I need help to learn how to take picture: I red somewhere, that happiness is when you are healthy, love someone and are loved by someone, but I would add to this list one more thing, a...

paatashb Loc: Philadelphia

I red somewhere, that happiness is when you are healthy, love someone and are loved by someone, but I would add to this list one more thing, a job, which gives you satisfaction and you do it with pleasure. Someone said, transform your hobby into the job you love and you become a happy person. I am 42 and my job is boring. I have decided to open my photo studio, but first I need to become a professional photographer, right now I am on entry level only. If anybody can help me to choose right literature, manuals, how to start, what to learn, online schools or any other useful information to achieve my goal. I have Canon 7D camera with two lenses Canon EF-S 18-200mm and Canon 50mm 1:18 II. What can I do with this and what else is necessary to buy from start?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Hooray for you; wanting to learn a new art and turn it into a business takes courage. I am not a professional, but have a couple of suggestions that will give you the types of challenges you need to hone professional skills.
1. Learn to run a business. Take community college courses in business planning, business law, marketing and bookkeeping.
2. Volunteer! Seek out any venue you can think of that will give you exposure to varying situations and volunteer to take pictures at no fee, but with no promises. Often great opportunities are missed because they aren't profitable. Here are a few suggestions; maybe others will add more:
Nursing and Retirement Homes - Portraits and resident directories.
Humane Society Events
Church Directories
Real Estate Advertisements
Small Merchant Advertising - Photos for Magic Ads and Penny Savers
Funerals - Do NOT laugh; photos of military funerals (flag presentation, Taps, gun salutes, etc.) can provide honorable and precious memories for survivors. Just be VERY respectful!
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs - Don't forget a yarmulka!

paatashb Loc: Philadelphia

Thank you Bill41 for your reply on my request, I will take your advise under my consideration. My problem is that I think I am too old for college and being student. I am planning to take a short cut, to learn photography first, practice, take pictures on the events, than open small photo studio. I have hope that I'd be able to manage bookkeeping and how to run business, maybe I am not right, but I will see that .in the future

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

paatashb wrote:

Thank you Bill41 for your reply on my request, I will take your advise under my consideration. My problem is that I think I am too old for college and being student. I am planning to take a short cut, to learn photography first, practice, take pictures on the events, than open small photo studio. I have hope that I'd be able to manage bookkeeping and how to run business, maybe I am not right, but I will see that .in the future

Paatashb, there is no such thing as being too old to go to school. Community college courses are fun and inexpensive. I'm in my 70's and still take courses occasionally. Plus, going to school will expose you to opportunities to volunteer. You may be surprised how meeting certain students can jumpstart a career. By the way, does your local community college (pick a small private school) have a photo directory of its faculty. Every challenge is an opportunity in disguise.

sixshooter Loc: constitution state

You're never too old to go to collage!!! There's alot to be learned
My advice is PRACTICE and learn!! A good idea is to find a mentor in the field and work as a second shooter for awhile learn the ropes.Contrary to popular belief earning a living as a photographer is hard and stressful work!! But never boring :D

Good luck on your new venture!! I hope it brings you great happiness :thumbup:

paatashb Loc: Philadelphia

Bill41, maybe online course would be a better solution for me?

paatashb Loc: Philadelphia

Bill41, I am not planing to get degree or anything like that, seeking simply knowledge.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

paatashb wrote:

Bill41, maybe online course would be a better solution for me?

That is an excellent alternative. Just remember that sitting at your computer will not expose you to other people and the resultant possibility for new opportunities. Besides, taking a course with 15 - 20 other people in the room will give you the opportunity to learn from fellow students. When I took a course in real estate law, there were two lawyers in the class. I learned more from them than from the professor and textbooks - and I was able to put what I learned to practical use faster.

paatashb Loc: Philadelphia

sixshooter wrote:

You're never too old to go to collage!!! There's alot to be learned
My advice is PRACTICE and learn!! A good idea is to find a mentor in the field and work as a second shooter for awhile learn the ropes.Contrary to popular belief earning a living as a photographer is hard and stressful work!! But never boring :D

Good luck on your new venture!! I hope it brings you great happiness :thumbup:

THANK you for advise!

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Paatashb
There is one more thing you must do. You must believe in yourself. You must learn from every picture you take. Go over your pictures with a magnifying glass. Yes, you are looking for mistakes, but, more important, you are looking for the things you did right. Look for the pictures within the pictures. Have faith; if you really want to succeed, you will. Don't give up. It will take time, but you can do it.

Bkh42 Loc: N.I. UK

paatashb wrote:

Thank you Bill41 for your reply on my request, I will take your advise under my consideration. My problem is that I think I am too old for college and being student. I am planning to take a short cut, to learn photography first, practice, take pictures on the events, than open small photo studio. I have hope that I'd be able to manage bookkeeping and how to run business, maybe I am not right, but I will see that .in the future

you are not too old my daughter has just graduated with a 2/1 degree and is older than 42 along with running a house and family +working full time. It takes a lot of determination and hard work but she got there. So do not lose heart or give up. You need to learn every aspect of business to all ow your photography to take off

SeniorPhotographer Loc: the Great Pacific Northwest

PAATASHB I would add that you should head down to your local library, get a card and start reading every photo book they have. Find out if they are part of an inter-library loan system and get every book *they* have.

Most libraries also have magazine subscriptions and most keep several years of back issues as well. Making use of your public library can serve as a cheap alternative to taking classes.

Finally, someone up the line mentioned taking business classes and that's a good idea too. If you want to earn a living you need to KNOW how to run a business and not think you can "wing it".

Start taking pictures! You have enough gear to "start" - what you need most is practice! Pick a theme you'd like to photograph and take a photo every day. Post the pix in the gallery and let other forum members give you constructive criticism. Don't take the comments personally but learn from the experience of others. You will learn something every day.
Good luck with your new career.

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

paatashb wrote:

I red somewhere, that happiness is when you are he... (show quote)

Hi paatashb: First let me welcome you to the forum. Great question, learning to become a professional photographer is an on going learning process. Here is a great website for information on your Canon lenses, it is for beginner photographers, it's easy to understand and follow, it's broken down to mainly two areas lens usage and lens quality. Here is the first website.http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html ... This next site is a camera simulator it gives you an idea about how apeture, iso, and shutter speed work together. http://www.photonhead.com/simcam/ For reading material I recommend Scott Kelby's three books on digital photography called "The Digital Photography Book" Number one, two and three. Here is just one website from a trusted photography supplier that also has free on line tutorials. http://www.adorama.com/alc/ Then I'll top this all of with suggesting you check out all the free tutorials on digital photography at youtube. I've not even scratched the surface as to what is available to help you learn more about becoming a professional photographer. Good luck and I hope this helps you get started.

francesca3 Loc: Sausalito, CA

Yay for you!
I would also recommend that you buy a post-processing program so that you can edit your photos (crop them, straighten them, etc.)

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

travlnman46 wrote:

quote=paatashb I red somewhere, that happiness is... (show quote)

travlnman46 offers some great advice above. I second it!

If there is a camera club in your neck of the woods, consider getting involved.
If you can turn a hobby into a job, that's fantastic!! :thumbup: