Aspiring photographers often hit a wall when trying to transition from hobbyist to professional work. It's one thing to take nice photos for fun, but landing those first paid gigs requires a strategic approach and understanding of what a client needs, not just what you like to shoot. The fantastic video tutorial boils down a simple yet effective formula any beginner can follow to start photographing local small businesses and getting paid.
Coming to you from PJ Pantelis, this excellent video tutorial discusses how new professional photographers can get started photographing small businesses. Notice that Pantelis focuses on the client experience just as much as the final images. Clients are trusting you with the public representation of their image, and that's a heavy responsibility. He walks through best practices like scouting locations, finding interesting angles, posing subjects, flattering lighting, and effective framing. But the nuts and bolts of running a shoot go beyond aperture and shutter speed. Making a genuine connection and delivering a great experience builds the trust and relationships necessary to get rebooked and referred for future work. Small touches like learning the client's name, working efficiently, and sharing sample edited images soon after the shoot leave a positive, lasting impression.
For any photographer hoping to make that leap, applying Pantelis' straightforward tips will simplify what can feel like an overwhelming process, and that's important when you're just starting out. With some solid fundamental techniques, intentional client care, and consistent delivery, the transition from amateur to paid professional photographer can be smooth.
If you're looking to turn your photography talents into a money-making endeavor, be sure to check out the full video above and take notes on Pantelis' invaluable advice.
Lots of good advice there, but first of all you need to bacome more of a business man then photographer and be able to sell your services... You can get the best shots ever, but if you don't know how much to charge your clients and how to sell more, attract them so much so they talk about your services with others, you are only one more sad artist not getting paid enough to survive as a business
I wonder if somebody is brave enough to make an article about the gatekeepers. Especially in media. For the last decade I've seen numerous groups who literally only share within their circle. I personally become very disenchanted with many photographers I've come across because everything's a secret.
It's one thing to even turn yourself into a businessman, however in my experience working at a magazine, being around photographers, and media people alike, there are various reasons why people won't give you a chance and part of it is being outside of their cliques, them not caring, or sometimes just straight up racism / they only want to see people that look like themselves.
It also can be extra tricky if your professional background is outside of the photography world. I come from in-house design, so pushing into photography was a lonely experience because there wasn't any peers to bounce off of. Feedback from your target market can be very hard to come by.
Even recently several photographers that I know personally from over the years declined to give information on things like working with a particular agency (not a client, a photo based agency), or their source for models, stuff like that. I can't refer to them as my peers because in terms of my growth they are absolutely useless.
"Even recently several photographers that I know personally from over the years declined to give information on things like working with a particular agency (not a client, a photo based agency), or their source for models, stuff like that. I can't refer to them as my peers because in terms of my growth they are absolutely useless."
Gatekeeping is very rude accusation in the context of photography where you can find 5 to 100s of videos and articles on about any photo subject and technical data. I don't blame them. Do you give them anything, do they owe you anything?