I can still remember my very first camera. It was a pre-owned, manual Nikon that I received for my 14th birthday. That was back in the 1970s. Believe it or not, I still use that camera for nearly every job. I now own fancier cameras equipped with computer chips, but there is something about that old reliable Nikon camera that makes me want to use it all the time.
A photographer’s camera is like a reliable friend. Knowing the ins and outs of your camera is very important when you’re a professional photographer. Your camera is your baby. It may sound strange to talk about a piece of equipment this way, but it’s true.
A career in photography is fun, challenging and rewarding. It is also a good outlet for creativity. Photography is also a practical skill. Careers in photography will grow 35% between now and 2005.
Digital photography is here to stay, which means more jobs are available in graphic arts and advertising. I am a free-lance photographer. I work for myself and receive assignments from a variety of people. Free-lancing can work both for and against you. The good part is that I have variety in my work and that I arrange my own schedule. I can also turn down work if I don’t like the atmosphere or the assignment. This gives me a lot of freedom. The bad part is that I don’t have a steady income. I also have to deal with business issues that have nothing to do with photography.
As a free-lancer, part of my focus is to sell my services. So besides being a photographer, I am also a salesperson. Sometimes I go several weeks without a job. This works for me because I have young kids, but if you need to support yourself after college free-lancing might not be the best way to start. It is, however, an excellent way to earn money while you are still a student.
I combine photography with a writing career. Many free-lancers have combination jobs. You can take aerial photographs while piloting a plane, or take underwater pictures while scuba diving.
I love being a free-lancer because I meet people I never would have met otherwise. I can photograph musicians for a CD cover, take portraits of actors and families, and even photograph food for magazine articles. I also work with gallery owners looking for artistic photography.
When some people think of photographers, they think of glamorous photo shoots with tropical islands and beautiful models or a Manhattan studio. These choice assignments, however, are few and far between. The good news is that there is still plenty of money to be made from other types of photography. Cruise ships employ photographers, and might even offer free room and board with your salary. If you can handle photographing dead people and bloody crime scenes, police departments employ forensic photographers. Ballet companies also hire photographers. Does travel sound exciting? Try photojournalism, a career for those willing to leave home at a moment’s notice. If you work for an advertising agency, you’ll photograph everything from ketchup bottles to bank interiors to fashion models.
I am a self-taught photographer, but I would have loved to have had majored in photography while in college. Even if you don’t attend a fine-arts school, many universities have well-run photography departments that teach the basics. If you don’t plan on a photography major but still want to explore the field, don’t leave college without taking a photography elective. Also, start out with an older model, manual, pre-owned camera. Beginning your career with a manual camera will force you to learn lighting and exposure techniques. Manual cameras give you total control of the finished product.
Get used to taking your camera everywhere you go. Keep a large supply of film in your refrigerator, read about lighting and composition, and take a class or two. Your interest in photography may be the start of a rewarding career.
RESOURCES www.Shawguides.com/photoworkshops This is a database of 286 photography programs sorted by country, region, focus, expertise level and date. This site also has a list of photography schools throughout the country. www.apogeephoto.com This is a general photography magazine on the Internet. It features how-to articles and tips on buying cameras American Photo is a bi-monthly magazine that focuses on the more artistic aspect of photography. Photo Techniques is a print publication with a technical focus. It also features portfolios of different photographers each month.
Interested in a photography career? E-mail the author [email protected].
WHERE YOU CAN WORK Weddings Food photography Architecture Staff magazine/newspaper Government photography Art/museum photographer Photo libraries Film stills/motion picture
