A initially learned photography as a kid shooting black & white then developing the photos in a dark room, that was a magical time and sparked my interest in photography. As I got older I dabbled in digital photography but wasn't until my kids were born that i really started to get an active interest back in it all.
Phill, this is probably the best advice I have ever seen anywhere about photography. You need a mentor, like you said or somewhere to get a serious review of your photos, you do this brilliantly on your website, thank you. You need to practice, practice and practice, then learn from your practicing. Specialising is the key and going with it if there is a market for it. You are going to get nowhere posting vomit enducing HDR landscapes on social media or on peer review for prizes websites. THERE IS A MASSIVE MARKET FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR WEBSITES! THIS IS THE NEW WAY TO MAKE MONEY FROM PHOTOGRAPHY. If a business has something to sell it needs to be out there with an online presence! That online presence has to be of a higher quality than its rivals and that's where photography comes in. A website with garbage amateur photos will fare less well at selling its products or services than a website with images that can be clicked on and expanded to show fine details of what's on offer. It is the same as the difference between putting an advert in a newspaper or a glossy magazine in the days of print media.One word, Cosmo! Professional photographers are a great bunch of people, they can't resist passing on advice, usually good, when they see another serious looking photographer. I have learned so much from what turns out to be photographers walking up to me in the local park (looking confused) and offering advice (NOT BRAGGING), while they were trying to photograph Dragonflys or ducks. I've talked to and seen the work of photographers who make a very good living from photographing: Caravans/holiday homes for rent, products for sale on Amazon, work with interior designers, take photographs of wallpaper (£190 a roll needs a good photographer), Corporate work (photographing staff members for websites etc), event photographers, and last by but no means least two guys that have "Pap" lenses on there cameras ready for photo journalism of anything they come across as they are out and about (they have other lenses and flash systems at hand). So what am I doing to make money? Before and after photographs of facials (NO NOT PORN!), high end Botox, fillers and lip enhancements. Follow the money and sell your professional abillity. QUALITY is and always was what is important! Cheers Phill.
Become a photographer? What would you wanna go do something like that for? Why you might as well come over here and let me bore a hole in your head. It'd probably be more interesting. Photography? Who looks at photographs anymore anyway. If it ain't animated, computer generated and laser guided nobody gives a rat's behind. Are you some special kinda fool? I should take a picture of you. Where's my camera?Â
Hi, i still struggling to find a client coz i just started doing my full time photography as a wedding photographer. how would i find or know what else i can shoot?
I think your story as a photographer is "the harder you worked, the 'luckier' you get"!
Great tips in terms of the attitude you need to have in order to do well in your chosen area/career – attitude and personality count for A LOT in any job. And these days, so much information about photography is freely available online, so it really boils down to getting out there and gaining experience.
since 1968!!!!!!!, no photography schooling!!!!!!!, u continue to amaze us,,,… i find this video to be both , suggestive with a hint of ur life as a photographer, both cherishable on all counts..like others here i will duly keep ur words in the video in my mind….thanks to youtube, without which i would't have met u…U HAVE CHANGED MY ENTIRE WORLD OF WHAT I USE TO CALL ''PHOTOGRAPHY''..OOPS I THINK AM LITTLE OVER REACTING..BUT ITS TRUE..CANT HELP IT! SORRY!!
I love doing nature/landscapes/ and personal ( people/weddings) photography. I even have a website to show my work, However I am not fooling myself, I need a better camera and equipment and more knowledge. I agree with you 100%. Right now my focus is people/weddings and I am wanting to intern under a professional photographer, job shadow so to speak with a seasoned professional. NOW however I have to say, it is not easy to find them out there however.
Hi Phil, it's nice to see valuable information about learning the craft and industry properly. So many new photographers if today are in such a hurry to carry the job title of 'I'm a photographer' without the skills and knowledge to support it. 🙂 I've been a fashion& beauty photographer for around 20 years and I learnt my craft just as you described. 🙂 great times!
It was very easy for me, I was useless at school , when I was sixteen I left school and photography was all I knew.
My father bought me a camera when I was 8 and after that it was virtually all I did apart from sport.
Phill
Hey Phill,
this was very interesting, thank you.
I have been an amateur photographer (a youngster ;)) for about 2.5 years now and very often I get asked if i want to persue this as a career – and i never no what to say. I am SO insecure what I want. I dont know if its just a temporal hobby which im gonna lay down in a year. Im about to graduate from school and I have to decide what im gonna do with my life.
