Basic Rule: Know Your Craft!
Just like any skill that people might pay for, whether it be in construction/repair, business services, or arts and crafts, knowing your trade/craft inside and out is vital.
In these days of smart phone cameras and consumer priced camera systems, just about anyone can get a photo that is "good enough." The trick is showing a potential client that you can deliver a product that goes far beyond merely being good enough, but is actually outstanding. You don't have to be Ansel Adams or Richard Avedon, but you do need to be both technically proficient and interestingly creative.
First up, really understand photography. That involves more than knowing how to expose properly. It includes understanding what is actually happening in your chosen medium. Film and digital are surprisingly similar in many ways, and quite different in significant aspects. You can take a course online, at a local college, or with a local professional. You can even self teach yourself. How much you end up truly learning is directly proportional to how much effort you put into it.
Second, get to know your equipment. What does this dial do, how do I change this setting, how do I get the end result I'm envisioning? There is nothing wrong with automatic settings, by the way, as long as you know what your stuff is doing automatically. Using manual is not proof of professionality. Manual settings are simply another tool at your disposal.
Third, expand your creativity. This is virtually impossible to teach, but is well within anyone's grasp to actually accomplish. Play around, try new things, look at what other photographers are doing.
Fourth, establish a product. Are you selling fine art prints of nature and landscapes? Are you offering portraits of children? Are you documenting once in a lifetime events like weddings? You can branch out into several fields at once if you want, but it's easier to market yourself (at least at first) if you have a specific client base you're targeting.
Fifth, get out there and do it! You can do it!
In future posts, we'll discuss some specific ideas related to making photography pay you.
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