| Have You Got What It Takes? | | | | support. Monopods are a terrific investment. They |
| R. Dodge Woodson | | | | are not needed, but they do add a lot of stability |
| World Photographers Organization | | | | at a small price. The type of photography that |
| Have you got what it takes to make money with | | | | you pursue will dictate your needs for camera |
| a camera? If you are a serious amateur | | | | support. There is plenty of photography work |
| photographer with basic camera equipment, you | | | | that can be done without anything more than |
| may have a cash machine in your camera bag. | | | | your hands for support. |
| This book is not meant to be a dense, | | | | - Gadgets are great fun to buy and some of |
| word-heavy manual used to give you all of the | | | | them are very useful, but not of them are |
| information needed for taking professional | | | | needed for getting started as a pro photographer. |
| photographs. If you want a big book on how to | | | | - Filter systems can enhance photos quickly. They |
| make money with your camera, this is not it. | | | | are not needed, but the filters can add plenty of |
| When you want a concise guide to getting the | | | | flavor to your photos. The gel-type filters work |
| most out of your camera with real | | | | well and are relatively inexpensive. |
| money-making opportunities, this is it. | | | | - Camera bags can cost a lot of money. Some |
| Rather than use hundreds of paragraphs and | | | | photographers are mesmerized by the |
| illustrations as I might in a photography how-to | | | | assortment of bags available. When you are |
| book, I am going to make this fast and easy for | | | | getting started, you can get by with a basic |
| you. I will tell you what you need to know as | | | | backpack or carry-on bag. Buy some foam |
| quickly and cleanly as I can. | | | | padding. Cut it to fit your bag to protect your |
| This definitive guide to photography career | | | | gear, and you are in business with very little cash |
| opportunities is not going to teach you to be a | | | | being spent on a way to carry your equipment. |
| wedding photographer or a nature photographer. | | | | - What other stuff will I need? You should have a |
| You will not learn the techniques and tactics used | | | | second camera battery charged up and with you |
| for sports photography. Nowhere here will you | | | | at all times. Get a few memory cards so that |
| find how-to details of capturing photos of birds in | | | | you never run out of room for photo storage. |
| flight. Okay, so what are you going to learn? | | | | Invest in a cleaning kit and use it. A wide camera |
| I am going to show you the down and dirty facts | | | | strap makes carrying cameras with heavy lenses |
| about turning a buck with your camera. Not | | | | easier on the shoulder. Buy a photographer’s |
| everything I say is going to be what you want to | | | | vest. It is a good investment for all types of |
| hear. Life is rarely full of glory with no pain. | | | | photography. The other stuff falls into the gadget |
| Photography is not very different. For would-be | | | | categories until you perfect your personal needs. |
| pro photographers who want to make some | | | | - How much does all this basic equipment cost? I |
| serious money in legitimate ways, this is the | | | | am not going to turn this book into a price guide. |
| straight-talk guide to the facts. | | | | Prices change quickly in the shutterbug world. |
| Now that you know that this is not going to be | | | | That said, I would estimate that you could get a |
| sugar-coated crap to lull you into fantasy land, | | | | very nice Canon SLR with interchangeable lens |
| let’s dig into the actual earning potential for | | | | capability for less than $600 new. By the time |
| you as a photographer. We will start with | | | | you add a lens and whatever, you are probably |
| equipment and progress to personal skills and | | | | looking at between $1000 and $1500. Of course, |
| personalities. | | | | you can usually find good used equipment at very |
| Equipment | | | | affordable prices. It is worth a look if you are not |
| What do you need for equipment to make | | | | sure what you want to do with photography. |
| money in photography? It depends greatly on the | | | | Heavy-duty pro gear is expensive. You can |
| type of photography you decide to pursue as a | | | | expect to spend $2500 to $7500 for a camera |
| career. Do you have the basics of what is needed | | | | body and then the pro lenses will hit you for |
| to take a stab at making money with | | | | anywhere from about $700 to over $8000, per |
| photography? Let’s take this piece by piece. | | | | lens. You certainly don’t need this type of pro |
| - Do you own a quality 35mm digital camera? In | | | | gear in the beginning and with some exceptions, |
| today’s competitive world, you will find that | | | | you probably will never have an absolute need for |
| digital photos are a necessity. | | | | it. But Boy, most of us want it! |
| - What should you look for in a good camera | | | | Personal Preference |
