Travelling the world with a camera in hand seems to be the most “in” thing these days. Photography is one of those fields that often starts as a hobby, and eventually turns into a full-fledged career. So, if you are someone who uses his/her skills and talents for a part-time hobby, then it’s time you realize your talent and turn it into a full-time profession.
But, before you rush to the nearest store and buy a high-end camera and start clicking, here are a few tips to kick start your career in Photography.
Why Pursue a Career in Photography?
The field of photography has changed tremendously in the last few years. Photography had, traditionally, been restricted to events, weddings, and movies; but in recent years, the boom of e-commerce, advertising, mass media, and related fields has created a large demand for professional photographers.
The hectic life schedule that people follow these days is difficult to keep up with. All of us have become highly dependent on various websites for clothing, cosmetics, food, etc. and this has led to a huge demand for good photographers in the commercial field, such as fashion photography and food photography. There are other fields as well, such as sports photography, wildlife photography, pet photography, etc., that have gained popularity.
How to Become a Photographer in India?
Now that you have a basic idea with respect to the vast career opportunities this field entails, it’s time we move on to the next important thing.
1. Take a Course
To make a career in today’s digital photography world, you need to stay updated with the new techniques and equipment. Earlier, where people learned photography all by themselves, the changing times and increasing zeal to learn photography have led several institutions to offer courses to train people in the required skills and techniques. You can get a degree in photography (Bachelor’s or Master’s), or pursue diploma courses, the duration of which may vary between 3 months and 1 year.
Some institutes that provide an Undergraduate courses/ diplomas or certifications in photography.*
- Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Hyderabad
- National Institute of Photography, Mumbai
- Delhi College of Photography, Delhi
- Mass Communication Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Symbiosis School of Photography, Pune
- Raghu Rai Centre of Photography, Gurgaon
- Indian Institute of Digital Arts & Animation, Kolkata
- Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT), Noida
- Indian Institute of Photography Academy (IIP Academy), Delhi NCR
Some institutes that provide a Postgraduate diploma/degree in photography*
- The Indian Institute of Digital Art and Animation, Kolkata
- Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
- Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Hyderabad
- Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT), Noida
- Nation Institute of Design, Multiple Locations
Graduating from such institutes will help you hone your existing skills, eradicate your flaws, develop your knowledge, and will, thus, help you progress.
*These lists are not exhaustive, and do not indicate rankings of institutes.
2. Understand the Basics
Enrolling yourself in a course will help you understand the basics of photography, like:
- Framing (Mid-shot, Close-up, Aerial shot, etc.)
- Rule of thirds, which is the alignment of the subject in a way to produce a more engaging image.
- Shutter Speed, also known as exposure time that helps create dramatic effects by freezing action or blurring motion.
Understanding these basics will help you take balanced and interesting photographs.
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3. Participate in Competitions/ Take up Internships
Once you learn the craft, the next step is to practice it and become proficient. Participating in photography competitions and events can give you an opportunity to grow, recognise your strengths, and develop your skills. Competitions also provide you with a great platform to showcase your talent and the skills you have acquired. They give you a chance to get your work evaluated and critiqued by a panel of judges with the requisite knowledge of the field, and inculcating their suggestions not only improves your work but also motivates you to outdo yourself in the next task.
Apart from participating in competitions, you can also do internships, explore freelance opportunities, engage in pro-bono work for cafes and products, or take up work in any genre of photography you’re interested in. Working on such projects will provide you with great exposure to the field, and will give you the opportunity to meet and network with like-minded people.
4. Create a Niche for Yourself
After you are done participating in various competitions and engaging in lots of freelance work, you can work to take your skills to the next level.
To become a professional photographer, it is important to experiment with different genres that allow you to gain knowledge about different areas of photography. For instance, covering a social event will give you exposure to candid photography, while working with models will give you exposure to fashion photography. So, venturing out into various domains will help you understand your areas of strength, and help you build up your expertise in the areas of your choosing. In the long run, you will be able to carve a niche in your chosen area of photography.
5. Create a Portfolio/ Blog/ Website
Showcasing your skills is as important as doing good work. A portfolio, blog or website can easily be turned into your marketing brochure. Making a portfolio communicates your views, abilities, skills, etc., and gives you a professional outlook. When you have your own blog/ website, you can showcase your work to increase your chances of getting noticed. There are a lot of websites and online communities, where you can learn to create your own portfolio, such as Fabrik, Folio, FolioHD, Portfoliobox, SmugMug, format.com, 500px, Paulakluth, ASCD, 1X etc.
Read More: Photography as a Career in India
Is Equipment Important to Pursue Photography as a Career?
Just like doctors are incomplete without their surgical tools, photographers are incomplete without their equipment. Good equipment matters. Legendary photographers such as Ansel Adams, Raghu Rai, Daboo Ratnani or Steve McCurry, etc. like to work with world-class equipment, be it IMAX Cameras or good DSLR cameras. They make sure that their equipment is on-point, as it can often make a huge difference in the quality and angle of pictures.
A lens is also an important piece of equipment, as it can provide diverse shot options. For example, you can go for a zoom lens for wildlife photography, wide-angle lens for landscape photography, etc., and can choose from various types of lenses, depending on the genre of photography you like.
Some Additional Tips
If you are yet to take the professional plunge, you don’t have to spend a fortune buying an expensive camera. Begin with a point-and-shoot or a mobile camera, and later shift to a DSLR, once you are sure of your talents and passion for the field. Buying a DSLR will largely depend upon your budget. You can try out cameras from popular brands such as Canon, Nikon or Sony, which will allow you to play around with various manual settings, and deliver intricate, high-definition pictures. The price of these cameras starts at around INR 25,000-30,000, for entry-level cameras, and can even go up to as high as INR 80,000-90,000, for high-end cameras. Since photography is an expensive profession, it is advisable to sample a few cameras and lenses before making such a big investment.
It is not wrong to say that photography is a vision, a vision you display to the world, and a vision that caters to the needs of your client. Photography is one of the sectors that provide the flexibility of working with corporations, e-commerce websites, and magazines, as well as independently, as a freelancer. It is a highly technical field that requires precision, a good eye for lighting and detail, and patience to go with it. If you think you possess such skills, then photography is definitely the way to go!
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