If becoming a professional photographer (for instance: localgrapher orlando) is your goal, you must have a portfolio of jobs that you have already completed in order to attract clients. The problem comes in when you start trying to find jobs, as many people will not hire a photographer without much experience.
Follow these tips, however, and you will be able to quickly add jobs you have done to your portfolio.
Start with friends — Your first step should be to ask friends, family and work mates if they have any photography needs. Offer them 50 percent off your regular rate for weddings, birthday parties, portraits, or other special occasions, and you could book a few jobs this way. After all, they already know you, and probably know about your love of photography, so a bulging portfolio is not always necessary.
Contact non-profit special events — Many non-profits in your area will run special events every year. Most would love to have a professional photographer document their work, but often cannot afford one. Give a low rate for non-profits for the first year you are in business, and watch as they line up to take you up on it.
Look for summer jobs — There are companies and non-profits that hire aspiring photographers to photograph summer camp activities, teach children about photography or photograph company workshops. These are often lower paying positions, but can be a wonderful way to practice your craft, fill your portfolio and have another job to put on your resume. In some cases, you can make excellent contacts as well.
Sell stock photographs — You can also sell your own photography online for a stock photographs website. Choose a subject that is not currently well covered on stock photography websites, and you could find yourself in demand by companies, bloggers and social media influencers.
Sell art prints — You can even start your own website, and upload your photographs to be sold as art prints. This may take a little while to set up but, once it is, it can be on ongoing source of income for you as you look for other photograph jobs.
