Your First Year as a Professional Photographer: What Can You Expect?

Taking the jump into becoming a professional photographer can be a bit daunting, and you might be wondering if the move is right for you and what you can expect. This great video features a photographer discussing what his first year as a full-time professional was like after leaving a corporate job and offering some great tips and advice for those of you thinking of taking the plunge yourselves. 

Coming to you from Mark Denney, this great video follows him as he discusses what his first year as a full-time photographer was like. Denney offers a lot of helpful advice, perhaps the most salient of which is the importance of diversifying your income streams. Unlike a more traditional job in which you can rely on a steady paycheck, freelance work isn't as reliable, and as such, having multiple sources of income can provide you more financial security in case one of them dries up for some reason. On the same topic, it can take a while to build a client base, so having some extra savings can help provide a safety net as you build up your business. Check out the video above for more helpful advice from Denney. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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1 Comment

Yeah, I see landscapes as a hobby to do between other genres that actually generate revenue. I can't see a giant landscape market these days, every place has had 40 pictures taken of it already, the pool is overflowing.