how much time do you spend learning photography before becoming semi pro?

[picard]

how many hours do you spend a week to learn photography before you become semi pro?

I am just a newbie now.

[Josh_30]

That probably depends on the person more than anything. For some people, things "click" faster than others. I'd simply try to take as many photos as possible, learn as much as you can about how to use your camera to get the effect you're looking for, and get honest critiques from other photographers.

Good luck!

[pryan9]

I don't think you can put a number to something like that. Reading a book here and there is always helpful but to consider yourself a pro takes much more than that. Personally, I have enveloped myself in photography for awhile now. Everyday I research as well as get out and shoot. I have found that shooting film has helped drastically with my digital work. I look at EVERYTHING as a photo opportunity and feel i could make some money off of my work but i would never consider myself a "pro" at this point. I am very critical of other people's work but at the same time I am my own worst critic too. If i had to slap a number to it, i guess i would say that it would be extremely bold of anyone to say they are a semi pro/pro photographer without 5-10 years of experience accordingly. If you want to be considered semi pro don't cheat your self and really learn the fundamentals and get out and shoot A LOT.

[neilwood32]

I would say enjoy your photography for what it is rather than have the goal of being semi-pro.

Try to learn as you shoot. Don't fire of thousands of frames just because you can. If you think about what you are shooting, why and how to do it best, you will become a better photographer.

Learn your camera and your chosen PP package so you can maximise your potential.

Then at some point in the future, you might be good enough to earn some money from it.

[argyle]

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out just what exactly "semi-pro" means...

[Sorarse]

Many people can master the technicalities of taking photographs but lack the artistic flair to produce great photographs. Conversely, some people have the artisitic flair, but fail to grasp the technicalities to ensure that their images are exposed properly or retain the required DoF or whatever.

Of course you then have the lucky few who can do all of that, and could probably produce a masterpiece just using a pinhole camera.

But whether any of that is sufficient to equip you to take your photography to any level of professionalism may be incidental. The professional photographers I have met all have a certain drive that enables them to make money from a job that is extremely competetive, where so many Tom, Dick and Harrys with a digital camera think that they can be the next David Bailey. Without that drive, even the most accomplished photographer would struggle in the professional realms of photography.

[Ruhan]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What he said.

In addition, the whole notion of amateur vs pro is not a standard of expertise or your proficiency in creating a great image. I have met some amazing amateurs who even technically blow some pros out of the water. But if you just want to make a buck on the side, shoot as much as possible, experiment and dont' be afraid to fail. Having said that 90% of it is all about people skills and developing contacts.

[costademaria]

learn Photoshop. only that will make you an advanced photographer. don't buy expensive lenses unless you are not sure what exactly you need. and take always your camera with you and experiment.

cheap camera+50mm+Photoshop is the recipe

but if you want to know exactly what you need to become an advanced photographer-here is the list of the stuff which sooner o later you will buy
1.camera XTI at least
2. good ultrawide+normal+telephoto lens
3.all fastest possible prime lenses at- 24mm 28mm 35mm 50mm 80mm 100mm Macro 125mm 200mm 300mm
3.teleconverter 1.4
4.good PC with good Graphic card
5.Ips monitor with monitor calibrator
6.own printer with printer calibrator
7. 2 studio flashes with diffusers
8. 1 or 2 or 3 flashes
9. at least 4 fastest possible memory cards at least 8GB each
10.Photoshop books
11. Smugmug, Flickr or other online album service Pro subscription
12. own domain name

and much more. many will disagree but look at their equipment and see for yourself.
and an understanding wife

[nicksan]

learn Photoshop. only that will make you an advanced photographer.

Really?
Learn something new everyday in here...:lol:

[crashthenet44]

You become semi-pro when you spend 10,000 hours shooting or reach 50,000 shutter clicks. Whichever comes first.

[nicksan]

You become semi-pro when you spend 10,000 hours shooting or reach 50,000 shutter clicks. Whichever comes first.

I thought it was 8456 hours or 47562 clicks...give or take a few...

[Socket7]

As many as it takes you to have a basic understanding of how all the following interact with each other.

Aperture
Exposure
ISO
Composition
Lighting
Depth of field

You will also need a understanding of how all of your gear works, and how the particular gear setup you are using effects, and is effected by, all of the above.

Finally, you need a real understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses, so you can play to your strengths and improve upon your weaknesses.

This could take anywhere from weeks to months to years depending on the person, their equipment, their natural talent, and their instructional resources.

