Why Are You Giving Up Your Dreams Of Becoming A Professional Photographer?

If you did whatever it took to follow your dream of becoming a professional photographer, working every day at a job you love, how would your life change? Would a career making beautiful images make your dreams come true?Are you currently making money as a paid photographer? If not, why? What's stopping you?Are you afraid your images, "won't stack up?" Have you fallen into the trap of comparing your work to all the best magazine photographers? Or have you been looking at all those stunning, photo contest winners? You know, those incredible, breathtaking shots that we look at and sadly shake our heads (knowing in our hearts that we could never do THAT!) once again letting our dreams of becoming a professional photographer die and returning to our boring, soul sucking lives?You blew it!Think about it for a moment, are those shots really the day in and day out images of a working professional?Nope.Those stunning magazine shots are usually the result of thousands of dollars worth of computer retouching - on top of the work of some of the most talented photographers!The contest winners are generally once in a lifetime shots! If they were the photographers normal work, they wouldn't have bothered to enter the photo in a contest! And THAT'S what you are comparing yourself to? Not good.Have you ever gone to the local mall and after gazing through the window of one of the photo studios, (watching the photographer work) thought to yourself "I could do that!"Know what? You probably could.Seriously, take a look at that photographer. They are usually just college or high school kids, working part time to earn a few extra bucks. They don't have any sort of photo education or super talent.For most of them, the only photo knowledge they have comes from spending a few hours with the store manager who taught them how to put film (or a digital memory stick) into the camera and a few basic poses. Then, they were turned loose on the public for a little "on the job training".When they got their job, it wasn't due to some super portfolio. Usually one of their friends worked there and got them the job - or they were in the mall one day, applying at ALL the stores and the photo place called them back first.In other words, what I'm saying is they got their job, (one that you would consider as a dream career - and out of reach) by accident.It's NOT out of reach. Several years ago, (I hope the standards are a bit higher now) I had a conversation with the manager of one of the mall baby portrait studios. She'd been the studio manager for three years. I asked what lighting pattern she liked the best... and found out that the lights are permanently attached to the wall!One lighting setup fits all - I guess. I won't even get into why she had never bothered to check and see what brand of camera they used. Just be aware, she didn't know!Before I get a lot of hate mail from the mall shooters, let me say that I'm sure many of them are conscientious and hard working. I'm sure many of them care about their images and have studied and know everything about photography.My point was not to put down the mall shooters. My point is that the career of your dreams is not out of reach. You don't have to be brilliant or another Ansel Adams. You just have to be competent at creating and shooting the basic poses that most people buy, and that's it.Becoming a professional photographer and starting your OWN photo business is actually easier than working for someone else. Just learn the basic lighting and poses, then learn a few time tested and proven marketing strategies, ones that will pull eager clients into your studio (actually, you don't even need a studio) and you are in the business of your dreams.I believe anyone interested in photography can learn to be making money with their camera! By anyone, I mean YOU.Becoming a professional photographeris really easier than you think there is no need to give up your dreams!