I get asked all the time where I went to school for photography…well, I didn’t
Amazing Secret!
Most “Professional” Photographers are SELF-TAUGHT!
The truth is, I really did go to school… I studied Marketing, and then Medicine and Biology and never dreamed of becoming a professional photographer. Now I make almost as much from photography as I would practicing medicine, in much fewer hours per week.
Why I Got Started
- I loved taking pictures
- I loved being social and making people feel good
- I needed more money
How I Got Started
In 2005 I traveled to Europe with Canon SD300 and SD600 cameras in my pocket and on the plane ride over I read nearly a dozen e-books and websites I downloaded about taking better pictures and ended up proving everyone that said it was a “pipe dream” wrong.
When I got to my first destination – Lithuania, I snapped away and found that I really did have a “knack” for framing up shots…the funny thing is, I found that I always had things like “the rule of thirds” and “depth of field” in my head while I shot – simply from all of the reading I had done.
As odd as it may seem, I’ve sold more of the photos I took with my SD600 on stock sites than I have since I upgraded my equipment in 2008 to a 40D with “L” lenses – in other words, it’s not ALL about the camera.
I do have to admit – when people see me in a club or at a wedding with a gigantic lens and flash overhead they tend to take me more seriously, which is the main advantage besides being able to access all of the functions I use now that I have total control over my camera. Before my current setup, I was limited to “tricking” the camera into doing what I wanted.
Here are a few of the pictures I took with the SD600 on the first trip to Europe after reading the right books:
Don’t believe I took them? Visit my photography site http://atlphotographers.com
Here is the set-up I use now and how it looks when I’m working…
How Much Can You Make ONLY from Photography Jobs?
Last month (May) I worked 10 nights at clubs, from 11:30PM – 1:30AM
I also did 4 Portrait Shoots, One wedding, and 3 comp-card shoots, sold $300 in stock photos and did one album cover shoot
Here is my price list:
- Nightclubs – Average print sales per night $10 (50% margin = $5 x 10 nights = $50.00) + $150 charge for 2 hours x 10 = $1550
- Portrait Session (2 hours) – $200 sitting fee, average package $100 with 60% profit margin = ($60 x 4) + ($200 x 4) = $1040.00
- Wedding – $1500/day (7 hours) x 1 (I include $750 print credits @ 60% margin so it costs me $300) x 1 = $1300.00
- Album Cover (1hour)= $300
- Compcards (2 hours) = $200 – $50 printing = $150 profit x 3 = $450
Total hours worked = 42 shooting, approx 84 post-process = 126 hours spent with a profit of 300+300+450+1300+1040+1550 = $4940.00/126 = $39.20 per hour doing something I LOVE!!!
Wow – that’s some serious money for investing only $2500 and some batteries for my flashes…
But also keep in mind, I only upgraded after making the money from my $300 “pocket camera”!
Since I got my start, a whole slew of good books have been written about photography technique, but only one that I’ve found has everything you need to know to get started right.
I suggest you download Digital Photography Success and get started…. and if you have any questions, just email me or leave a comment and I’ll be more than happy to help you out. GOOD LUCK!
“Thank you so much – your books have not only made my photography better, but I’m actually making a living now doing what I’ve always dreamed of!
- Janet Spencer
“I never realized I didn’t need an expensive camera to take great pictures – I guess you were right about that! By the way, your website looks great! I’ll have to look you up if I’m ever in Atlanta
- Robert Smoley
ORDER DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY SUCCESS HERE
Our Unconditional, No-Questions-Asked %100 Money-Back Guarantee:
MY PERSONAL GUARANTEE TO IMPROVING AND INCREASING YOUR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS AND ABILITY TO REACH A HIGHER LEVEL THAT YOU WILL BE VERY PROUD OF.
If you don’t think the information in these ebooks will give you exactly what you need to take the digital photos you’ve always wanted to, where people stand back and say “my God, where did you learn to take shots like that” then email me and I’ll refund your money immediately.
I’m here to help you. I am not interested in accepting your money if you are not happy. Because I want YOU to experience the same happiness, joy and confidence as I did when I finally learned how to take professional standard pictures.
ORDER DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY SUCCESS HERE
