Need Photography Information

[shastajade]

Ok, for ever, since i was little, i have loved taking pictures. I have been interested in photography for quite some time now. I was wondering about photography, but there are so many qestions i have, i wouldn't have time to ask them all. I would love it if someone(s) could give me some answers at lest to these few I do have, then maybe some to more later.

1. I want to do photography as an on the side kinda job (weddings, special events etc) but I honestly dont have a way to go to college for it. Do you have to have a degree to make money, or can you just be hired by people whom like your work?

2. What kind of camera and extras would I need or could i start out taking pictures with just a digital or regular camera for starters?

3. My favorite thing to do is take pictures of people, posing, and things of that nature, so would it be possible to just do stuff like that or would i have to expand on that?

4. Wow, honestly, there are things i want to know im sure, that i dont even know the question to. I just need basic information for now, to start me out.

Thanks Guys (and girls)

 

[Piano Player]

1. I want to do photography as an on the side kinda job (weddings, special events etc) but I honestly dont have a way to go to college for it. Do you have to have a degree to make money, or can you just be hired by people whom like your work?

There are no education or licencing requirements for professional photographers. (At least not in my state -- Ohio) Opportunities do exist for young people to join a studio as a helper or assistant. You can also just be hired by brides (or their mothers) if they like your work. There is a lot to learn, so you should read as much as you can, or get some sort of education if you can.

2. What kind of camera and extras would I need or could i start out taking pictures with just a digital or regular camera for starters?

For starters you can take pictures with whatever you have. Many creative photographers use inferior cameras and turn the flaws to artistic effect. For example, a number use pin hole cameras just to get that fuzzy look with incredible depth of field. Digital has the advantage of letting you take lots of pictures at relatively low cost. I would refrain from buying a professional kit until you actually need it because the market is in incredible flux right now. Hard to predict where the future of camera systems will be in the next five years or so. If you have the business, by all means, get good stuff, because that is what people are paying for.

3. My favorite thing to do is take pictures of people, posing, and things of that nature, so would it be possible to just do stuff like that or would i have to expand on that?

Phtography is not slavery, so you can try to focus on whatever you want. Professional studio business consists of people and people posing. A lot of studios hire temporaty help around school picture taking season, so you can get some experience with people, lighting and other techniques if you can hook up with someone like that.

4. Wow, honestly, there are things i want to know im sure, that i dont even know the question to. I just need basic information for now, to start me out.

I also recommend a trip to your local bookstore where you can find a lot of good basic books on photography.

 

[onfire4Jesus]

1) There is a "home education course" for photography that you can take. It's still rather expensive but not nearly so bad as going to college. Am I allowed to post a link here? Maybe I'll pm it to you.
2) Well, I wouldn't use just any camera. If you're using digital, I would make sure that it has really good picture quality and can be blown up to at least an 8x10. If you're using film, just make sure that it's a camera you can trust. (I had a 35mm one time that wouldn't always load the film correctly, for example) Obviously, I'm no pro, so if this is all old news to you, sorry. I took a couple's engagement pictures one time, and it was really fun. I don't think I would want to do weddings, though. Too much stress.

 

[Ittai2]

A good way to start is to get a book on the basics (lighting, focus, depth of field, etc.) then work on building your portfolio. Get your work out there and let people see what you can do. Don't expect a lot of money or jobs to come rolling in at first, but build a solid reputation by giving quality shots to even the smallest wedding. You'll be starting small, but that gives you a chance to hone the craft. Good luck!

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Join a Camera Club.

 

[coastie]

Taking even one semester of photography at a Junior or community college will help you quite a bit. Try to get a job at a photo lab. Not like a Wal-Mart lab (since they just run film through a machine... but ncie one. My year working as a lab tech at a lab taught me more that the previous three semesters of photography classes and photojournalist ride-alongs combined.

Also, make friends with a local photojournalist. They are the best to learn from because they have to master many of the disciplines of photography.

 

[IvoryRain]

onfire4Jesus, I'd like that link. If you don't want to post it here would you mind stopping by my photography forum and posting it?

http://neptuneskingdom.proboards20.com/

 

[onfire4Jesus]

onfire4Jesus, I'd like that link. If you don't want to post it here would you mind stopping by my photography forum and posting it?

http://neptuneskingdom.proboards20.com/

For some reason I had it in my head that it was against the rules to post a link, but I guess it's not as long as you have a certain number of posts. Here ya go!
http://www.nyip.com/

 

[Ben johnson]

Shasta, please see my post on Wugfu's thread. Lots of hints from one amateur to another...