 BetterPhoto Member |
How to get started Hello. I am a amature photographer with no formal training. I am interested in pursuing my photography further, maybe having it published. However, I am unsure where to begin looking for these types of opportunities. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice. Thank you!
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Irene Troy |
Hi Melissa – I took a quick look at your gallery and can see that you enjoy shooting images of nature. If that is where your interest lies I would suggest that you consider a few steps: first, you do need some “formal” instruction so to learn proper exposure and composition techniques. I have taken 3 classes here at BP and can strongly recommend these classes. You will have the opportunity to have your images critiqued by both the instructor and your fellow students, which is a wonderful thing. Just as important, you will learn an amazing amount by doing each assignment and viewing other people’s work. If you are like me, you are making mistakes that you are not even aware you are making – but, other, more experienced photographers will see. The classes will help you see and correct those mistakes so that you images are more powerful. Second step: learn everything you can about your field of interest. This means that if your interest is in nature photography you need to study nature. Read, talk with others, take some classes (your local Audubon or other nature group may offer free or low cost classes) and watch nature through the different seasons and time of day. I’m a writer, working to add photographer to that title. My interest is in nature and travel photography. One of the things I had to learn about the writing end of my work is that the field is very competitive. If you want to be published you need to take a very close look at what is already out there. If you cannot produce something that is as good as or better than what is already being published, you need to keep working on your own work. It took me a few years to “break into print” with my writing and I keep learning all the time. I have just sold my first set of images to accompany a series of features I was hired to complete. I have no illusions that my photography is better than what is already being published and I know that my editor only accepted the images because they accompany the writing he likes. Bottom line: if you are serious about pursuing a career or even side career as a photographer, no matter what specialty, you need to start at the beginning, learning as much as you possibly can about creating strong, creative and high quality images and then you have to keep learning and keep working. I hope this is helpful!
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wade owen |
I am also a beginner, a true beginner and I think your photos are great!!!
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Joe Jarosz |
Hi Melissa, I can offer a few thoughts in addition to what great advice Irene has already given. There's a few different things to think about. First is the technicals behind taking pictures (exposure, composition, etc). Second is the creative part, and last is the "how do I make money at this?" piece. Once you master the first two, you can concentrate on the last one. There are great courses here at BP that can help with all of them. I've taken 6 or so classes here and I can honestly say they are wonderful to get you started on your way. There's many different avenues to get your pictures published. After the technical and creative parts, I highly recommend Jim Zuckermans "Making Money" class. It gives a great overview on all of the different ways to sell your work. It will help you decide where your photography interest are and then give you something to focus on. Just something to keep in the back of your mind. Getting pictures published has little to do with what you think is a great image, it has to do with what your customer happens to be looking for at that moment. For example I've sold and had published a picture of a purple coneflower that had shrivelled petals from the drought. No one would want to hang it on their wall or see it on a notecard, but it's what the editor happened to be looking for. You might have the best picture of a tulip you've ever seen, but if that magazine editor you submitted to isn't looking for a great tulip picture, it's not going to sell. The instructors are well published photographers and classes like Jim's and others here are a big help in figuring that out. I hope this helps
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