Making it as a Photographer

Disclaimers:

1. I haven't yet made it as a photographer. I would however in the same breath say that I've done some things right.
2. I am definitely not the best person for this.

So, someone on Facebook - who added me after dropping by my website, was asking me for suggestions and advice etc. He went on to suggest I write something like what I hope this post looks like - as something people just starting out can look at for pointers.

So here are my two pence on the things one should / should not do.

Test Waters

Before deciding to get yourself that uber cool SLR, and damaging your pockets deeply in the process, it would be more than advisable to test waters. What I mean by this is doing photography with whatever tools and devices you have at hand - borrowing a friends SLR occasionally if possible. See how much you like to click, and equally importantly, see what people think of what you click. There will be both bricks and bouquets, but try and judge the feedback with an unbiased stance.

Once you've done this for a while - you'll have a better idea of whether you really want to do this, and whether you can. Each as important as the other.

The SLR & Starting Gear

So now, you feel a tad more confident and willing to do what needs be done to try and take your photography to the next level.

An SLR is the obvious next step. Here I'll just say that get yourself something a little higher end than you're comfortable with.

Why - Essentially, because a camera body is an investment thats going to stick around with you for decently long. You may get an array of lenses, but you getting a new camera body is a little less likely. It will mean you have to dish out extra money - in the long run, it'll turn out to be worth it.

Coming to the most FAQ as far as SLR choices go - Canon / Nikon.

Though I'm myself a Canon person, I think the best way to decide is to decide on a camera by each - and then go the stores and play around with it feel it.

Obviously internet research, blogs, comparisons, flickr camera popularity details should all be taken into account, but nothing as much as your comfort with the camera.

Also, starting out - getting more gear (lenses, tripod, a hi-fi camera bag) may not be the best idea. Take some time getting comfortable, seeing what sort of pictures you like to click, and then choose lenses etc appropriate for that genre.

Photo-blog

In my opinion, it makes most sense to buy a domain name, online space and set up your own website. Pixelpost is one of the best services to enable photo hosting on your domain name with some brilliant free of cost templates and a very convenient organised portal for uploading pictures.

Also, set up a google analytics account for your website. It helps in tracking traffic on the website in as much detail as you might need. A brilliant source on telling you how effective the methods you might use to spread work are.

Spreading your Work

There are a few good ways of doing this. A LOT of them being internet based of course.

• Twitter
It is said to be one of the best things to have happened to online social networking and they may not be too far from the truth. So yes, get yourself onto twitter. Make your presence not just about your website but otherwise as well. Follow people, tweet things, links etc. Be someone you'd want to follow. Soon, you will have people following you as well. Occasional tweets with links to your images, asking for RT's will start getting those RT's and could reach halfway across the world in moments. It works. Believe me. Use it.

• Facebook
Facebook has its merits and uses too. I'll assume, you already are on FB. If not; wake up! So well, you could (should) obviously have your website details on your profile. Apart from that, creating a fan page / group on FB helps. Apart from that, don't be too strict with who you add and who you don't. And keep occasionally sharing links to your website and pics on your profile and the page you create.

• Photo Sharing Sites
FotoStock, Flickr (not the best example), photoblog-community.com, photoblogs.org, and the millions of such websites out there on the internet range from near redundant to fantastic. The point is, even the worst one does you no hard. So sit yourself down, find them, create a decent profile, share your website. It DOES get you hits. Not too many, but importantly, ones you would otherwise NOT have access to. And it might get you a lot of random useless hits as well, no harm ever came of that though. Did it?

• Other online stuff
Some of the other things you can do - GTalk statuses, Google buzz and the likes. Use them to spread your links. Ask good friends to share as well etc etc.

One thing that should be very evident from this section is that I have been focussing a LOT on increasing traffic to the website, even though this might not convert to sales of any sort. It is important because as people see, and hopefully like your work - it will have a good recall, so when an opportunity or need arises, they do think of you.

Now some non internet based stuff I have done, and found to work.

• Exhibition
So it does sound a very daunting and expensive idea. But if you're in college - you can manage to get a hall at nominal rates or free even for a few days. A few prints done on a lightweight material (I'll explain why) wont cost the world, and will help convince others, and importantly yourself of your seriousness about this. A teeny article/ad in the local newspaper can help get interested locals to the event as well. Why I said lightweight is that you can keep this set of prints for other exhibitions you might be able to hold in other places. There are free galleries here and there and some googling will go a long way in helping you find these. When you make prints for someone - make them on a harder sturdier backing.

• Word of Mouth
Another good way to get attention and possible sales is to first know the possible means of sales for you. Prints for decor or otherwise, someone giving you a project, calendar designing etc etc. Tell your friends, colleagues etc etc of these things in casual conversation so that they do think of you when they need it or when speaking to someone else about something like say getting a personalised calendar made. Shall help.

• Miscellaneous
A few other things. If you do have a regular job (like I do) you could explore getting some pictures put up at work.

This is most of what I wanted to put down for now. I will add more to this or post more stuff as and when I think of things I might have left out.
Here's wishing you and I all the best in our endeavours to pursue passion.
Cheers!