Getting experience

[dgrierms]

Hey everyone! Eventually I'd like to get paid as a photographer but right now my work isn't good enough. I haven't even set up a website/flickr/smugmug. Anyways, a friend of mine that is a wedding photographer has invited me to come along and do some weddings with him. There is no pay involved but to me the experience is invaluable.

Other ideas I've had:

• Walk around and photograph some of the arts and crafts festivals
• Spend a day in a park.
• Do some free portrait work for some friends

A friend of mine in a college athletics department might be able to get me on the sidelines for some football games this fall (or so he says). Not sure if it is going to work out but that would be a great opportunity.

Do these sound like good ideas? What are some other things I can be doing to get some experience as well as put together a portfolio of my best work?

Any advice is appreciated.

[JFeinbergPhotography]

Same thing with me. I need the experience. Here is what I do: I often see people asking others to hold their camera and take pictures of them. When they ask me, instead of taking their camera, I use my own. I then ask for their email address and send them my finished work. I never display that work on my site, but rather as a little momento for them with a very small watermark on the bottom of the image. If they like my work, they know where to find me. I’ve done this practice close to twenty times now. I’ve received twenty praises and thanks from the people along with requests for pricing on my work.

[Pinellas Guy]

Originally Posted by JFeinbergPhotography

Same thing with me. I need the experience. Here is what I do: I often see people asking others to hold their camera and take pictures of them. When they ask me, instead of taking their camera, I use my own. I then ask for their email address and send them my finished work. I never display that work on my site, but rather as a little momento for them with a very small watermark on the bottom of the image. If they like my work, they know where to find me. I’ve done this practice close to twenty times now. I’ve received twenty praises and thanks from the people along with requests for pricing on my work.

I've done that too. I take the picture with their own camera too - on auto mode. So that way they have the full size pic if they don't want to pay for my print. I give them my card, but get their email. I e-mail them a small print with a watermark on it. That way they can see the difference between a P+S picture and a DSLR. I've done it for 3 people at the pier - sunset photography. I live in FL, the St. Pete Pier is a tourist destination. It shows hospitality so though I never made money I dont mind. Does not take much time to email a pic. Hey maybe their will hire a photog when they get home.

This was for my friends's engagement at the pier. Awesome location!!!

[thirdxacharm06]

One good what is to find a group to join. Check out Do something, Learn something, Share something, Change something - Meetup and search for photography in your area and I guarantee you'll find a group or too that you can go on shoots with. I've learned so much from my group in the last 6 months. Cheaper than taking a course that may not give you all the understanding you want. I like it because I can pick people's brains right on the spot. I'm more of a hands on learner.

[zona5101]

Just shoot as much as you can... the two opportunities you mention plus your ideas are fine and what ever else you come up with just shoot! And when you don't get the results you envisioned, figure out why - then shoot some more.

[Jim Bryant]

Practice, practice practice! That's the only way to learn.

[APhotoSchool]

They all sound like great ideas. I recommend figuring out exactly what you would like to do as a photographer. Portraits? Sports? Events? Weddings? If events or sports are your interest, here's an article I wrote a while back that will help you get started: The Ins and Outs of Event Photography

All of them will help you, but if you want to build up a portfolio, focus on what you want to shoot. It's best to be generalized and not shoot a little bit of everything if you really want to get things going.

Good luck!

[Tzetsin]

Originally Posted by dgrierms

Hey everyone! Eventually I'd like to get paid as a photographer but right now my work isn't good enough.

This is going to seem a little off the mark, but if your work isnt good enough to get paid for, and your serious about being a serious photographer, you need to work on your BUSINESS skills.

I've seen some seriously crap ass photos being sold by good business people and they are making money. Of all the trades out there photography is unique in that its almost entirely dominated by self employed tradesmen. You not only need to know your equipment like the samurai know theirs, but you need to understand computers, Multiple software titles (which take years of practice to use effectively) you need to completely understand light, composition exposure and color. You need to know people and be efficient at interacting with them. After all that, you'll be able to take marketable pictures. Then you need to create efficient work flows that will allow you to take 1000 pictures, post them and have them ready for sale in... an hour or so (since your talking sports photography)

After you have all that covered the REAL WORK begins. You need to understand marketing, advertising, budgets for equipment and studio/work space. You need to understand Taxes and insurance, liability law...

A person who is a photographer first and business man second will make great photos right into bankruptcy.

A person who is a businessman first, and a photographer second will make money. and probably make good photos too. You know the kind... cookie cutter, no spice, please everyone... but it sells.

So before you get too into photography as a career, make sure you understand that practice practice practice will not net you cash. Education Education Education will.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by Tzetsin

This is going to seem a little off the mark, but if your work isnt good enough to get paid for, and your serious about being a serious photographer, you need to work on your BUSINESS skills.

I've seen some seriously crap ass photos being sold by good business people and they are making money. Of all the trades out there photography is unique in that its almost entirely dominated by self employed tradesmen. You not only need to know your equipment like the samurai know theirs, but you need to understand computers, Multiple software titles (which take years of practice to use effectively) you need to completely understand light, composition exposure and color. You need to know people and be efficient at interacting with them. After all that, you'll be able to take marketable pictures. Then you need to create efficient work flows that will allow you to take 1000 pictures, post them and have them ready for sale in... an hour or so (since your talking sports photography)

After you have all that covered the REAL WORK begins. You need to understand marketing, advertising, budgets for equipment and studio/work space. You need to understand Taxes and insurance, liability law...

A person who is a photographer first and business man second will make great photos right into bankruptcy.

A person who is a businessman first, and a photographer second will make money. and probably make good photos too. You know the kind... cookie cutter, no spice, please everyone... but it sells.

So before you get too into photography as a career, make sure you understand that practice practice practice will not net you cash. Education Education Education will.

+1
this is solid advice.