Beginner How do I make the scary leap from part time hobby to taking it seriously?

Debi Turner

Debi Turner

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Debi
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Hi Everyone!


Firstly, I will apologise now for my lack of technical language and knowledge, I know I am surrounded by pros and trust me, I feel like I've no idea what I'm talking about and it’s very daunting so please go easy on me – everyone was in my boat at one point of their careers L


I'm 32 and have spent most of life enjoying the thrill of taking photographs - whether it be of a newborn baby, a family wedding or a stunning sunset. I currently work as a legal secretary and am finding it increasingly frustrating that I have still not discovered what it is that I want do with my career. Well, that was until a few weeks ago when I made the decision to seriously look into becoming a photographer. I feel at my most relaxed behind my camera, love the feeling of patiently waiting for the right shot and the thrill of sitting down at the computer and looking through my images to discover that I’ve managed to capture a few corkers. Over the years I have been told that some of my photos are better than some professional photos out there. Most recently at my brother’s wedding where the photographer was a massive let down and my brother is using some of my photos for an album.


I would like to enter the world of children’s photography – I love how a little creature so small can convey their personality through a photo. I may not have the knowledge or the expertise yet, but I have the passion and I am prepared to put in the hard work required to get me there. My plan is to take some time, research everything properly and start on family and friends to build a portfolio which I will then share with the world and see if I get any bookings. I am under no illusions, I am not saying I am going to start running a photography business next week. I know it will take time and a lot of hard work, in the interim it will be a serious hobby alongside my full time job.


I know however that it is probably just not that simple so I have some questions:

  1. I currently have a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS (a bridge camera) and have taken some great photos on it though I have still not mastered all the manual settings, most of the time it’s on Auto. I’m hoping to attend a local photographer’s course on “Getting more from your camera” to learn more about the manual settings, ISO, shutter speeds, apertures, focus etc. Is there any point in keeping my SX50 or is it simply not good enough for portrait photography if you use it in manual mode? Should I bite the bullet now and get an SLR?


  2. Are there ANY legal requirements I need to fulfil before I start photographing babies and children? i.e. if I wanted to work in a children’s nursery I would probably have to be screened to work with children. Or in terms of children’s photography, does the parent’s consent suffice?


  3. Regarding training, what is the best? Are online workshops sufficient especially in terms of newborn photography? I’m wary that I will be handling newborn babies. I have grown up with a family of 6 with the current count of 12 nieces and nephews – I am totally comfortable around babies and children of all ages but I’m aware that cuddling and looking after a baby is different to posing a baby for photo. I want to do this right and safely – my difficulty is that I am in Northern Ireland and can’t see too many workshops here – I don’t think it has taken off much over here in terms of training.

    These are just the first few basic questions that I have, no doubt I will remember more once I post this. I really would appreciate any advice that any of you could give me. As I say, I’m very daunted by it all but don’t want to give up the dream for a bit of fear of the unknown.

Hopefully some of you can help me.

Many thanks.


Debi
 
Take lots of photos! Is my biggest and main advice. The rest will follow. You've got 12 models at hand to start to build a portfolio :)

Most nurseries will require you to have a DBS check, (new replacement for CRB checks) even though its not technically required as you won't be alone with the children. Well worth getting one.

Focus on taking lots of photos, build up a portfolio and encourage people to share them. DON'T focus on suddenly becoming a 'pro'. You will need a better camera at some point in the future, but for now if you're happy with the results you're getting, then it's the moments and expressions that matter most.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
Take lots of photos! Is my biggest and main advice. The rest will follow. You've got 12 models at hand to start to build a portfolio :)

Most nurseries will require you to have a DBS check, (new replacement for CRB checks) even though its not technically required as you won't be alone with the children. Well worth getting one.

Focus on taking lots of photos, build up a portfolio and encourage people to share them. DON'T focus on suddenly becoming a 'pro'. You will need a better camera at some point in the future, but for now if you're happy with the results you're getting, then it's the moments and expressions that matter most.
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Dave thank you so much! I'm just glad the response from a pro wasn't "don't be stupid, you haven't a clue what you're talking about"! I respect the industry a lot so I'm lacking in the confidence department. The nursery suggestion was just an example. If I was in a situation where I was at the parent's home to take photos of their newborn and had their consent, are there any requirements in order for me to be allowed to take photos of children or is parent's consent sufficient?

Yes handy having 12 models, so that will be the start. I also have a few friends who are expecting so with their consent, I will hopefully be able to practice on them :)

Thank you again for your advice, I really appreciate it.

Debi
 
Seriously one of the best things you can do is start posting photos on here for critique. There are loads of really helpful people and if you take on board what they are saying you will learn a lot. I would do that before you start buying new gear, you will get a sense of where you are relative to others and that will help you work out what you need to improve on.
 
