A friend recently asked me to give him some advice on starting a career as a photographer. I gave him some tips and he replied with the following question.

“How do you recommend getting started? As in, what are the top 9 things you would recommend someone to do?”

That, of course, is a bit of a loaded question! The “top nine” depends on what your goals are. If you want to get into photojournalism or editorial photography then your first goal might be to get an internship at a newspaper or magazine, which might require you to have a good portfolio of work that is relevant to the area in which you want to work. If you want instead to go into commercial photography then your first goal might be to find a job in product photography or advertising, but that might require you to take some classes or get some experience in studio photography.

In either case it’s highly unlikely that your first job will be a “career” position. You will probably start out working for free (or for very little pay). And if you’re trying to break into an area where there are lots of other people competing for the same jobs (photojournalism or editorial photography) chances are that if you don’t already have contacts in the field then

-Know your craft: This is the most important skill that you need. The better at photography you are, the more opportunities will come your way. You should also be able to do post-processing on your photos to make them look professional.

-Be friendly: You will never know who you’ll meet and what opportunities they can offer. Make friends with everyone and always be kind.

-Make a portfolio: A portfolio is one of the most important things for getting work as a photographer. Having a great portfolio means that you have something to show potential clients or employers, so that they have an idea of your style.

-Build up a client base: Every client and every job is different and it’s good to have a lot of experience with different types of jobs.

-Take everything seriously: Even if it’s not a paying job, always treat it as if it were because you never know when someone might see your work that can get you more work in the future.

-Do free work: Sometimes doing free work for someone can lead to more paid work later on down the road. The only way to get experience is by getting out there and doing it!

-Start local: Start locally and make connections with small businesses or magazines near where you

If you are interested in a photography career, you are probably wondering how to get started. You may have watched some TV shows or read articles that make you think that becoming a photographer is as easy as pointing your camera at something and taking a picture. It’s not quite that simple, but it is also not too difficult if you have the right information.

The tips below will help you get started on your way to being a successful photographer.**

A great photographer doesn’t necessarily make a great business person. When it comes to your career, you’re the one holding the camera-meaning you are in control of the framing and capturing of your subject matter. But when it comes to running a business, you’ll need more than just a camera.

TIP 1: Recognize that photography is a business. While it’s true that photography is an art, don’t ignore the business side of things either. If you’re serious about pursuing photography as a career, understand that there will be more to it than just taking pictures.

TIP 2: Give yourself time to grow into your business. For some people, becoming a photographer is something they do on the side, while keeping their day job or working towards another degree or certification. Chances are, if you’re reading this article you’re already well on your way towards becoming financially independent through photography.

You should also remember that being a successful photographer isn’t something that happens overnight–it’s going to take time and effort before you can make this your full-time job.

TIP 3: Be logical about how and where you learn your craft. Don’t attempt to rush ahead of yourself in terms of learning how things work (and what works best).

One of the names for the camera is “the light-tight box.” Light-tight. It’s a great name. It sounds so industrial, so manly, so opaque. But wait! There’s more! A light-tight box doesn’t just capture light, it transforms it into art.

When I was in college I took a photography class and at the end of it we made a portfolio. The professor put all my photos into portfolios and handed them to different people from art galleries, museums, magazines and ad agencies to see if they were any good enough to pursue a career.

One of those people was a man named Jim Wright who worked for National Geographic. He came to my dorm room to talk with me about photography as a career and told me that they don’t publish photographs that aren’t perfect. He told me that your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.

I thought he was crazy. How could someone take 10,000 bad photos? Then I realized he wasn’t talking about quantity; he was talking about quality. I had never spent any time trying to make things look perfect before that moment. I had never tried making anything in my life look perfect before that moment.* That day changed my life forever because it taught me how to

The single most important thing that can be said to you is: Do not expect to make money in photography. You will have a very hard time doing it. If you are passionate about it, and throw yourself into it, you will most likely find a way to make some money. But it is very difficult, and if I could offer any advice, it would be:

Don’t depend on this for income.

Your work is unique, but your business is not. For every new photographer out there, there are hundreds of people trying to do the same thing. How do you make your work stand out?

Before you can worry about making money, though, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Your passion matters more than your talent.

2. Before you spend a dollar on equipment, spend a dollar on education.

3. To make money with photography, you have to have something worth selling.

4. Your time is more valuable than your expertise.

5. Pay for your own education; don’t try to get paid for it first.

6. The most expensive camera is the one that’s sitting at home collecting dust because you didn’t know how to use it yet.

7. The biggest bang for the buck comes from what you learn outside the classroom, not inside it.

8. What matters most is what other people think of your work, not what you think of it yourself. It’s not about who made the photograph—it’s about who gets to keep it after they buy it.*9.* There is no substitute for hard work and persistence.”**