| body? | | | | Your personal preference in the type, or types, |
| Look at the number of megapixels that the | | | | of photography to pursue will dictate your |
| camera will take photos at. Don’t buy a | | | | equipment needs, your likelihood for making |
| camera that produces less than 8 megapixels. | | | | money, and so forth. What do you want to do? |
| Getting a camera body that shoots 10 megapixels | | | | If you love taking pictures of spiders, go for it, |
| is a better buy for longevity. As cameras continue | | | | but know that you have a very limited niche |
| to get better, the higher the megapixel rating you | | | | market. Shooting weddings on weekends can |
| start with, the longer it will be suitable for | | | | bring in thousands of dollars a week. To a large |
| competitive work. | | | | extent, this book is aimed at showing you your |
| - Do I need a camera body that uses removable | | | | options and educating you to a point where you |
| and interchangeable lenses? | | | | can make a viable decision. |
| A Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera with | | | | Skill Level |
| interchangeable lenses is best, but you can get | | | | What is your skill level as a photographer? |
| started with a fixed-lens camera. The cost of | | | | Regardless of where you fall on the scale of skills, |
| having an interchangeable system may be more | | | | you can invest the time and money needed to |
| than you want to spend to test the waters. | | | | increase your skills. Once you know what you |
| - Will a built-in, pop-up electronic flash good enough | | | | want to do, you can concentrate of specific |
| for a money-making camera? | | | | workshops that cover your type of photography. |
| This type of flash is limited in use, but it has little | | | | For example, underwater photography is not a |
| effect on taking photos in natural light. If you are | | | | common field of endeavor. To be really good at |
| going to shoot with independent flash equipment in | | | | it, you need some special instruction. Before you |
| a studio, make sure your camera body is | | | | sell yourself as a photographer, make sure that |
| equipped with a PC connection. Cheaper cameras | | | | you are competent to take photos that don’t |
| do not offer this feature. Adding a | | | | look like Granny snapped them on her old |
| hot-shoe-mounted flash is going to be desirable if | | | | Brownie®. |
| you do much flash photography. | | | | Your Personality |
| - How important is a camera brand? | | | | Your personality can guide you to the right path in |
| The brand of camera you use is not very | | | | your photography career. If you don’t like |
| important unless you are building a system around | | | | bugs, nature photography probably is not for you. |
| the camera body. By this I mean that you would | | | | People who had to deal with models who are too |
| not want to invest a lot of money in | | | | demanding might enjoy pet photography. Perhaps |
| interchangeable lens that are not suitable for the | | | | you should be a press photographer and do all the |
| ultimate camera of your choice. Personally, I | | | | fun stuff that goes with this special classification |
| started with a Minolta SRT 101® many years | | | | of photographer. You can obtain PRESS |
| ago. It was my first “Real” camera. Then | | | | credentials from the World Photographers |
| I went to Canon® and built a system around it. | | | | Organization, as a photographer for their |
| When digital came around, I sold my film gear and | | | | magazine, World Images Today. |
| bought Canon digital equipment. You will normally | | | | Cash on Hand |
| find that most pros use either Canon or Nikon® | | | | How much cash on hand will you need to get |
| equipment. | | | | started? It depends on what you are doing, |
| - Are zoom lenses okay for professional work? | | | | where you are doing it, and how aggressive you |
| Most professionals avoid zoom lenses when they | | | | plan to be. There is no clear-cut answer. Assuming |
| can. The pros prefer what they call | | | | that you have the basic essential equipment, you |
| “Prime” lenses. These are | | | | should be able to get some business by spending |
| fixed-focal-length lenses that provide sharper | | | | $500, or less. Once you get some work, the |
| photos than zoom lenses can. But, zooms are fine | | | | word of mouth from happy customers will help to |
| for basic photography needs and you can use | | | | keep you busy. This is how a lot of full-time |
| them when getting started as a working pro. | | | | professionals made it to working full time with |
| - What about tripods? | | | | their cameras. |
| Tripods and monopods come in various styles, | | | | Okay, I am sure we could talk about more details, |
| designs, and prices. A macro photographer will | | | | but let’s cut to the chase and start looking at |
| want one type of tripod while a studio | | | | the various types of photography that you can |
| photographer may want a different style of | | | | actually make money doing. |