposed to work all the time.

With the boom in advertising, media and the fashion industry, photography has emerged as a lucrative and thrilling career option to many Indian youths. A few years ago people regarded photography as a hobby profession only, but now it has emerged in a different way. In this modern era, photography as a career in India is emerging rapidly as it is a popular career choice among all age groups. Photography is both a science and an art; an artistic means of expression in which the camera replaces the pen. Since India is now developing in all fields including photography so there are a good number of options available in the field of photography. Students after completing the courses in photography can also become freelance photographers or individual photographers.