To be successful in this satisfying career, you need an artistic eye, technical skills, a knack for marketing yourself and a passion for your work.
Take pictures for your high school yearbook or
student newspaper after you have taken a workshop in the basics. You will get an idea of how deep your passion is for the medium.
- Decide which type of photography - such as news, advertising or fine-art photography - best suits your interests and talents. Search the Internet for some online resources and organizations.
- Understand that a four-year college degree is increasingly necessary if you want to be a photojournalist or a photographic specialist in medicine or other sciences. The contacts you make and the experience you receive from required college internships will be invaluable.
- Develop an outstanding portfolio. Include excellent photographs you have taken on your own - in particular, those focusing on a given theme.
- Be willing to work as a photographer's assistant once you have some experience. You are not going to be competing with experienced photographers for a while.
- Realize that more than 50 percent of photographers work on a freelance basis. Many magazines and organizations that use photographers do not keep them on staff.
- Attend workshops and seminars to remain up-to-date on technical advances in photography.
To be successful in this satisfying career, you need an artistic eye, technical skills, a knack for marketing yourself and a passion for your work.