Until now i preferred goin to college for something busines related – how did you decide?
@jbziuk Hi Joanna , I'll do the other one in a couple of weeks and talk about itchyphoto in the same video, we should be ready to try for new members by then. Why a wedding photographer ? I thought you were more still life.
Phill
thank you Phill for this video. Now I am waiting for second part:) Becouse it would be actually abt me. 1,5 years ago i decide to change my life and do what is my passion for years. So i am working now as an assistant to the wedding photographer. I am curious what will be your advices for people like me. best regards. Joanna
@LizKcer I'm told that dentists make a fortune, I certainly pay mine a lot 🙂 but I suppose looking through a lens is more agreeable than looking in mouths all day :))
I'll do the video for changing professions in a few weeks, because I loose subscribers if I make two similar videos too close together.
Good luck with the photography.
Phill
Hi Phill!
Can't wait for the video about changing your career to become a photographer. I am a dentist and I started loving photography since my third year in college, when I was taking pictures of my pacients, but also more artistic photography. I realized that I want to do this all my life, but I'm not sure where to start, what to do to become a professional photohgrapher…
Morning Phill, a wonderful new video with great advice. by the way I could come and wash your floor and maybe help eating that cake from yesterday, Regards Aad
Phill, this is probably the best advice I have ever seen anywhere about photography. You need a mentor, like you said or somewhere to get a serious review of your photos, you do this brilliantly on your website, thank you.
You need to practice, practice and practice, then learn from your practicing.
Specialising is the key and going with it if there is a market for it. You are going to get nowhere posting vomit enducing HDR landscapes on social media or on peer review for prizes websites.
THERE IS A MASSIVE MARKET FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS FOR WEBSITES!
THIS IS THE NEW WAY TO MAKE MONEY FROM PHOTOGRAPHY. If a business has something to sell it needs to be out there with an online presence! That online presence has to be of a higher quality than its rivals and that's where photography comes in. A website with garbage amateur photos will fare less well at selling its products or services than a website with images that can be clicked on and expanded to show fine details of what's on offer. It is the same as the difference between putting an advert in a newspaper or a glossy magazine in the days of print media.One word, Cosmo!
Professional photographers are a great bunch of people, they can't resist passing on advice, usually good, when they see another serious looking photographer. I have learned so much from what turns out to be photographers walking up to me in the local park (looking confused) and offering advice (NOT BRAGGING), while they were trying to photograph Dragonflys or ducks.
I've talked to and seen the work of photographers who make a very good living from photographing:
Caravans/holiday homes for rent, products for sale on Amazon, work with interior designers, take photographs of wallpaper (£190 a roll needs a good photographer), Corporate work (photographing staff members for websites etc), event photographers, and last by but no means least two guys that have "Pap" lenses on there cameras ready for photo journalism of anything they come across as they are out and about (they have other lenses and flash systems at hand).
So what am I doing to make money? Before and after photographs of facials (NO NOT PORN!), high end Botox, fillers and lip enhancements. Follow the money and sell your professional abillity. QUALITY is and always was what is important!
Cheers Phill.
Fred has also gained skills in lighting, a feel for when he has enough shots and justified confidence that he's doing OK.
wow nice advice Mr. phillip but if i don't want to work with photographer how can i have knowledge?
Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us. The more I see the more I love you Phill x
Thank you so much! This video is loaded with benefits.
Become a photographer? What would you wanna go do something like that for? Why you might as well come over here and let me bore a hole in your head. It'd probably be more interesting. Photography? Who looks at photographs anymore anyway. If it ain't animated, computer generated and laser guided nobody gives a rat's behind. Are you some special kinda fool? I should take a picture of you. Where's my camera?Â
You started photography when you are 8. I started two weeks ago when im 30. Now what? Im too late? This video is useless…
Hi, i still struggling to find a client coz i just started doing my full time photography as a wedding photographer. how would i find or know what else i can shoot?
I think your story as a photographer is "the harder you worked, the 'luckier' you get"!
Great tips in terms of the attitude you need to have in order to do well in your chosen area/career – attitude and personality count for A LOT in any job. And these days, so much information about photography is freely available online, so it really boils down to getting out there and gaining experience.
Impressed by your kind suggestion for beginners..
since 1968!!!!!!!, no photography schooling!!!!!!!, u continue to amaze us,,,… i find this video to be both , suggestive with a hint of ur life as a photographer, both cherishable on all counts..like others here i will duly keep ur words in the video in my mind….thanks to youtube, without which i would't have met u…U HAVE CHANGED MY ENTIRE WORLD OF WHAT I USE TO CALL ''PHOTOGRAPHY''..OOPS I THINK AM LITTLE OVER REACTING..BUT ITS TRUE..CANT HELP IT! SORRY!!
