1. Forum
  2. Photography and Camera Forum
  3. Taking the Photo | Editing | The art of Photography!
  4. Beginner Photography Forum
  5. How to get enough experience so I can charge?

How to get enough experience so I can charge?


4 years 9 months ago #652272 by Kyle O
I'm not even sure where to post this question and I hope it comes out the  right way.  I  want  to build experience, but  my family and friends are limited and those who I have photographed, have gone out of their way just for me to photograph them once and one person twice. 

So how are you then building experience so you can ethically charge for your photography?  
Photo Comments
,
4 years 9 months ago #652277 by Piechura
The obvious answer is to do it for free until you're good enough. But there's also the question of ethically not charging for your work. Ideally you want to be offering your services for free, without taking customers away from professional photographers. So you're looking for people who want to be photographed, but would never hire a professional photographer.

What kind of photography are we talking about here? Portraits? Events? Fashion?
,
4 years 9 months ago - 4 years 9 months ago #652284 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day Kyle

To copy the mantra of the real estate salespeople ... 'practice - practice - and more practice'

Personally- I would not consider charging anyone for work undertaken unless I had a good 5-years of "hobby photography" behind me so that I had a good knowledge of what I was doing, along with some experience with heaps of different subjects.

If it is family members, it's your call as to whether you ask for a 'materials-only reimbursement' for whatever you deliver back to them

In the meantime, maybe you could benefit from some training via the local adult-ed college or camera club or suchlike - but your own common-sense will tell you that you need pretty-good skills before you attempt to become a money-making 'semi-professional'

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/
,
4 years 8 months ago #653512 by htdavidht
Hi Kyle,

I am going to give you a totally different answer than the others.

To start charging money you don't need experience, you need confidence.

After you figure out your camera, and you think "I can take that picture" you are pretty much ready to start asking money for it... Free gigs will never give you professional experience. There are groups on facebook of starting up models and starting up photographers and so you can post in there that you are looking for a model and if your town is big enough you will sure get some answers... 

The model want to build portfolio and will do the free pictures, you want to build up portfolio, there is a makeup artist trying to build up portfolio, a hair stylist want to build up portfolio... a bit of management and reaching out, you can pull out a whole team of beginners wanting to build up portfolios... I have seeing groups on facebook doing just this.

However be aware that this will take you only so far... you want professional experience, only paid work counts. So start asking for money as soon as you can, and when you consider yourself a professional, then do not do it for free.
,
4 years 8 months ago #653894 by Office Guy
Practice!
Photo Comments
,
4 years 8 months ago #654397 by Instamixes
It just depends on your talent. There are so many young  photographers out there, they don't have so much experience but they can charge a lot.
,
4 years 8 months ago #655661 by selena18
Keep your photography! Keep practicing! Take a lot of photos everyday. It’s not like that you can’t charge until you become skilled or experienced. It’s up to you whether you charge or not. There’s nothing wrong in charging someone as you use photography equipment that costed you money and spend a lot of time for shooting. Just make sure that your prices reflect your abilities.
,
4 years 8 months ago #655793 by Missy J
one word: practice 
Photo Comments
,
4 years 8 months ago #656319 by Ian Stone
And don't forget to try to position yourself with another existing professional photographer as an apprentice for a little while.  That way you can observe and learn from a working professional.  
Photo Comments
,

  1. Forum
  2. Photography and Camera Forum
  3. Taking the Photo | Editing | The art of Photography!
  4. Beginner Photography Forum
  5. How to get enough experience so I can charge?

817.3K

241K

  • Facebook

    817,251 / Likes

  • Twitter

    241,000 / Followers

  • Google+

    1,620,816 / Followers

Show Me...

Visit 4wdtlak Forum
Saal

Latest Reviews

Canon EOS R100 Review

The Canon EOS R100 is an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2023. But just because it’s an entry-level camera doesn’t mean it’s a bare-bones camera. Find out why in this review!

Apr 22, 2024
Nikon Zfc Review

Nikon’s retro-looking Nikon Zfc is anything but retro. Under its classic body is a host of features and amenities that make it a worthwhile compact mirrorless camera for 2024.

Apr 15, 2024
Canon EOS R50 Review

The Canon EOS R50 is one of the newest R-system cameras from Canon. Is it worth your money? Find out all the details you need to know in this comprehensive review.

Apr 10, 2024
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Review

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II is Sony’s flagship mirrorless zoom lens. As such, it’s loaded with features and has a top-shelf build quality that makes it a top pick!

Mar 27, 2024
More Articles
Get 600+ Pro photo lessons for $1

Forum Top Posters

Sponsored Imageimages2/50off.jpgSponsored Imageimages/stories/vendors/sony.png
Sponsored ImageSponsored Image

Latest Articles

Guiding the Eye: Mastering Leading Lines in Photography

Using leading lines in photography helps improve the composition by drawing viewers in and leading their eye from the foreground to the background. Explore some fine examples of this in this guide!

Apr 24, 2024
Must-Have Insta360 Accessories

The Insta360 has one of the best lineups of action cams and 360-degree cameras. With these Insta360 accessories, you can elevate your photography and videography game!

Apr 24, 2024
5 Keys for More Impactful Photos of Landscapes

Creating impactful photos of landscapes depends on many factors, not the least of which is your talent behind the lens. This guide explores other elements required for the best product.

Apr 23, 2024
Canon EOS R100 Review

The Canon EOS R100 is an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2023. But just because it’s an entry-level camera doesn’t mean it’s a bare-bones camera. Find out why in this review!

Apr 22, 2024
Expert Tips to Upgrade Your Camera Gear With Used Equipment

Are you ready to upgrade your camera? Before buying new, you might consider the value of purchasing used gear to save money.

Apr 18, 2024
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a micro four thirds camera released in 2020. It’s an entry-level system along with the OM-D E-M5 Mark III. Use this guide to determine which one is best for you!

Apr 17, 2024
What is Blue Hour Photography?

Blue hour photography might not be as well known as golden hour photography, but it is every bit as good a time to create epic images of landscapes. Learn how in this quick tutorial!

Apr 17, 2024
Nikon Zfc Review

Nikon’s retro-looking Nikon Zfc is anything but retro. Under its classic body is a host of features and amenities that make it a worthwhile compact mirrorless camera for 2024.

Apr 15, 2024
More Articles