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sirch said:
Seriously one of the best things you can do is start posting photos on here for critique. There are loads of really helpful people and if you take on board what they are saying you will learn a lot. I would do that before you start buying new gear, you will get a sense of where you are relative to others and that will help you work out what you need to improve on.
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Thank you EightBitTony. I was practising taking some photos of my nephew at the weekend but will obviously need to speak to my brother to see if he is happy for me to post them here. Most of my recent photos are children's portraits :-(
 
Debi Turner said:
Most recently at my brother’s wedding where the photographer was a massive let down and my brother is using some of my photos for an album.
Click to expand...

I am NOT a wedding photogrpaher myself but this place is awash with them and the above quote will go down like a ton of bricks :)

Debi Turner said:
start on family and friends to build a portfolio which I will then share with the world and see if I get any bookings.
Click to expand...

Don't get too deep into doing free shots for your portfolio.. word soon gets round that you did shots for free and it makes it ten times harder to charge anyone when they know you already worked for free... I am not saying don't.. you do need a portfolio.. my advice would be to not let it be known :)


Debi Turner said:
  1. I currently have a Canon PowerShot SX50 HS (a bridge camera) and have taken some great photos on it though I have still not mastered all the manual settings, most of the time it’s on Auto. I’m hoping to attend a local photographer’s course on “Getting more from your camera” to learn more about the manual settings, ISO, shutter speeds, apertures, focus etc. Is there any point in keeping my SX50 or is it simply not good enough for portrait photography if you use it in manual mode? Should I bite the bullet now and get an SLR?


  2. Are there ANY legal requirements I need to fulfil before I start photographing babies and children? i.e. if I wanted to work in a children’s nursery I would probably have to be screened to work with children. Or in terms of children’s photography, does the parent’s consent suffice?


  3. Regarding training, what is the best? Are online workshops sufficient especially in terms of newborn photography? I’m wary that I will be handling newborn babies. I have grown up with a family of 6 with the current count of 12 nieces and nephews – I am totally comfortable around babies and children of all ages but I’m aware that cuddling and looking after a baby is different to posing a baby for photo. I want to do this right and safely – my difficulty is that I am in Northern Ireland and can’t see too many workshops here – I don’t think it has taken off much over here in terms of training.

    These are just the first few basic questions that I have, no doubt I will remember more once I post this. I really would appreciate any advice that any of you could give me. As I say, I’m very daunted by it all but don’t want to give up the dream for a bit of fear of the unknown.
Click to expand...


Answers

1) Any camera that allows manual setting will allow you to learn to shoot manual.. you will not always use manual so a good idea to learn to use all settings.

2) there are no laws for photogrpahing children.. very few for photogrpahing adults but no distinction between either

3) take pictures.. take more pictures then take more pictures.. when you have done... go take more pictures.. thats by far the best way to e learn.. the internet and places like this IMHO are far better than any course i can think of..
 
KIPAX said:
I am NOT a wedding photogrpaher myself but this place is awash with them and the above quote will go down like a ton of bricks :)



Don't get too deep into doing free shots for your portfolio.. word soon gets round that you did shots for free and it makes it ten times harder to charge anyone when they know you already worked for free... I am not saying don't.. you do need a portfolio.. my advice would be to not let it be known :)





Answers

1) Any camera that allows manual setting will allow you to learn to shoot manual.. you will not always use manual so a good idea to learn to use all settings.

2) there are no laws for photogrpahing children.. very few for photogrpahing adults but no distinction between either

3) take pictures.. take more pictures then take more pictures.. when you have done... go take more pictures.. thats by far the best way to e learn.. the internet and places like this IMHO are far better than any course i can think of..
Click to expand...

Hi Kipax, thanks so much for your advice, all of which is absolutely sound. Firstly, FAO all wedding photographers. I am 32 and the past 10 years of my life have been taken up with weddings of friends and family, etc etc . In all of that time, my brother's wedding was the first where I heard of someone not being happy with the end result - this was a one off. I have huge respect for wedding photographers, but unfortunately in my brother's case, the end product did not live up to the portfolio images that the photographer had posted.

The advice you have given about free shots is definitely something I will take on board. It won't be publicised that I am not charging for initial shoots to build a portfolio. I am hoping to build this purely from family and friends.

And the your answers to my questions are a great help, thank you very much!
 