CIAO….MASTER
I want to be a concert photographer
Thanks for the tips.
Thank you thank you thank youuu!
no money in nature…she doesnt pay you
yeah but you can just set up a website print businesscards shoot people for free untill your experienced and within a month or two your in business
i can do it all.. i have a massive house..
Thank you Phil, this was very inspiring!
I'm trying to become a photog rapist and this video is useless to me.
Don't let it intimidate you. It's just one guy's opinion.
i say dam the digital age, it made the photography more difficult, film was better, less people called themselves a 'photographer'
Do i get something as i was your 100th like? Please
Amazing video about the facts(washing floor & car of the Pro)… not a joke.. i like your video Sir…
I know this is a minor thing but the title reads: How to become a Photograper. In the actual video. Photog-raper? : )
Go and knock on their door , they won't come to you :))
I love doing nature/landscapes/ and personal ( people/weddings) photography. I even have a website to show my work, However I am not fooling myself, I need a better camera and equipment and more knowledge. I agree with you 100%. Right now my focus is people/weddings and I am wanting to intern under a professional photographer, job shadow so to speak with a seasoned professional. NOW however I have to say, it is not easy to find them out there however.
Hi Phil, it's nice to see valuable information about learning the craft and industry properly. So many new photographers if today are in such a hurry to carry the job title of 'I'm a photographer' without the skills and knowledge to support it. 🙂 I've been a fashion& beauty photographer for around 20 years and I learnt my craft just as you described. 🙂 great times!
Hi Phil,
It was very easy for me, I was useless at school , when I was sixteen I left school and photography was all I knew.
My father bought me a camera when I was 8 and after that it was virtually all I did apart from sport.
Phill
Hey Phill,
this was very interesting, thank you.
I have been an amateur photographer (a youngster ;)) for about 2.5 years now and very often I get asked if i want to persue this as a career – and i never no what to say. I am SO insecure what I want. I dont know if its just a temporal hobby which im gonna lay down in a year. Im about to graduate from school and I have to decide what im gonna do with my life.
Until now i preferred goin to college for something busines related – how did you decide?
I bought my first dslr about 2 weels ago. Its a d5100, ive heard people say to use manual mode so I force myself to learn
@ramcasty Thankyou for those kind remarks
Wow you've done a lot! PLEASE help me to become a great photographer like u!
Looking forward to your next video for us older folks looking to make a career change into photography.
i am bit everything:) still looking, searching, trying.
@jbziuk Hi Joanna , I'll do the other one in a couple of weeks and talk about itchyphoto in the same video, we should be ready to try for new members by then. Why a wedding photographer ? I thought you were more still life.
Phill
thank you Phill for this video. Now I am waiting for second part:) Becouse it would be actually abt me. 1,5 years ago i decide to change my life and do what is my passion for years. So i am working now as an assistant to the wedding photographer. I am curious what will be your advices for people like me. best regards. Joanna
@LizKcer I'm told that dentists make a fortune, I certainly pay mine a lot 🙂 but I suppose looking through a lens is more agreeable than looking in mouths all day :))
I'll do the video for changing professions in a few weeks, because I loose subscribers if I make two similar videos too close together.
Good luck with the photography.
Phill
Hi Phill!
Can't wait for the video about changing your career to become a photographer. I am a dentist and I started loving photography since my third year in college, when I was taking pictures of my pacients, but also more artistic photography. I realized that I want to do this all my life, but I'm not sure where to start, what to do to become a professional photohgrapher…
Hi Phill. Beautiful explanation, with universal advice, that works in every bushiness.
@broeraad Hi Aad, I'm told that I'm a terrible boss, so I don't think it's a good idea 🙂 I'm still eating those cakes by the way.
Phill
@ThunderHead02 My father tried to get me to go to photo school , I'm glad I didn't listen to him 🙂
Phill
@MrEltel63 Whoops thanks for pointing it out.
Phill
@dudin03 I looked at it three time looking for a spelling mistake before I saw it 🙂 thanks for pointing it out.
Phill
@hankfoto That video was meant for kids 🙂 Thanks for the super comments Hank ,much appreciated.
Morning Phill, a wonderful new video with great advice. by the way I could come and wash your floor and maybe help eating that cake from yesterday, Regards Aad