You've asked the photographic equivalent of "what color car should I get?" The answer depends entirely on you.

(You become a "pro" when you've mastered all the things I've mentioned and then some)

[TooManyShots]

Really?
Learn something new everyday in here...:lol:


Heheheh.....can you photoshop details that were lost due to underexposure? Can you photoshop details that weren't there because one is shooting with a crappy lens? Can you photoshop a perfect ambient lighting condition when you are actually shooting in the middle of the day with the sun over your head?

[TooManyShots]

Ok, there are couple of things here. Pro means that you are getting paid for shooting pictures. It does not mean the shots have any artistic merits. It means someone may or may not have any artistic expectation and asking someone to do a shoot for them. There are the photographers who shoot for artistic reasons and you will find their works exhibited in galleries and museums. They may even have numerous books published. Obviously, photography isn't like driving a car or piloting a plane. Just like art, you don't become an artist just because you have painted so and so pieces. It is what you paint and how you paint.

[harroz]

apparently it only takes 2 hours a week for 12 weeks these days to become semi pro with the new digital slr's.

Amazing huh?!


;)



how many hours do you spend a week to learn photography before you become semi pro?

I am just a newbie now.

[picard]

learn Photoshop. only that will make you an advanced photographer. don't buy expensive lenses unless you are not sure what exactly you need. and take always your camera with you and experiment.

cheap camera+50mm+Photoshop is the recipe

but if you want to know exactly what you need to become an advanced photographer-here is the list of the stuff which sooner o later you will buy
1.camera XTI at least
2. good ultrawide+normal+telephoto lens
3.all fastest possible prime lenses at- 24mm 28mm 35mm 50mm 80mm 100mm Macro 125mm 200mm 300mm
3.teleconverter 1.4
4.good PC with good Graphic card
5.Ips monitor with monitor calibrator
6.own printer with printer calibrator
7. 2 studio flashes with diffusers
8. 1 or 2 or 3 flashes
9. at least 4 fastest possible memory cards at least 8GB each
10.Photoshop books
11. Smugmug, Flickr or other online album service Pro subscription
12. own domain name

and much more. many will disagree but look at their equipment and see for yourself.
and an understanding wife

why do I need prime lens?

[costademaria]

Really?
Learn something new everyday in here...:lol:

you doubt that learning photoshop will make you an advanced photographer ?

what about knowing your gear, photoshop is part of the gear. an instrument to express yourself in thousands more ways. ok, those who are lazy can go with the windows Paint:lol::lol::lol:

why do I need prime lens?

i believe the word Prime itself contains the answer.
you need them because you need outstanding sharp pictures to separate you from the crowd and this together with a good idea and composition makes a good photo.

but think the other way. why the hell they sell these so called prime lenses when we have zooms? there should be a reason, what you think?

[Shockey]

50,000 shutter clicks...I do that many in six months. Guess I am a semi-pro.

Some people learn faster than others....I would estimate that if you really work your butt off and practice and study constantly and assuming you have any kind of an eye for photography to begin with...that in 2 years minimum a person could achieve high enough quality photos that they could be considered of minimum professional quality...random wild @$$ ballpark statement of course...

[Biffbradford]

Why do I need a 50mm lens?

[argyle]

learn Photoshop. only that will make you an advanced photographer. don't buy expensive lenses unless you are not sure what exactly you need. and take always your camera with you and experiment.

cheap camera+50mm+Photoshop is the recipe

but if you want to know exactly what you need to become an advanced photographer-here is the list of the stuff which sooner o later you will buy
1.camera XTI at least
2. good ultrawide+normal+telephoto lens
3.all fastest possible prime lenses at- 24mm 28mm 35mm 50mm 80mm 100mm Macro 125mm 200mm 300mm
3.teleconverter 1.4
4.good PC with good Graphic card
5.Ips monitor with monitor calibrator
6.own printer with printer calibrator
7. 2 studio flashes with diffusers
8. 1 or 2 or 3 flashes
9. at least 4 fastest possible memory cards at least 8GB each
10.Photoshop books
11. Smugmug, Flickr or other online album service Pro subscription
12. own domain name

and much more. many will disagree but look at their equipment and see for yourself.
and an understanding wife

Damn...guess I'm over-qualified. May be time to start selling off some gear...

[jdizzle]

Damn...guess I'm over-qualified. May be time to start selling off some gear...
LOL! I'm with you there. I'm going Pentax dude! :);)

[costademaria]

thats why i said-Take a look at their gear:D i guess i am a bit overloaded too :o