How to become

How to Become a Freelance Photographer

If your secret ambition is to be a freelance photographer, you may be able to achieve it: here's what to do and the first steps to take.

Are you crazy about photography? Do you take fantastic photos, even just with your smartphone? Then you might consider becoming a freelance photographer. But how can you turn your passion for photography into a proper job? It’s not that difficult. Let’s see how it can be done.

Freelance Photographer: What to Study?

Firstly, you should hold a good camera and practise a lot. To become a good photographer and a match for your more experienced colleagues you’ll have to stand out from the crowd. So you need to develop your own way of taking very special photos. Let’s consider the advantages and disadvantages of working freelance and then look at what you’ll have to do to realise your dream.

Becoming a professional photographer is not an easy task. At the start, you’ll have to promote yourself and spread your name around. You’ll also need to invest a lot of time and money in yourself. When you’ve decided on your specialist field, you can then try taking some photos of important events and submit or sell them to press offices and agencies.

Once you’ve made a name for yourself, you can consider opening your own studio. You can hand out business cards at trade fairs and offer your services to various companies. Being recognised and ensuring that people hear your name are absolutely crucial if you want to turn your hobby into a proper job. The process of becoming a photographer will be long and fraught with difficulty: especially if you choose to work freelance.

While the traditional strategy of passing round your CV is still very important, you also need to provide some evidence of your work. So what you’ll need is a good portfolio of photos to accompany your CV and references.

Another important aspect is always to ensure you’re up to date. Invest money and time on equipment and training courses: they’ll help you be genuinely competitive.