Have you considered learning photography because it seems incredible, but you need more reasons to make the giant leap? Here, you’ll learn more about how you can benefit from learning photography and how it can enhance your life. Regardless of your goals, learning photography can be valuable and impressive.
What is Photography?
Photography has been around for quite some time. In fact, the first permanent photograph is dated back to 1826, after the first camera was invented in 1825 by Joseph Nicephore Niepce. Other notable inventions connected to photography such as photo flash light bulbs becoming available for photographers in the 1930s or Edwin H. Land inventing the Polaroid camera in 1947.
As we move to more recent times, in 1963, Kodak released its first point-and-shoot camera. It is essential to highlight here these photos still required film that needed to be developed, which is a tedious task. From there the first digital camera was invented in 1975 by an engineer named Steven Sasson. This invention was, to some, considered iconic. No longer were photographers required to wait to develop their films and see how great their photos turned out. After the digital camera was designed, all you had to do was look at the screen and see if your vision was accurately depicted in real-time. It is important to note that in 1975, digital cameras were much more costly than they are now comparatively. It was $13,000 and huge! Fast-forward to,000 when the first camera phone was introduced, and 4 years later, the well-known camera company Kodak stopped producing film cameras. Trends in photography are recycling because Polaroid cameras are making a comeback. The development and timeline of photography are essential factors when considering this skill’s evolution and how it continues to change today. These critical events helped us perfect what photography is today. As more inventions are made to enhance photography, the skills required to be an exceptional photographer change and evolve.
According to Indeed, if you are looking for a photography career, you should have the technical skills to create high-quality pictures and vision. Having an artistic eye can be taught, but some have it naturally. To be an excellent professional photographer, it is also essential to have good communication skills to ensure you are connecting with clients and building relationships. You must also work well independently and with others; this is particularly important if you plan on taking photos of people such as a wedding photographer or capturing portraits. Finally, patients is vital. Taking pictures requires a level of patience, but also finding the “perfect shot” or building your portfolio can take time and dedication, but also a lot of patience.
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Perhaps you aren’t considering making photography into a career; it is still essential to have patience and dedication. There are other considerations such as what areas of photography you would like to consider. Outside of wedding photography, you could also consider fine art photography, where your photos could be displayed in art galleries. You could consider architectural photography, where you capture the interior and exterior of buildings, take photos of pets, capture aerial shots of landscapes, or even take pictures of commercial and industrial machinery and blue-collar sites. Finally, you could take still-life photos, included in that would be good. You can take attractive food images that can land on various websites, social media pages, cookbooks, and magazines. These are just a few of the many areas of photography that you can explore. Additionally, these photos can be taken as a pastime or made into a career. When it comes to skill, the main thing to consider is your ability to use a camera.
Benefits of Learning Photography?
There are quite a few benefits when it comes to learning photography, some obvious and some not so obvious. Some of the more apparent benefits include improving your photography skills, making you the go-to person for photos. Once your loved ones know you're a skilled photographer, you might be the point person to capture family photos and significant events or take pictures at a special dinner. Your improved photo skills can be a great way to connect with those close to you because they know you are the expert of the group. Another great benefit is connectedness with others. Once you gain an interest in photography, you can connect with others with similar interests. Fortunately, there are numerous opportunities to connect with other photographers. Most cities have a Meetup dedicated to photography. You can also search for local community organizations on popular social media sites; you likely have a group nearby that meets up to take pictures, trade tips, or just connect you with others. You could also join the Photographic Society of America or PSA. PSA is one of the largest non-profit organizations for photographers. They have members in over 60 countries, making it a great resource and a chance to connect with others. PSA offers educational courses online, mentors, webinars, competitions for members, volunteer opportunities, and a monthly journal. There are various levels when it comes to membership. For example, if you are looking for a one-year membership in North America, the fee is $65. If you are under 18, you can be a digital youth member for one year at $35. Photography is more than just taking pictures but indeed a chance to connect with a community.
These are just a few benefits. Here are some additional popular reasons why learning photography might be best for you.
It Can Be a Side-hustle
You can take photos for fun or sell them on the side. Once you learn how to use your camera and feel confident in your abilities, you can consider selling them to others. Whether it's still-life photos, photos of food being sold to a blog, or taking headshots for professionals, you can turn your skill into a trade. For example, if you want to improve your portraits, PhotoUno Photography School in Midtown East, Manhattan, offers a Portrait Photography course. The course is considered intermediate to help artists think about the relationship between the subject and photographer to help improve portraits. This is just one of the many concepts to learn in this class. The great part about making photography a side hustle is that you can determine how much or little time you want to take photos because it is not your primary career, just an exciting and great way to make your new skill lucrative.
It’s a Great Hobby
Perhaps the idea of selling photos is not where you want to take your newfound interest. You could also focus on improving your photography skills for the sole purpose of learning a new hobby. You could take an Intro to Your Digital Camera course, like the one offered at PhotoUno Photography School in New York, and use your new skills to improve your hobby. Once you are equipped with the confidence to properly use your camera, it could be just what you need to truly dedicate yourself to the art. Taking pictures is a great way to get lost in your art while reducing stress and using your free time effectively. You can spend time connecting with your art and forget about your current stressors. Keep in mind once you start selling your photo, it is no longer a hobby, so ensure you want to make that move before selling your first piece.
Turning Photography into a Career
From side hustle to career, you can make the enormous leap of turning your photos into a primary source of income from a side gig. You can choose which direction you want to take with your career. Consider selling a photo book if you have enough material to fill a book. The Los Angeles Center of Photography offers a Self-Publish & Design Your Own Photo Book—Level I course. The course is online and has five sessions. You can expect to learn the basic principles of designing your own photography book. From how to create the book, the cover, sequencing of photos, you can leave this workshop feeling confident in your future photobook and its potential. If selling a book is not what you are interested in, there are a few directions you can take a photography career such as taking photos of couples for their wedding, pictures of landscapes, and even selling to food blogs; it all depends on what interests you.
Key Takeaways
Photography is a great skill, so there is no need to question whether pursuing it makes sense. Here are a few reasons highlighted to keep in mind when considering:
- It can be a great hobby
- Your photos can earn you money, either on the side or full-time
- It can be easy to learn, depending on what you want to do.
- CourseHorse can help you improve your skills through online or in-person training, including group sessions.