How did you find/get your first photo 'job' ?

[Zephyrize]

Hi,
Since I got my camera, I've only been doing some shooting for personal pleasure; yes, it IS a passion and it's pretty addicting.
However, I thought it would be great to make some small income from it.
I'm not ambitiously talking about any big events (not that I don't want to:lol:), but just some small weekend jobs like family events, school shows, etc.. nothing extravagant.

I'm sure a lot of regular photographers here started like this, but the problem is
HOW did you make your first step?

If you were in my place; having NO idea of any potential 'client';
Who would you talk to? How would you approach this matter?
Talked to friends, no luck. The school isn't really in need.

I'm quite lost ???

thanks in advance

[Mike R]

The first step is to determine if you have the right gear for what you want to shoot.
I shoot HS Sports, action and T&I, The lens I use for outdoor sports is different than what I have to use in a dim gym. You also need to know how to get the shot, regardless of the lighting, etc...

Just because the school has a photographer, it doesn't mean that he also covers the games. You need to find out who has the authority to allow you to shoot and sell photos.
It may be the AD, a coach or a team parent club. Be prepared to show examples of what you can do. the examples need to be of sports. Once you get the OK, and parents become familiar with you, they will tell others which can lead to other types of work.
T&I is the most profitable but the action shots will get you places. In my case, the parents liked the action shots and the following year asked me to take the T&I shots.

I hope this helped and best of luck. Let us know what happens .

[Skraw]

Do you have Craigslist in Canada? I use it to post ads every week for design and photography services. It accounts for most of my business. Plus, it's free to post. I would post an ad in a local classifieds site or magazine. It's a start. As stated above by Mike R, make sure you are well prepared and advertise services you can actually do.

[Zephyrize]

thanks for the suggestions.
I'll have to work out a kind of online portfolio i guess.

[Skraw]

Yes, an online portfolio is a MUST. I built my own website from scratch because I was a designer and web guy before I became a photog. But there are a lot of easy to use and free services out there for making a simple, online portfolio. I will see if I can find one I heard of awhile back.

[Skraw]

Here's a handy link for online portfolios...

http://speckyboy.com/2008/11/26/8-amazing-free-online-creative-portfolio-community-sites-share-and-inspire/

[Zephyrize]

once I get through the exams session and have time,
I might just as well get myself a Smugmug,
and customize as the way to want.

and practice, shoot more; I think it would be preferable to get a solid collection of quality work before going out seeking for jobs

and thanks skraw, inspiring stuff over there!

[amfoto1]

Hi,

There are sites more geared to professionals than Smugmug...

I use Printroom.com. A lot of people use Exposure Manager. There are a couple others.

If I were starting over again, I think the first thing I'd do is walk around my neighborhood and make a note every single business. Then I'd set out to meet the owner/manager of each and every one to introduce myself and let them know there is a good photographer available right here in their neighborhood. I'd try to visit perhaps half a dozen a week, every week. Paid jobs from local businesses can be a lot more profitable and far less iffy than spec-shooting events.

Not that you can't do that too. By all means. Check it out and go for it. Most successful photogs have several avenues of revenue, or they wouldn't survive.

You really only need 12 to 20 good, strong images in a portfolio to show people. Also a leave-behind brochure or card, but probably using one or more of your portfolio images.

Several other things...

First, once you go pro you will be more concerned with problem solving than photography. By that I mean solving the client's problem or finding a unique way to make a bread and butter shot more interesting and eye catching. If you enjoy that sort of challenge, great.

Second, with many specializations it will be 80 to 90% about how good you are in business, 10-20% about your skills as a photographer. That's about the ratio of how you will spend your time, too. There are lots of fantastic photographers who failed miserably as pros, went back to being amateurs or artists. At the same time, there are many actually mediocre photogs who are blessed with a ton of business sense that have been in business profitably for decades.

A lot of people find their passion for photography dies a slow death once they make it their profession. Instead of being an amateur who shoots what they want, when they want, however they want.... A pro shoots what the client needs photographed, on the client's schedule and to meet the client's deadlines, and in the manner the client wants or needs.

Not saying that's good or bad... just that it is the way it is.

Oh, and never work for free or in exchange for "photo credits". People will devalue you and your work if you teach them to. Or they will value you.... It's up to you.

Not that every "paycheck" is money. I often donate usage of photos for client's projects, marketing materials and websites that will help promote us both. That's not "giving it away".

Don't underprice yourself, either. Start a nasty price war and more established competition will be far more likely to survive than you. Also, being the cheapest photographer on the block will very often attract the worst kind of customers: the ones who just want to pay as little as possible and are more likely to dispute prices, haggle, and find some nitpicky thing to complain about and ask for a refund.

It's okay to establish a price list that's comparable to other photogs in your area, then offer an introductory discount. Your clients will know they are getting a really special, one-time deal. All you have to do then is dazzle them to the point they'll want to use you again, and again, and again... no matter what your price.

By the way, nearly all businesses run in the red for the first year or two, at least. That means laying out money instead of raking it in. Are you prepared to feed and nuture your business as needed while working to get it established?

So, just go into this with the right set of expectations and your eyes wide open. It can be fun and challenging, but it's often a different kind of fun than people expect!

[PhotosGuy]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=667830

[Shamir]

my way was simple.. facebook.. I uploaded tons of my work.. tagged.. tagged and tagged the people in them.. and i get all sort of people sending me PMs on facebook =)

I think Phamster work the same way =)

[Alleh]

The book Guerrilla Marketing is a good starting point for understanding these types of things.

[Zephyrize]

amfoto, thanks for that in-depth description of your ideas. Really appreciated.

Yesterday, I did a quick post saying that I offer photography services,
and surprisingly, someone responded today being interested.
Now having no idea who he is, should I schedule a meeting first to discuss and acknowledge?

[natalieegbert]

I used facebook to get started. I posted my best pics online and tagged people and then people just saw them and started asking if I would do their pictures and then I made a facebook fan page for my photography. And now am working on a website.

[Skraw]

amfoto, thanks for that in-depth description of your ideas. Really appreciated.

Yesterday, I did a quick post saying that I offer photography services,
and surprisingly, someone responded today being interested.
Now having no idea who he is, should I schedule a meeting first to discuss and acknowledge?

What did you post on?

[Zephyrize]

What did you post on?

Kijiji,
it's the most popular free ads website.

I used facebook to get started. I posted my best pics online and tagged people and then people just saw them and started asking if I would do their pictures and then I made a facebook fan page for my photography. And now am working on a website.

Yea, I was doing that since a few months and the comments were very positive.
I guess I should do a bit more portrait rather than just landscape and urban/street photography haha

[Skraw]

Kijiji,
it's the most popular free ads website.



Yea, I was doing that since a few months and the comments were very positive.
I guess I should do a bit more portrait rather than just landscape and urban/street photography haha
2 things...

Kijiji is a dying baby compared to Craigslist. Check them both out on www.alexa.com Craigslist ranks #27 in site visits in the world. Kijiji is ranked #2,004 in the world. You will get a lot more exposure from Craigslist. www.backpage.com is another option that is in between the two.

Yeah, street photography and landscapes are a lot of fun, but there isn't much money in it unless you are a god at it. Portraits and commercial photography have a higher chance of yielding more income. You will need to find your niche, it is very hard to be awesome at everything. I do well with commercial and product photography.