Dont forget the business side of thrning pro. You should develop a business plan and a marketing strategy to make sure there is sufficient paid work. If you are not sure how to proceed contact your local Chamber of Commerce who can advise you about grants/loans and give advice about training and business planning. Hope this helps.
Daniel.
 
djbphotography123 said:
Dont forget the business side of thrning pro. You should develop a business plan and a marketing strategy to make sure there is sufficient paid work. If you are not sure how to proceed contact your local Chamber of Commerce who can advise you about grants/loans and give advice about training and business planning. Hope this helps.
Daniel.
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Thanks Daniel - I imagine it will be a long time before I fully make the leap and "give up the day job" - hoping to build up some form of part time client base and if it takes off then look at launching it full time.
 
That sounds ok but dont forget the Inland Revenue will want their share of any profits you make.
Daniel
 
djbphotography123 said:
That sounds ok but dont forget the Inland Revenue will want their share of any profits you make.
Daniel
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Thanks Daniel, have spent the last few hours reading up on HMRC, have had to just post another thread as it appears to be quite confusing for someone with no previous business experience, but then everyone was inexperienced at some point. I shall read the thread about giving up the studio definitely. I don't intend however to rent a studio at the outset. It will be a good few years before I make enough money to cover something like that and I don't see the financial sense in committing myself to a studio rental until I see if it is viable or not. I wouldn't have the space in my home so the intention is to be location based. Thank you for your help, very much appreciated.
 
Hi Debi - I am an accountant and not a fee earning photographer.

There is a grey area between what is a hobby and when does that become a business which is so complex that I advise clients to register straight away - if the income is low, as it usually is, then the expenses that can be claimed often exceed income so there is no tax bill. The only downside is that you need to Register for Self-Assessment (see HMRC home page) and it helps to also register to submit your return online.

Each year (usually in the tax year which ends 5th April) you simply add up all your income and then deduct allowable expenses (telephone,internet,travel,motor,equipment etc etc) to get to a profit figure. If you are earning other income then this profit figure will be taxable at whatever tax band it falls in (basic or higher). You can do this yourself when starting if your income is not too great but if it takes off then I would advise getting an accountant.
 
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Jason, debi.

I have noticed there are a number of photographers aspiring to become pro/semi pro. Do you think it is time we had a business forum where we could download relevant forms, advice on marketing and business planning, advice on any grants/loans for start ups and information about taxation. I would be willing to take part in such a forum.

Daniel
 
djbphotography123 said:
Jason, debi.

I have noticed there are a number of photographers aspiring to become pro/semi pro. Do you think it is time we had a business forum where we could download relevant forms, advice on marketing and business planning, advice on any grants/loans for start ups and information about taxation. I would be willing to take part in such a forum.

Daniel
Click to expand...
There's already a business forum on here.
 
Hi Debi,
Ex Northern Ireland now living in Surrey so straight advice.
Regards training, a great resource for free courses specific to newborn photography is creative live.com (without the space) . They have lots of courses specific to photography including start up advice and use the
format of airing several different complete courses on the net each day for you to view free of charge. No catches, just click the "on air" link at the top of the page to view the days live content.
You can also get a feel for what works for you by selecting a course, viewing a free taster section, and then decide if you want to purchase it. The individual photographers featured, are in general top of their chosen field and the presentation is some of the best I have seen.
The choice offered free on air changes daily.

Keep your camera for now and seek out the Digital Photography book series by Scott Kelby at your local library. These easy to read books give you further information as to how and when you may require the settings available on your camera.
When you are comfortable you understand what they all do, then look at a upgrade, and yes you will need a better camera
Good luck
Greg.
 
whatsitallabout said:
Hi Debi,
Ex Northern Ireland now living in Surrey so straight advice.
Regards training, a great resource for free courses specific to newborn photography is creative live.com (without the space) . They have lots of courses specific to photography including start up advice and use the
format of airing several different complete courses on the net each day for you to view free of charge. No catches, just click the "on air" link at the top of the page to view the days live content.
You can also get a feel for what works for you by selecting a course, viewing a free taster section, and then decide if you want to purchase it. The individual photographers featured, are in general top of their chosen field and the presentation is some of the best I have seen.
The choice offered free on air changes daily.

Keep your camera for now and seek out the Digital Photography book series by Scott Kelby at your local library. These easy to read books give you further information as to how and when you may require the settings available on your camera.
When you are comfortable you understand what they all do, then look at a upgrade, and yes you will need a better camera
Good luck
Greg.
Click to expand...

Greg

Bout Ye! :):):)

Thanks so much for advice - straight on it all. Really appreciate it!

Debi
 
TBH I hate the usual "posed in a studio" look for children - I much prefer taking them in their own homes and gardens etc where they feel much more comfortable and you can get all those lovely expressions.

My advice if you have access to a lot of children in your family is simply to photograph them - again and again in all settings until you feel you are getting the kind of photographs you want.

