Photography and The Portrait

Photography is not about buying a sign and hanging it on your door and poof, you're now in the photography business. It's way more than that, it's about learning the trade or hobby you've been interested in all these years and learning about and turning it into a business. A portrait photographer is only successful if he can accomplish three things.

Number 1. Know your camera; Get to know shutter speeds, F-stops, lighting and composition. Practice taking pictures of your family members, your dog or pet. Go out at different times of the day and see the lighting results you get with each situation. Write down your results if you're shooting in bright sun, shade or a gloomy, overcast day.

Number 2. Have a plan on what kind of portrait photography subjects you want to attract whether it's all wedding and bridal portrait related or with local high schools photographing high school seniors. Whatever you decide on take one step at a time. Take each type of portrait and get to know what your client is looking for. Sit down and ask them what they're wanting out of their session. What are they wanting to say in their portrait? Who is the portrait for, etc. Get into what you're doing. I mean when you're in a photo session act like you've never photographed anyone so unique before. Get excited when your shooting and your client will feel your excitement and this will make for a successful session.

Number 3. How to treat your potential client. When a potential client calls always answer with a smile. The person calling can tell if you're in a good mood or woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Never put a client on hold! If you get a call on the other line tell your potential customer told and then answer the other line and tell whoever is calling if you can please get their phone number so you can call them back and give them your undivided attention and and answer whatever questions they have.

Follow these steps, as we have, and you should sound professional to your potential portrait customer. It's very important to have confidence and abilities to be in a business such as photography. Buy some photographic books, join a local photography organization, take some digital courses. Don't just jump out there blindly or, take a chance like I did and learn as you go. It's a long road but at least you will learn your own way and techniques for taking portraits of people. Don't ever give up your dream if photography is where you want to be. If it's in your heart then go for it.

Richard of Richard's Photography specialize in senior portraits in San Antonio, Texas. Richard's Photography has been in business since 1991 with a succesful home-based studio with a very well polished and colorful garden area for outdoor portraits. Visit our home page for general portraiture samples of our work or visit richardsphotography.com or for Senior Portraits
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