TOP STEPS TO GOING PRO - PART TWO

In the second instalment of our series, we examine the challenges of planning and shooting your first assignment

In the previous issue of Digital Photographer (268), we looked at the first steps a photographer needs to take on the road to becoming a part-time or full-time professional. Once you have worked out which areas of the medium you’d like to specialise in, it’s time to look for your first assignment.

By following our tips about gaining experience, networking and marketing yourself in Dan Mold’s feature in the previous issue, you will have improved your chances of attracting the attention of prospective clients. But once people have made initial inquiries, you need to make sure you are prepared to adjust your creative approach for the challenges of professional-level photography. Here, nerves often set in, as you form a mental picture of what it will be like shooting to a brief under the pressure of fulfilling the image needs of someone other than yourself. Planning is key to reducing stress and creating a good impression that will help you secure future work.

There are some unique difficulties to working as a part-time or semi-pro photographer, such as the lack of value in building a collection of expensive specialist lenses and accessories or buying into a specific system. Although you may need certain equipment for a forthcoming job, it isn’t worth buying that kit outright.

Furthermore, as a new photographer, you will have limited experience in managing client expectations, directing shoots and dealing with on-shoot setbacks. So, for your first few forays into the professional imaging world, you should be open-minded and willing to learn. While you may not like the idea of making mistakes, as long as you ensure these are not immediately visible to the client, you can use your first jobs to apply your research, improve your images and, above all, work out how to enjoy the process of shooting for other people.