From an enthusiast to a professional. How to start a career in Photography and Videography? 📷

Hi! Are you thinking of kickstarting your career in photography and videography?

You are in the right place.

I think everyone has a hobby once in their lifetime to become a photographer or videographer. We always want to take good photos or videos of ourselves, loved ones, family, friends or nature itself. So, is photography and videography just a hobby or has a sustainable professional career? Many people start as a hobby and later they change it to their long-term professional career.

With the advancement of technology, there is a great career opportunity in the digital space under which photography and videography comes into play. We have watched different YouTube videos in which Youtubers tell you how they make millions selling photos and videos. Yes, that is possible if you have the right skill set, discipline and dedication towards what you do. Now, you might have questions in your mind” Do I need a degree? Do I need an expensive camera? Can I start with my mobile? Can I be a photographer and videographer at the same time?” So, in this article I will explain everything you need to know to transfer your enthusiasm to professionalism.

To be honest you don’t need any degree to become a really good creator. The only thing you need to give is your time and effort on upgrading your technical skills. You can get a bunch of tutorials on google and YouTube itself to build your skills.

Actually, you don’t need any expensive camera to start with. The price tag isn’t compulsory to describe you as a creator. You can capture with your smartphone or with a simple camera. I know there is a difference between taking photos or videos with a $500 camera and $5000 camera. But the thing is if you have the right gear but don’t have the right skills, it is pointless.

Although the quality of content is totally different, the basics are the same for everyone. 

So, how to become a pro?

1.Find the right niche for your journey.

Choosing the right niche is the most important thing in the context of photography and videography. This is the first step where people either make the right decision or end up choosing the wrong one and regret for the rest of their career. It doesn’t mean you should choose the super fancy niche. Right niche is something that you enjoy doing and can continue for the rest of your life. Two primary things to consider while choosing the right niche.

• Your photographic/videographic subjects
• Where do you like to take photos and videos? It can be either indoor, outdoor, events, games and more.

To find out more about the photographic niches you can refer to this article “38 Types of Photography: Which Niche is Right for You?”.

2. Develop right skills with time.

As a creator you need to upgrade yourself with the time. Right skills are always in demand in the market. The more you know the technology the more you excel in your domain. The skills you must posses as a photographer are:

Hard Skills:

• Using camera in a right way
• Knowledge of different types of lens
• Familiar with lighting techniques
• Composition and Framing
• Image retouching and restoration
• Color Theory and color correction
• Photo editing software’s (eg. Photoshop, Lightroom etc.)

Soft Skills:

• Dedication and passion for photography
• Patience
• Creative and visionary
• Attention to details
• Ability to adapt with the situation
• Problem solving skills
• Time management
• Organization and collaboration
• Communication and customer service skills
• Must accept feedbacks and new ideas.

The major skills that a good videographer should have are:

Hard Skills:

• Video Editing Software proficiency (i.e. Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid, Final Cut Pro, etc.)
• Color Grading
• Cinematic Lighting
• Visual Effects
• Audio Editing
• Animation
• Motion Graphics
• Storyboarding
• Storytelling and narrative structure
• Video Compression
• Composition and framing
• Live streaming and webcasting
• Videography
• Project Management
• Digital Asset Management

Soft Skills:

• Dedication and passion for photography
• Patience
• Creative and visionary
• Attention to details
• Ability to adapt with the situation
• Problem solving skills
• Time management
• Organization and collaboration
• Communication and customer service skills
• Must accept feedback and new ideas.
• Interpersonal skills

3. Purchase equipment and gears.

As mentioned above, in the very beginning of your journey you don’t need any expensive gadgets. Initially, learn the basics with the simple phone or camera. After clearing the basics go with the slightly advanced camera which can capture with a better quality. These are the few devices that a learner and Professional can carry.

• Smartphone
• Camcorders, DSLR cameras, Mirrorless cameras, cinema cameras etc. 
• Tripods for stability, consistency, precision, hands-free operation and long takes
• Microphone for enhancing audio quality. 
• Headphone for monitoring high quality sound.
• Camera lenses for adjusting cameras as needed.
• Video editing softwares
• Camera battery
• Memory cards.

4. Market research and trend analysis

As a photographer and videographer, you should always seek the opportunities in the market. There is always a trend going on in the market. If we can follow the proper research technique and find the right trend we can easily be successful in this industry. First we need to take care that there is always some trend in the internet world. The right you fit in the more you grow. Research always helps us in understanding the audience and identifying the opportunities in the market. This can be used to create right contents that can be easily consumable which can lead to better engagement and conversion rates.

5. Capture and repeat.

As a beginner it’s hard to capture good photos or videos. We don’t need to expect to be perfect in the very first step. With the continuous focus and eagerness to learn anyone can be good at their own profession. Capture and repeat is essential for achieving consistency, improving skills, and ensuring you have a variety of options to work with when editing. They also allow us to learn from mistakes and refine our approach over time.