The first step to making money from your photography is knowing how to make a living in photography. What should you consider in deciding what type of photography niche to specialize in? Here are some factors that can influence your decisions.
1. Which type of camera do you have? If you have a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you will need to be a full-time professional. The good news is that you can make a living by specializing in photography with either one of these two types of cameras. However, there are differences between the two. The mirrorless cameras are smaller in size and lighter, making them easier to handle than the larger DSLRs. The quality of the photos from the mirrorless cameras are superior to those taken with the DSLRs.
However, the mirrorless cameras are still expensive to purchase and to maintain. You will need to pay for your camera every single month in order to keep it in top condition.
If you have an entry-level camera, then you would have to devote much of your time to learning about photography. If you have no camera, you will have to spend a lot of time in purchasing one. If you do not want to spend a lot of money on a camera and just want to learn to shoot, then you should go for a low-cost beginner’s camera such as the Canon Rebel T6i or the Nikon D3300.
2. How much experience do you have? When you decide to become a lifestyle or commercial photographer, you will need to consider how much experience you have in taking pictures. Do you have any portfolio of your own photos? Do you have any clients who have given you a job or asked you to take their photos? If so, you will be able to tell the type of work that you do best at.
3. How much time do you have? Another factor to consider is how much time you have available. Are you a working parent who needs to work and earn a living? Or are you retired?
4. What is your level of ambition? When you become a photographer, you must always have a vision of where you want to be in life. Do you have any desire to be famous? Would you like to travel the world? If so, you will need to have a high level of ambition.
5. How much money do you have? If you do not have a lot of money to invest, it would be wise to stick to lifestyle or commercial photography. Both of these types of photography do not require a lot of money to get started. However, if you do want to specialize in a particular field, you will have to budget carefully.
6. Do you want to make a living from photography? While some people love what they do for a living and enjoy making a living out of photography, others do not. If you want to make a living from photography, then you will need to work very hard.
7. Do you want to work for yourself? If you have a job already, you may be wondering if it is worth giving up your job to become a freelance photographer.
The answer to this question lies in how much you enjoy what you do and how much you love photography. If you are passionate about photography, then you will have to put in more effort to achieve your goals. If you do not enjoy what you do, then you will not last long.
Some Types of Photography for You to Consider
The field of photography has changed greatly over the years. Back in the early days of photography, most people were using film. Then came the digital revolution with digital cameras and the rise of social media and apps that enabled you to take photos easily from your mobile phone.
Today we are surrounded by a plethora of images. Photography used to be a hobby, a personal indulgence. Now it has become a business – you need to be able to market your work to make it happen.
You can either choose one type of photography and develop an expertise in it (a bit like cooking), or you can do several types of photography but specialize in a few. You can do this because there are so many different areas of photography that you can take part in.
1) Fine Art Photography
Fine art photography is considered to be one of the oldest forms of art. It can take many forms. It can be landscapes, abstract photography, macro photography, or nature photography. In general, fine art photography involves a lot of skill, patience, and a huge amount of thought. The subjects you photograph will generally be posed and lit carefully and the results will be exhibited in galleries. It is one of the most difficult styles of photography to master. You will need to spend a great deal of time in order to develop your style and find your own unique approach.
2) Documentary Photography
Documentary photography is very popular at the moment. It involves taking photographs of real life events and scenes. It can be anything from a portrait of a child to documenting a wedding. It doesn’t need to be a traditional wedding. It could be a candid photo of a child.
There are many techniques that can be used in documentary photography. You might use a long lens and shoot wide angle, or you might use a zoom lens and zoom in. You can use different lighting techniques, including flash and ambient light.
3) Product Photography
Product photography is very common today. It has become almost as ubiquitous as a smartphone. You will often see products advertised on TV and in magazines. These include everything from perfume to cars to kitchen appliances.
You will need to be able to think like a consumer and understand the needs of the consumer. You will need to have the technical know-how to create the kind of image that will sell the product. This will involve you using a specific type of camera and equipment, including a tripod and lights.
4) Nature Photography
Nature photography can be done in a number of ways. The most traditional way of photographing nature is to take pictures of plants and animals. It’s an activity that many photographers enjoy and it can be very relaxing. It is easy to find inspiration and ideas.
There are various ways that you can photograph nature. One of the best ways to do it is to use a wide-angle lens. This will allow you to capture the whole scene in one image. You will then need to edit the photo to eliminate any unwanted distractions.
5) Portrait Photography
Portrait photography is also a popular activity. There are so many different ways that you can take a picture. You can use a wide-angle lens, a zoom lens, a close-up lens, a telephoto lens, and more.
You will need to have a good understanding of lighting. You will need to find interesting locations and set up your lights in a creative way. You will also need to use different backgrounds.
6) Street Photography
Street photography is a great way to get an authentic, and artistic, picture. The images are taken in a candid way. You don’t want to take a posed or formal shot. This will be more informal and less formal.
7) Macro Photography
Macro photography is another type of street photography. It is a technique where you focus on small objects. You can use a macro lens or a super wide-angle lens.
8) Travel Photography
Travel photography is another type of street photography. It’s a great way of learning about the world. You can shoot anywhere, anytime.