Photography beginners! ! What should I learn first?

When I worked as a photographer's assistant for a living, I knew how difficult it was to become a professional photographer. Sometimes, this transformation seems impossible, but after years of struggle, I succeeded. During that time, apart from occasional peer guidance, I often felt that I was just making blind efforts. Because everyone has different goals and different ways of working, some suggestions are quite valuable and others are useless. I just mentioned the status quo-for my present job (because I often make some mistakes). But the following things may bring you some help-avoid repeating the same mistakes.

For some people, the process of changing from a diligent and satisfactory photography assistant to a photographer is the source of frustration, frustration and frustration. Because there are many difficulties to overcome and many problems to solve. If I act immediately and spend tens of thousands of dollars on new musical instruments and studios, will customers magically appear? If a fashionable but vain exhibition is held, can I become a photographer smoothly? Besides, I can't hold an exhibition. Because I have no money to "squander" (not only the assistant's daily salary 150 dollars), and I don't have a bank account, which is not as good as some photographers I know. When I was poor, I started my photography work.

I can really do two simpler things. The first thing: I should try to shoot my own works when the conditions are ripe, such as economic permission. At this time, others are still preparing for the future and want to get some published works during the filming process. In addition to my interest in photography, I also started to get a low salary.

Another thing I should do is to find photographers in related fields that I admire. I tried to be a good assistant, so I began to gain their trust and goodwill. With their advice and generous job opportunities, I started (albeit slowly) to have my own customers. When I heard that some 22-year-old young people have successfully transformed from assistants to fashion photographers or creative directors, nothing can drive people crazy. I'm still an assistant, and my daily salary is 150. But I've been shooting, and sometimes some of the works I shot are quite good, and others will buy them. Finally, after shooting and assisting others for several years, I ended my assistant career.

Therefore, for those who are working hard, I offer the following suggestions:

As a photography assistant, you need to pay attention to many things. When I first started working, I worked with whoever could give me experience and make money. -That's a bad start. If we can reduce the workload and cooperate with photographers in some areas of our interest, we will benefit a lot and avoid going astray and wasting unnecessary time and energy. Otherwise, you will continue to make mistakes and be disturbed. If you have to work 10 hours a day and still can't get enough pay, then you should learn to keep a happy mood and try to master some knowledge. If you don't know what you are interested in, you will inevitably make some small mistakes. Try not to work for a mean guy, unless he is a great photographer and you can learn a lot from him, it is definitely not worth it.

As I mentioned earlier, with the help of some young, unknown but talented people (makeup artists, designers, assistants, etc.), I have been shooting my personal works and collecting them together. In new york, I began to realize that this city, like other cities, has some potential customers in some new magazines and newly opened companies. They are often willing to cooperate with unknown photographers, but the salary is little or no, but. The advantage is that your works can be published and your creativity can be developed. In addition, it is possible to continue to cooperate with them when their business expands. A famous photographer is very important for new customers. Beautiful photos are not enough. Customers also want to see your ability and sense of responsibility in handling affairs. You can gain enough market experience by cooperating with customers with small expenditure budget. Vogue's shooting is only the work of people like steven meisel, and you are just a clown.

Opportunity is crucial. Participate in various activities regularly, and you will have more opportunities to find a job; Or work with a good photographer. For example, at one time, I helped an editor submit my movie stills. Photographers generally don't want to make their own works, because film companies don't have the budget for photographers. However, if the film is very popular, the photos will be published in some magazines (such as premiere, entertainment weekly, etc.). ) I will also negotiate with the people who hire me many times. Of course, the film company has to pay for everything, including movies, food and everything I need. After the sculptor Amy, there are many similar jobs, even if sometimes the benefits created by a job are not obvious.

I haven't been engaged in aid work for three years. At present, I have 12- 15 customers and many customers who have only made one transaction. 80% of my income comes from a small part of all my customers. Some clients ask me to do jobs that interest me, and some jobs drive people crazy. During the whole trip, I managed to complete my personal works and some media-related images, which some famous people discussed with me before.

The leap from assistant to photographer seems impossible, but it is not, just like I want to be a photographer and earn a lot of money without using other people's instruments to make a living. I'm facing some other problems now. I'm trying to make the next leap, provided that the customer doesn't ask you to do anything, but try to create some images you want to create. My goal is to find some clients who are willing to hire me. They hired me because they appreciate my work, not because I can take the same photos as others. One of the problems with ordinary shooting work is that it is easy to be too busy to ignore your own goals. There are too many photographers who can't take care of their original purpose (to create a perfect and irresistible image) for a living.

When you already have a regular customer, then you want what you do to be like a snowball, and your name keeps circulating among customers. Your works can be seen everywhere in this city. You take your work to a new customer for reference, because he just needs this kind of work. Customers already know or have heard of your name, and you have gained a certain popularity. The disadvantage of the snowball effect is that you will always do the same job. It doesn't matter, but you must remember that you should continue to shoot what you like and keep improving.

In addition to making good works and getting a job, let people know that you exist. Without popularity, you are like a lonely tree in the forest. You may be the best photographer in the world, but if no one knows you exist, you have to "roll up the quilt and leave". So how do you deal with this situation? Personally, I let people know and understand me through self-promotion and mailing cards. I serve many people, such as magazines, book publishers, art directors and icon designers. I provided them with the best works, but actually it didn't bring me much economic benefits. There are many good business card printing machines that can print 4x6 color business cards with images. Its size and image are determined according to your own wishes. Add your name and phone number, and it's almost there.

The other is to design your own business card on a computer and print it on a 4-color or 6-color Epson printer with Epson drawings. If you print the image smaller, the effect will be much better If you use Photoshop, this design is not too limited. The advantage of using a computer is that it can be used in different ways for different customers. If you want to make 500 cards for a company, you can do some proper publicity for it, not all potential customers, and some can be ignored. I don't know about you, but when I started, I knew that 500 people were not 500 customers. If you design some new images by computer, you can do some publicity and give them to those customers who appreciate you the most.

It is necessary to make a phone call within 5 or 6 days after mailing the works, so as to determine whether the customers have received them, create an opportunity for direct communication with customers, and introduce their works to customers. In new york, direct communication is difficult. Usually, you will have to give up your job. You should record the following items: which customer you contacted, when you contacted them, what you gave them, and so on. Photographers who have been looking for customers for a long time (sometimes a year) will fight for it as long as they get some employment information. If he doesn't get the answer right away, he will disappear.

Now tell me a successful experience: it was a big broadcasting company. After finding someone more suitable to contact, I sent my promotional card and then made a phone call. Of course, they didn't call back. However, I left a recording of the call. Someone finally called me. When I asked them if they needed pictures, the answer was "Yes!" They are very satisfied with my photos. I used to keep the pictures they needed, and these pictures helped me find a job at this time. I didn't ask for a job immediately before I was hired. I did some publicity. I only called them once in a while and gave them a break. This is a good start for the future. I got several clients by phone and publicity. Of course, this can't be effective all the time. It takes time.

Don't give up, when things get a little simpler, success won't be too far away.

Excerpted from the network