How to decide if you're ready


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When you are confident in your ability to

1. Get photos your target market likes
2. Attract enough clients to sustain your income.
3. Plan out your pricing scheme to account for all the operating costs
4. Survive during the times when you have little or no clients.

I guess the business plan and PR skills are the most important things you need to survive as a freelancer. There are several other threads in this subforum that you might wanna browse though too..
 

Just a curious question, how would you decide if you're ready to get into the freelance photography scene? Whether you have the skills and exposure in handling the job, like weddings, product shots, makeover shots, etc?

Your are looking into three areas of commercial/advertising photography:

1. weddings
2. product shots
3. makeover shots

Your will be more confident when you acquired desired skills in
all the above which include formal portraiture, candid/street
photography, group shots, people skills and the ability to make
people comfortable when they are in front of your lens.

2. Lighting skills in various type of products which includes all
type of shapes and forms. The management of colours to bring
out the products features, control of depth of field and a larger
space in the studio for bigger household items etc

3. Knowledge in make-up, hairstyling and the ability to make
your subject instantly like you when they sit in front of your lens.

You will feel that you are ready when your real and sincere
mentor give you the "go ahead". But if you have not got even one
mentor to guide you, it is better to make this your top priority.
Having a mentor is the best solution to shorten the learning curve,
but make sure you find a good and honest one who would put you
to great height.

Lastly but not least, you must have all the basic equipment to
do professional photography at its best and do not short change
your clients.

--------------------------------------
The biggest mistake new comers to the industry is to
short change their clients feeling that if they don't pay
well, why give them more.

:heart::thumbsup::);)
 

Just a curious question, how would you decide if you're ready to get into the freelance photography scene? Whether you have the skills and exposure in handling the job, like weddings, product shots, makeover shots, etc?

When your complete(or part) income comes from taking photos, your technical knowledge should be at your finger tips and shouldn't be your concern anymore. Most of the time, you won't have the luxury to second guess to experiment or second guess the previous exposure. Clients pay you to deliver everytime.

You main concern would be building up a network of potential clients and continue to improve your services.
 

or when u have no other choice?
 

photography is an evolving and learning process. It is an extension of yourself. The day you think you are ready, will be the day that you not learn, not create and not experiment. Readiness is complacency.

I don't think there is ever a start and an end. You can say you are ready finanically, but since when money is enough? You can have the best cameras, best lights and best crew, but if you yourself is not willing, then there is only so much they can do.
 

when you are confident that you can deliver the images that you were contracted to capture

Bro if everyone went by that standard many iconic photographers would have never started. Most if not everyone starts before they feel totally aka 100% sure that they can do it. Most times you have to do it and wing it while doing it for the first time - of course you need to have some basic idea what the ##### you are doing.

Sometimes you get asked to do a job before you are absolute ready - my first architectural job was a sub over from another photographer yeah I have taken building before who has not; not withstanding that I did win the commercial photography section of the MPA Singapore chapter print competition in 2006 for some thing I did as personal work. ? But as a commercial work for a construction company as final end user nah never done that before. Net result my client the photographer was so happy I got 30% more than what we agree upon.

Like the first wedding job I did - when I was in Sec 4, done with a camera with a dead meter, a newly acquire Vivitar 265 and no coaching, no asking the internet - just did the nike thing - Just Do it & the Obi Wan Kanobi thing - Trust in the <flash>. The couple still tell me they like the photos when every we meet after more than 25 years afters.

Being pro mean you will secure the basic shot first then get better ones (you hope :cool: ) as well. Does that mean to try do something you are 70% sure you are not ready - let your common sense advise you on that (or rather you appetite for risk).
 

Just a curious question, how would you decide if you're ready to get into the freelance photography scene? Whether you have the skills and exposure in handling the job, like weddings, product shots, makeover shots, etc?

When you are HUNGRY enough, you'll know it's time! :think:
 

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