Steven Arbiv, a Los Angeles-based photographer, didn’t start out his career in this field. After spending 10 years as an opto-mechanical engineer, he decided to become a full-time photographer in 2010.
Since making the switch, Arbiv says he hasn’t regretted it for a moment.
“Photography has brought me the ability to make people happy,” says Arbiv, who focuses on shooting weddings, engagements, and other events. “It brought me out from my comfort zone, and gave me a reason to interact with my subjects and the opportunity to explore and understand people more.”
In the United States, there are an estimated 136,000 professional photographers, and that number continues to grow. Part of the reason? Freelance photographers report a high level of job satisfaction. They can be their own boss, set their own hours, and focus on the type of work that appeals to them.
Whether you’re doing it on the side and you want to make it your full-time gig, or you haven’t even taken a photography class but already know it’s your passion, it might be time to make the leap. Here’s advice from several successful photographers on how to do it.
Practice makes perfect
Photography is not just a career—it’s an art form. This means that you should be snapping pictures all the time and trying to improve your craft, even if it means that you start out doing it for free.
Abbie Sophia, a photojournalist based in Teaneck, New Jersey, recommends that freelance photographers should “practice constantly.”
“Do shoots as much as you can,” says Sophia. “Find a group of friends that are also photographers that can be there for you, and you for them. They will give you feedback and help you grow.”
David Miller, a photographer working in the Los Angeles area, says the gear you need to start out is fairly straightforward: a camera, lens, and flash.
“Practice using all three together on people or landscapes, both indoors and out,” he says. “Learn how to see varying types of light. Go outside and study how the light changes its color or brightness based on different parts of the day or atmospheric climate conditions.”
Miller says that if you can’t afford the most expensive equipment, it’s not a deal-breaker.
“If you only own one lens, who cares?” he says. “Use that lens and study how you can change perspective just by moving where you stand. If you want to become a photographer, you must love to take pictures.”
Be prepared for office work
Freelance photographers are running their own businesses, which means that they have to meet with clients, market their work, and attend networking events.
“My typical day consists of editing, editing, editing, and more editing,” says Arbiv. “I’m returning emails and messages and uploading images to our blogs. Taking photographs is actually the shortest part of my day.”
Miller says he also spends most of his time at his desk.
“That can range from editing images to posting to my social media and website, and culling, organizing, and exporting images to my clients’ galleries,” he says. “Typically in my office, where I do most of my creative editing and admin work, I work off of two computers, my desktop and laptop. This helps me to manage my workflow.”
Work your referrals
The photographers we talked to say they have to be extremely self-motivated. They don’t hesitate to ask their clients to give them referrals. They are also comfortable promoting their work on social media.
“Everything I do is word of mouth and social media,” says Sophia. “I am always posting photos and my clients are always posting photos. As I have gotten better, people see the growth. Clients see who else uses me and ask around for feedback.”
Arbiv says he promotes himself on websites like The Knot and WeddingWire, which are read by soon-to-be brides and grooms, as well as Instagram, Facebook, and Yelp. Thanks to referrals, he’s had the opportunity to branch out into different genres, such as real estate photography.
“One of my wedding clients asked me to photograph her newly remodeled home,” he says. “That led to my being hired by her real estate agent to showcase his homes for sale.”
Set your rates
At first, you may be willing to work for little or no compensation. But over time, as your work improves and demand for your services increases, you’re going to have to charge for your time and effort.
Deciding how much to charge can be difficult, since the going rate varies according to where you live, your background, and your portfolio. Websites like QuoteRobot help you set the right hourly rate.
“Don’t be scared to charge what you’re worth,” says Sophia. “That’s something I struggle with everyday. But you are worth it.”