Is anyone on here a self taught Professional Photographer?

[meagan_kidd]

If so how did you teach your self and what are some tips you could give me. Did any specific books help you? I will be working with a Canon Rebel XTI. Also are there any accesories that are must haves to get started with? Such as flash, tripods, specific lenses? I will be focusing mainly on people. All advice is appreciated!

[Michael U]

Hi Megan

Yes I am self trained too and on this occasion I have to disagree with Fhotoace... but it may well be that our relative experience is different because we are in different geographical locations and markets.

In my experience most of the top players I've met have been self trained and I suspect that a LARGE majority of UK professionals are self taught. Anyway, for whatever reason I was fortunate... if I was to start again I may well go to uni to study photography - it would have saved me a lot of time and money, But as a result of having many students with me on placements over the years from well reputed universities and colleges I can also say that I am NOT impressed by most of the teaching or curriculum structures I've seen. I've had degree level students who never even knew how to use fill-in flash or exposure latitudes!!!

I read widely - books and magazines, studied the work of photographers, did massive numbers of experimental images and then attended seminars and courses. Finally I also spoke with esteemed colleagues to run certain issues past them. In fact I am sure Ace will agree, you go on learning and acquiring knowledge - every day.

If you want photographic and lighting information created by professionals try this, for free:
http://www.image-nut.com
(It also covers equipment selection issues, lighting and a lot more so you'll have PLENTY to chew on for quite a time to come!)

[J*Mo]

Local colleges offer non credit courses on photography for just a little bit of money. The local college here has a program for 6 weeks at $75 plus lab fees. Why not look into that. Otherwise - hit up your local library for some good books on photography

[Jack A]

I'm not a professional photographer, but I think I could be when I leave school (without being big-headed).
The accessories you buy would be dependant on what type of photography you'd do, i.e. landscape/sport/people etc.
Sport-I'd recomend a telephoto lens, e.g. 70-300mm
Landscape- Wide angle e.g. 10-20mm and tripod
People- Prime (fixed) lens e.g. 50mm and a DECENT flashgun
Best advice on lenses would be to buy a well-known brand or prefably a high-end canon one for the rebel
Flashgun's can be any brand really, I have a Sigma flashgun on a Nikon D40, just make sure it has the right fitting...
hope i could help... message me if you want to know anything else ihitthebar@hotmail.com

[Jimmy F]

yeah i just taught myself i went to the store bought a disposable camera took some pictures,and now i consider myself one of the best photographers in the world.

[nikonfotos100]

I am self taught but I did many, many years ago and I am still working in this career field. There are books that I read at the time and a lot of them applied to film photography and you can still find them if you look but I do not have them listed in this answer. But a good one to look at is "The Complete KODAK Book of Photography". There are some links below that can help you and some tips that I give to anybody doing photography.

You do not need to go to formal school to become a photographer but you have to learn it from somewhere be it from a class room environment or from you reading and doing things on your own. Some people require the hands-on of a teacher to gain knowledge and others can understand by just reading a book so choose which would be better for you.

Depending how good you are at shooting and marketing your images will depend on your income. You can starve one year and be feasting the next.

1. You should learn the technical aspects of photography and your camera (composition, shutter speed, rules of thirds, depth of field etc), once you understand these you will be able to create better images.

2. Shoot in "M" (manual mode) because you will have more control over your camera and not the other way around. When you are in one of the "Auto" modes the camera will just read the highlights and shadow areas and try to get you a picture. The camera is not smart enough to know what you are shooting.

3. You can start reading all kinds of books on this subject and get information from the inter net. This includes web based classes, manufactures web sites to personal blogs.

4. Buy the best professional DSLR camera that you can afford this also includes good lenses. Take out your camera and manual sit down and go over all the buttons and knobs etc.. this is the best way for you to learn what your camera can do.

5. Start shooting with your camera to get practice and from what you are learning from reading and doing you will get better. Practice does make perfect. Take notes while shooting and then look at your photos on the computer find the best one from that set and see what you did to get the shot and why you like it more than the others.

6. You can get yourself a job as a photographers assistant (be it payed or free) and learn from that person.

7. My suggestion is to find a part of photography that you would have an interest in and point in that direction and specialize. You will try to produce a better image of that subject opposed to just "having" to shoot it.

8. Areas of photography include portraits, wedding, product, nature, travel, fine art and journalism. Some of these career fields require a studio with special lighting others do not but require different lenses and other equipment and techniques.

9. A good portfolio (website) will speak for itself. Just make your portfolio fit to the people you are presenting it to. Example: If showing to a bride for a wedding, remove landscapes and corporate images they just want to see wedding images only and your style. If you have a website do the same and tailor it towards your clienteles and leave the "fluff" images out.

Since you have access to the inter net here is a start: Some you have to pay for and some are free.. start with the free stuff of course.

http://www.photonhead.com/
http://www.betterphoto.com/
http://www.shootsmarter.com/
http://www.webphotoschool.com/

http://www.lexar.com/dp/index.html?cmp=e...

Studio Lighting info
http://www.studiolighting.net/portrait-l...

Photoshop classes
http://www.russellbrown.com/
http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials.htm
http://www.dphotojournal.com/category/tutorials/

Just in case you need info on a degree
http://www.photographyschools.com/

Hope this helps,
Kevin

[fhotoace]

The one reason most professional photographers are NOT self-taught is because eventually the frustration of making mistakes under the pressure of shooting for a client gets to be too much.

As a pro, we are not only expected to produce images on demand, but know when film is necessary vs. digital ... large format vs. medium or 35mm ... colour neg vs. transparency.

In school all that an much more is explained and becomes part of your knowledge and skill sets.

Nothing comes across as more unprofessional as a "so called" pro not knowing how to use their equipment and how to provide the most appropriate image type for the client. Guessing is not an option when portraying oneself as a pro.

By the time you finish school, you will know which lens is necessary for what subjects. Example: When I have a sports assignment, I do not carry lenses I don't or won't need. I have over 10 specialized lenses .. each with their own specific properties. This is but one of the many bits of knowledge a pro is expected to know ... as well as their own names.

To learn all this without school you may want to become an assistant to a successful pro and learn from him/her. Do that for about five years and you will be in good shape ... not as formal as a school, but probably good enough to be a pro

For really good technical information, try this link:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm