How to become a photographer

I wish i had you when i was teaching a class to high school kids and when i was trying to get the same point across to university students. I for the most part am self taught and was a military photographer. Now that i am retired and converted to Digital I love close up Macro. such as small plats and insects I also really enjoy playing with special effects. These are my two fields and appreciate the mind stimulation you provide a 73 YR old kid. Hank

you might want to change the title, nice video tho.

Hi Phil, Excellent advice for anyone starting out in "any" field. Same advice my father-in-law tried to give me 30yrs. ago. I wish I had listened :-) Great job. Please keep it comming. Bill

Morning Phill, a wonderful new video with great advice. by the way I could come and wash your floor and maybe help eating that cake from yesterday, Regards Aad

@hankfoto That video was meant for kids :) Thanks for the super comments Hank ,much appreciated.

@dudin03 I looked at it three time looking for a spelling mistake before I saw it :) thanks for pointing it out. Phill

@MrEltel63 Whoops thanks for pointing it out. Phill

@ThunderHead02 My father tried to get me to go to photo school , I'm glad I didn't listen to him :) Phill

@broeraad Hi Aad, I'm told that I'm a terrible boss, so I don't think it's a good idea :) I'm still eating those cakes by the way. Phill

Hi Phill. Beautiful explanation, with universal advice, that works in every bushiness.

Hi Phill! Can't wait for the video about changing your career to become a photographer. I am a dentist and I started loving photography since my third year in college, when I was taking pictures of my pacients, but also more artistic photography. I realized that I want to do this all my life, but I'm not sure where to start, what to do to become a professional photohgrapher...

@LizKcer I'm told that dentists make a fortune, I certainly pay mine a lot :) but I suppose looking through a lens is more agreeable than looking in mouths all day :)) I'll do the video for changing professions in a few weeks, because I loose subscribers if I make two similar videos too close together. Good luck with the photography. Phill

thank you Phill for this video. Now I am waiting for second part:) Becouse it would be actually abt me. 1,5 years ago i decide to change my life and do what is my passion for years. So i am working now as an assistant to the wedding photographer. I am curious what will be your advices for people like me. best regards. Joanna

@jbziuk Hi Joanna , I'll do the other one in a couple of weeks and talk about itchyphoto in the same video, we should be ready to try for new members by then. Why a wedding photographer ? I thought you were more still life. Phill

i am bit everything:) still looking, searching, trying.

Looking forward to your next video for us older folks looking to make a career change into photography.

Wow you've done a lot! PLEASE help me to become a great photographer like u!

@ramcasty Thankyou for those kind remarks

Hey Phill, this was very interesting, thank you. I have been an amateur photographer (a youngster ;)) for about 2.5 years now and very often I get asked if i want to persue this as a career - and i never no what to say. I am SO insecure what I want. I dont know if its just a temporal hobby which im gonna lay down in a year. Im about to graduate from school and I have to decide what im gonna do with my life. Until now i preferred goin to college for something busines related - how did you decide?

It was very easy for me, I was useless at school , when I was sixteen I left school and photography was all I knew. My father bought me a camera when I was 8 and after that it was virtually all I did apart from sport. Phill

Hi Phil,

Hi Phil, it's nice to see valuable information about learning the craft and industry properly. So many new photographers if today are in such a hurry to carry the job title of 'I'm a photographer' without the skills and knowledge to support it. :) I've been a fashion& beauty photographer for around 20 years and I learnt my craft just as you described. :) great times!

I love doing nature/landscapes/ and personal ( people/weddings) photography. I even have a website to show my work, However I am not fooling myself, I need a better camera and equipment and more knowledge. I agree with you 100%. Right now my focus is people/weddings and I am wanting to intern under a professional photographer, job shadow so to speak with a seasoned professional. NOW however I have to say, it is not easy to find them out there however.

Go and knock on their door , they won't come to you :))

Amazing video about the facts(washing floor & car of the Pro)... not a joke.. i like your video Sir...

Do i get something as i was your 100th like? Please

i say dam the digital age, it made the photography more difficult, film was better, less people called themselves a 'photographer'

Thank you Phil, this was very inspiring!

i can do it all.. i have a massive house..

yeah but you can just set up a website print businesscards shoot people for free untill your experienced and within a month or two your in business

no money in nature...she doesnt pay you

Thank you thank you thank youuu!

Thanks for the tips.

I want to be a concert photographer

Impressed by your kind suggestion for beginners..

I think your story as a photographer is "the harder you worked, the 'luckier' you get"!

Great tips in terms of the attitude you need to have in order to do well in your chosen area/career - attitude and personality count for A LOT in any job. And these days, so much information about photography is freely available online, so it really boils down to getting out there and gaining experience.

Hi, i still struggling to find a client coz i just started doing my full time photography as a wedding photographer. how would i find or know what else i can shoot?

You started photography when you are 8. I started two weeks ago when im 30. Now what? Im too late? This video is useless...

Become a photographer? What would you wanna go do something like that for?  Why you might as well come over here and let me bore a hole in your head. It'd probably be more interesting. Photography? Who looks at photographs anymore anyway. If it ain't animated, computer generated and laser guided nobody gives a rat's behind. Are you some special kinda fool? I should take a picture of you. Where's my camera? 

Thank you so much! This video is loaded with benefits.

Thanks for sharing all your knowledge with us. The more I see the more I love you Phill x

wow nice advice Mr. phillip but if i don't want to work with photographer how can i have knowledge?

Fred has also gained skills in lighting, a feel for when he has enough shots and justified confidence that he's doing OK.