So You Want to Be a Photographer?

Why buy a DSLR camera for $1000 or more when you can simply purchase the Apple iPhone Pro Max that includes three cameras and doubles as a smart phone? Both

achieve the same quality pictures, right? Well I am here to tell you that the belief that smart phones now have the capability to achieve the same result as a DSLR camera is false.

(Courtesy of theverge.com)

Even when using a high quality camera and gear, the amount of work required by the photographer in order to capture the shot outweighs that which is done by the camera. Photography is a hobby which requires hundreds of dollars in equipment in order to do it correctly. In addition, in this day in age it requires knowledge of social media and creating a website. The knowledge and equipment allows you to improve your craft, but without a creative eye your photographs will not connect with people.

How do you begin your photography journey? Of course you must purchase a camera! My first camera (the one I still own and use) was a Canon and therefore I will probably always be loyal to the brand, but most producers of photography equipment provide high quality cameras. Next you may need extra lenses, memory cards, and a tripod. From there, there are many gadgets which can prove to be helpful and make your shots more interesting. You can't be taught how to have an eye for photography, yet photography classes and YouTube videos can give you insight into evoking emotion, finding angles, use of light, and the technique behind getting a shot.

Even after you have mastered the technique of capturing a photo by using the correct aperture, ISO, and shutter speed, there is still a process in order to produce the final product. Editing is a process which I never deemed important in my early photography days. However, I came to realize that by editing my photographs I could bring what I saw through my viewfinder to life. Often what you see and think you capture vs. what you actually produce can vary dramatically. Color can be lost and light can diminish aspects of the photo. By using editing software, you can bring these aspects back to life.

On a trip to Flam, Norway in which I was photographing the fjords, my shots ended up extremely blue due to the reflection of the sky and the water. By editing my photographs using Lightroom, I was able to bring out the teals and pinks that could be seen throughout the original shot. Although both photographs were beautiful, the second gave me an opportunity to bring forward characteristics which had been lost. While editing software such as #photoshop and #lightroom can be expensive, they are a necessity when becoming a photographer. You can even cheat by using the free Lightroom app rather than subscribing to the full Adobe software!

The creation and upkeep of a website and various social media platforms will allow you to share your craft and create a community. By having a presence on social media such as #facebook and #instagram, you can interact with clients and recruit new clients while also sharing your craft with the world. My website is a portfolio of my work, as well as an archive of photographs I have taken throughout the years and during my travels around the world. My instagram page is also a portfolio of my work, but shares some of my favorite photographs with the stories behind them. Social media has given me a chance to create a community through my work where I can communicate with followers and can even bring in new clients through traffic to my page. While not required, social media and the use of a website is incredibly important in the 21st century as for all businesses.

While becoming a photographer requires money and learning, it is a hobby or profession which can have a lot of reward. By becoming a freelance photographer, you can become involved in the happiest events in people's lives. I have been apart of multiple engagements of friends, the birth of my cousin, graduations, etc. It also provides a way to share the way you see the world with others. Photographs which I have taken while traveling are some of my most prized possessions as keepsakes from places I have visited. Becoming a photographer can be a tedious process, yet it is one in which you never stop learning or growing.