Amateur Photographer to Professional - Are You Really Ready?When I first decided to go from amateur photographer to ‘professional photographer,’ I didn’t have a ‘clue’ what it would take to be successful. I knew what business was, but, I didn’t understand business or what it took to be successful in business. I was ‘in business’ for over three years before I heard of the term ‘marketing’ and how significant it is for the success of any business. My pictures were good - very good (especially for an amateur photographer) – not great, however. My only plus was my enthusiasm as an amateur photographer and my quality customer service habits (I had found that giving excellent customer service was the best marketing and business building activity possible – especially when there is little or no money for other marketing activities). My point – this amateur photographer clearly became a ‘professional photographer’ before I was ready.
From Amateur Photographer to Professional Photographer - From Love to Profit is Not Guaranteed
Five years ago I returned to the world of photography after a 20 year absence. Then I was a ‘struggling-professional’ photographer. I gave a face to the following type jokes:
I started in photography for the love of it. Eventually, I decided that all I had to do to become a professional photographer was to pass out my business cards and wait for the telephone to ring. I confused my love of photography with success as a ‘professional photographer.’ For me, being a ‘professional photographer’ dampened all of the joy that photography had given me over the years. I took on jobs that weren’t challenging or profitable. I didn’t take the time to figure out what type of photography offered the most profit for the effort, resources and time investment. I didn’t pay attention to where my best potential customers were or how to ‘overdeliver’ on my services to them. Although I went about operating my ‘professional photography’ business with all the best of intentions, plans, enthusiasm, and commitment, I had doomed myself to predictable failure. Of course, I recognized this ‘after’ I ran out of money, enthusiasm and hope. Hindsight is often 20/20. Now I have returned and my excitement and enthusiasm is even more intense than twenty years ago. The world of photography is exploding in growth and changing almost just as fast. Since I am older now, I should be more mature and better able to make well thought-out and researched business decisions. Well, sometimes I act my age. Other times…. Here are some of my lessons learned. The greatest aspect of current photography, for me, is technology. I prefer digital over film. Digital allows me to shoot and practice more than I could with film. Also, I can manipulate the photo to get the best image possible. Technology helps me to find information to help me make business decisions. Technology now helps me to target my potential customers and market specifically to them. Its not a hit and miss marketing exercise. I found photography books that helped me to focus on a profitable photography niche. Prior to finding the books I had absolutely no concept of what a photography niche was or how important it is to being a successful photographer. There are many very good books about successful photography business. For me, one of the best (after my 20 year absence) was “The Business of Studio Photography” by Edward R. Lilley. His book kept me from repeating my costly mistakes of the past. Twenty years ago I had never heard of stock photography. Now, stock photography is where I put most of my scheduled time when I am shooting for business purposes (versus shooting for my love of photography). There are a lot of books about stock photography. “Sell and Re-Sell Your Photos” and “Sellphotos.com” both by Rohn Engh, have been two of the best investments that I have ever made. I have a clearer understanding of the business of stock photography and where I fit. Stock photography is experiencing a great deal of change. Some long time stock photographers simply don’t like what is happening. Other long time stock photographers welcome the changes and adjust accordingly. Since I am relatively new to stock photography, the changes have little meaning or consequences to me. Author Michal Heron’s books “How to Shoot Stock Photos That Sell” and “Pricing Photography” were very valuable in broadening my understanding of the stock photography business. The latter book also offers pricing information for assignment photography. One of the best aspects of the current photography world is technology. I enjoy showing my work. Photography websites allows me to show my work, to supplement my advertising/marketing and to sell my work. I had established a number of photography websites before I found one of the greatest internet ‘freebies’ for photographers. A site called Proimageguide.com gives fully operational photography websites for free! That’s right free! The free photography website has no advertising or popups! They give you a fully operational photography website for three months for free and they hope you like their service so well that you will become a paid subscriber. This free photography website is more functional than the photography websites that I pay for. The fully functional photography website that is offered by Proimageguide.com is flexible for whatever your photography niche may be, from amateur photographer to professional photographer. “The Photographer’s Guide to Setting Up a Website” by Martyn Moore, is a great resource to assist you in understanding how to set up a photography website. The book offers free resources for photographers such as a free web site, free photography website templates, etc. The book has an accompanying website which con tributes to the value of this particular resource. It feels good to be back in the world of photography. Initially, I was overwhelmed. With the assistance of all the available information on the internet I was able to learn the current business of photography and to share it with others. For sure, the world of photography is massive and growing. I take the time to get all the information necessary to make the best business decisions. I have reversed my business success record. I actually make money in the photography business. Being back makes me a few bucks and allows me to get paid to do what I love – photography. 
ConsiderationsI did not have a resource like what you are currently reading. As an amateur photographer, I operated by the ‘seat of my pants’ (and I kept losing my shirt[s] year after year). Hindsight being twenty-twenty, the following is what I wish someone had told me to consider: Ask these questions of your work:
Honest assessments are sometimes difficult for us to make when it comes to something we have produced. Find other photographers to help you make honest assessments. Your friends and family don’t count – unless they are competent photographers. Don’t lie to yourself – know what drives your passion for photography. To be successful, you have to want to be a photographer. You have to truly enjoy photography. A now-and-then photographer produces so-so work. Quality photographs aren’t a result of luck. You will have to shoot a great number of images to develop your skills to a proficient level. You have to shoot even more images to develop a photographic style that rises above your competition. And, you will have to shoot still more images to have the confidence needed to navigate to turbulent, chaotic and exciting world of professional photography. Professional photography requires lots of time, effort and work. Many hobbyists and amateurs dream about entering the world of professional photography and reaping all the luxurious trappings – ‘As seen on TV.’ They don’t know about the stress of deadlines, the unknown terror of failed equipment, the changing appetite of customers or the unseen costs of having no business and marketing plans. Developing skills takes time. Building a good portfolio takes time and know-how. Becoming known requires patience. In the business of photography, rejections are a way of life. The rejections aren’t personal. But, they still hurt – at least, the rejections hurt me! Once I developed a marketing plan and applied it, I got fewer and fewer rejections. In fact, the harder that I work at marketing, I get fewer rejections. These are some of the issues that I dealt with when I decided to become a professional photographer. As a rule, too many photographers do not have or follow a business and/or marketing plan. Of course, this spells disaster in a photography business, part-time or full-time.
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