Starting Out - 1 Valuable Piece Of Advice

I'm in the process of beginning to plan a career as a full time professional photographer, focussing mainly on portrait work & weddings. If you were able to give only 1 piece of advice, whether related to photography or the business side of things, what would it be?Thanks in advance. Steven

Check this thread out: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=385932

Cheers Harold.
Any other takers?

Steven

I know this is more than one but... Learn the basics of exposure, don't trust everything the camera does in any automatic mode, always spend more money on glass than camera bodies, and finally remember that you don't always have to have the latest and greatest in gear even though you may want it..

Michael

One word of advice, fix this link:

http://www.stevenhanna​.co.uk/

Most of your future questions have probably been answered in the "Sticky"s, so read through them from time to time, & you may be surprised what good info you will find there.

Cheers everyone for the feedback so far.

Steven

Once in a while (or better yet - frequently) get off POTN and see what information the rest of the world has to offer. I don't direct that at you, but in general, as I realized a few weeks ago that I had fallen into the trap of considering this place the be-all and end-all of photography information.

I've been venturing further lately as I'm staring out myself, and there's so much more to be learned than you can find here...

notapro wrote in post #4056142
Once in a while (or better yet - frequently) get off POTN and see what information the rest of the world has to offer. I don't direct that at you, but in general, as I realized a few weeks ago that I had fallen into the trap of considering this place the be-all and end-all of photography information.

I've been venturing further lately as I'm staring out myself, and there's so much more to be learned than you can find here...

Thats like saying there is no Santa Clause or Easter Bunny to a 5 year old

Learn the true art of post-processing. It's not merely colour management, applying actions, selective colouring and all those miriads of 'touchups' that we all use. Sometimes it can be the subtle way you crop a picture, the angle you use, the photo you sit it next to etc etc, that turns it into a truely memorable item.

Always be out there shooting - even if it is not a paying job, it keeps your hand in it, and could get you noticed by somebody who WILL pay you to do a job for them.

I do weddings and events part time - 35 years now - but I also volunteer my work periodically to community service and nonprofit organizations. Not only is it very satisfying, but it still allows you to network in a potentially broader sense that could pay dividends in the future.

And that being said, pay attention to everything that Wayne just said. 'Tis wisdom he speaks. - Stu

One piece of advice?

Be honest.

To both yourself and your clients. That way you wont let anyone down.

Excellent advice Gary - especially the part about being that way to yourself. It's often times too easy to fall into the trap of self delusion, and not see things for the way they really are.

Gary_Evans wrote in post #4056969
One piece of advice?

Be honest.

To both yourself and your clients. That way you wont let anyone down.

Really good advice everyone. I really appreciate it.

Thanks
Steven

Never give up.