advice on getting into work and building portfolio

[HoldenMan]

As many of you probably know, one of the hardest aspects of getting into photography as a line of work is getting a foot in the door. I was at the local camera house today, and the guy who was serving me (he's been taking photos for over 50 years) said that he thinks the best thing to do would be to get into real estate photography, and see what happens from there. He suggested taking my portfolio to a real estate agent and ask if they have any houses listed that I could shoot, offer to do the first one for free then when I come back with the photo say to them that i'm looking for work.

Has anybody ever started off like this?

Any advice on building a relevant portfolio or approaching a real estate agent about this?

He also suggested asking at shopping centres if they want me to take photos, but i'm thinking that real estate would be a better way to go.

[w10d]

What a lot of people forget is that being a professional photographer means making your living from photography. Food, rent, clothes, beer, cameras, accountants fees, tax, holidays, etc., all have to be paid for by using your camera (though not always in that order). Its a business. You will become a self-employed businessman. In most (but perhaps not all) areas of photography, the most sucsessful photographers are the ones who are good at business. (well, good at BS!)

Its always possible to have an income from a job and take/sell photos for fun - but if you're going to do it as a business, it has to be a business.

Taking pics for real state agents is a possibility, don't know what its like where you are, but here agents go out and view property with a digital camera and snap away - ain't hard now is it? Can you make money doing it for them? I can't answer that for you...

Perhaps, try thinking from a point of view outside photography itself, like 'Where do I want to be in 10 years time?' followed by 'Can a career in photography get me there?'

Sorry if this is sounding harsh, its not meant to...

[Yance]

It depends on the area you live in but I have never really heard there being much in real estate photography. Most agents take their own pictures with digital cameras. Wedding and portraiture have the best opportunities just about everywhere. But as a starting photographer the best way to get your foot in the door and learn the business is to work for an established studio. Get a portfolio together and start knocking on the doors of all the studios.

There is also photojournalism which honestly doesn't pay much but you would approach that in the same way, get a portfolio and knock on the doors of newspapers and magazines. The competition for photojournalism is pretty harsh so you may want to get your skills to a very impressive degree before trying it.

Regardless lots of practice and also coursework should be completed before any attempt at being a pro. Most big newspapers require a bachelor's degree before even considering you.