[Jim Bryant]

There's been way too much talk on this forum about having a digital camera and I got my first assignment, what should I do??? First off, what type of lighting setup do you have? Do you have the necessary lens? Do you have filter gels to change background colors? Do you have backdrops. Do you have a table top outfit? Ask yourself, do you have the necessary equipment to produce a quality produce? More importantly, since you admitted you're were practicing photography as a hobby, do you even possess the experience and knowledge to under take this commitment? I see that you have a basic kit, but for product photography, which is a specialty. You'll need to invest in lights, an assortment of lenses, backgrounds and more important knowledge. I don't want to discourage you or even others on this forum, but there's way too many here that think that since they have a digital camera that gives them a decent photo (without really knowing anything about photography), they can automatically start making money. And yes, you can, up until a point where the lack of knowledge and experience starts showing up in your final product. That's when clients will stop calling and you're name will be spread around as just being a person with a digital camera, not a photographer. I don't want to sound harsh and even discouraging to anyone, who's eager to make money, but don't leap into this business without being prepared with not only the necessary equipment, photographic knowledge, but business sense as it cheapens the photographic industry as a whole. My 2 cents!