Getting into proffessional photography?

[flyingdogguitar]

Hi,
I'd really like to get into proffessional photography, particularly Golfing events and Airshows.
I currently have an EOS 10D, with an assortment of lenses (Not any fast lenses currently) although I shall be buying a couple soon, once I've told the wife of course!
Do I need to do an 'A' level in photography, or is it just a matter of going out and experimenting?
Any advice will be gratefully received.


Yours sincerely

Dave

Essex, England

[robertwgross]

Many people can be successful with photography if the photographs do not have to be appreciated by others. To be successful professionally, your photographs must be appreciated highly by others. If you are attacking a specialized subject, you might want to ask yourself why anybody would want your photographs as opposed to the work of all other photographers with the same subject.

As I have stated before, 98% of everybody does not give a damn about my work, but I have identified the 2% that does like it, so I aim my work's appeal at the 2%.

---Bob Gross---

[mijbril]

I'm not a pro (eh, to even call me an amatuer is an insult to amatuers, hehe), but I've a friend who is & she makes a damn fine living as such. We used to work together years ago for the government & we both left around the same time. She made the good decision of getting proper training in photography (where as I, alas, thought IT would be the way to go, LOL).

She is very good but from what I can gather when I questioned her over this, the way she got into it was networking. Simply build as many contacts up as you can (get in people's faces if you have to, but be nice) & aim your portfolio at something, be specific in your speciality rather than a "photographer for all seasons" sort of thing.

One other thing, age is no barrier for this either, she's a good 7 or 8 years older than me. She put in the hard yards & is now reaping the benefits :D Is actual training necessary though?? I'll let a pro answer that, but you'll be amazed at the amount of "physics" you'll be required to do if you opt for training :D

Good luck with this should you choose to pursue such a career :)