I personally find that most children love to be photographed when in an environment they are used to.

And as to camera - well I have got many lovely pictures with a simple DSLR (350D) fitted with a 50mm f1.8 to my 1Ds MkII with a 70-300mm L lens to photograph them at play outside.

My favourite lens for almost any camera is the 28-135mm IS USM zoom which I have also used in many situations to photograph my own families children and for that it is also a great lens.

All of these were bought s/h on here so you don't have to spend a fortune to make a start.

And a good FREE editing program can be had here:

http://softlay.net/photo-image/image-editor/adobe-photoshop-7-0-free-download-full-version.html
.
 
I would be very surprised if you didn't need a CRB/DBS certificate to get any work in schools,nursery's etc. I work at schools doing ground maintenance and although I am not required by law to have a CRB certificate some schools insist because it is school policy. The fact that you have got a CRB certificate will be a benefit you in getting work in nursery's etc.
 
snooks said:
I would be very surprised if you didn't need a CRB/DBS certificate to get any work in schools,nursery's etc. I work at schools doing ground maintenance and although I am not required by law to have a CRB certificate some schools insist because it is school policy. The fact that you have got a CRB certificate will be a benefit you in getting work in nursery's etc.
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You need a DBS if you either regularly work with the same children/vulnerable adults, or if you have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults ... you however do not need a DBS to do childrens photography either with their parents or at schools since you won't (if you have any sense) be alone with your subjects.

Also DBS is given for particular jobs - thus its not transferable from school to school and "I has DBS/CRB clearance" is a meaningless fiction brought about by parental paranoia and tabloid journalism (the really daft thing being that hardly any parent knows what a DBS certificate looks like so they wouldnt spot a forgery anyway ... also DBS/CRB does not equal "is not a paedophile" all it proves is that you've never been arrested for such offences.

That aside on the OP i'd strongly suggest investing in a DSLR or CSC , not only are they generally more intuitive to use than a bridge when it comes to using the PASM modes, they also look more proffesional which is important if you want people to give you money for your photos
 
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Quite ironic, if true, that many amateurs aspire to become professional photographers. Many areas of professional photography are now dead - and it's got a lot to do with amateurs working for free or giving pictures away to newspapers etc. Too late to change the tide. I'd advise anyone thinking of becoming professional to have a very hard think about it before taking the plunge. It is very difficult to make a living today in most areas of professional photography!
 
A photography business is like any other, 80% business and 20% photography. So do not neglect the business skills.

You'll make a mess of things far more quickly with bad business decisions than you will with bad photography decisions.


Have a plan of where you want to get to and then work out what you need to do (and in what order) to get there. Because if you don't know where you're going, any bus will do..

You want to work as a newborn/child photographer.. so work your way through the list..
  • What do you want to do? - newborn and child photography
  • Who are your ideal customers?
  • What do they want?
  • How much will they pay for it?
  • Where are they?
  • What do you need to do to let them know you can do it?
  • What do you need to do it?
  • What skills do you need to learn - photography and business?
  • How much money do you want to earn?
  • How much time do you want to work?
  • Divide what the time you want to work by the amount you want to earn, how does this relate to what your customers want to pay?


Also remember, you enjoy photography now because it's a hobby and a distraction from the day job with no real pressure to perform or earn a living. Will it still be as enjoyable when you have to do it and the pressures are piling on to get work onto the order book and then deliver on-time and in-full week in and week out?
 
I've lost count of the number of beginners who've posted here wanting to become newborn & child photographers. I wish you all success; I suspect that only those with the greatest business acumen will make it work in a shrinking and increasingly competitive market.

What you need to learn about photography depends a lot on your target market and the quality of work you want to produce. You can probably learn those skills in a couple of years if you work hard.

BUT the photography skills are of secondary importance to learning to market and run a business.

I think you probably shouldn't spend anything on camera equipment until you know you're hitting the limits of your current setup and understand what those limits are. Then consider whether buying the equipment will make you any more money.

Don't forget that there will be other expenses too - processing software & hardware, PC backup system, backup cameras and lenses, lighting equipment, indemnity, liability, legal and equipment insurance and so on.

fwiw I've found tailored 1-1 training absolutely invaluable. You may find local small photography businesses who offer training and mentoring, though you will find that some baulk at the idea of training their own future competition.

Right, lecture over. For now the main thing is to Have Fun!
 
Debi,

aim for the stars and look at the work of people like Lisa Visser http://www.lisavisserfineart.co.uk/ and then if you can reach the moon you are well on your way.

As has been said it is the business that is important, simple problem, you want £20, 000 take home pay and you do 200 sittings a year, how much must you take on average to achieve that?

Mike
 
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