I keep seeing a question regularly posted in various photography forums. Photographers ask if they are ready to start charging for their photography and if their work is good enough for someone to pay.

What I tell them is this. Do you think your work is worth it for someone to pay for it? To know the answer to that question, what one needs is self awareness. Yes, without self awareness, we will never be able to grow or have an objective look at our work. For every photographer, their own work is a masterpiece. Sadly, it takes years to achieve a level of consistency and a lot of hard work and learning.

Photography is the only profession where one can buy a camera and start charging people for photos the next day. Imagine someone buying a stethoscope and starting a clinic next day or buying a spanner and a few other tools and opening a auto mechanic garage. So why is there such a low or no entry barrier to starting a photography business? Because a bad photo won’t kill someone or won’t cause a car crash and sadly, you will only find a few discerning paying customers who know the difference between quality, good photography and bad photography. Also, bad photography doesn’t kill, doesn’t cause a car crash or make your roof come crashing down. But there is something bad photography can do. It can ruin someone’s lifelong memories. One can easily fix a bad family photo by having another photo session. You cannot have an entire wedding recreated due to bad photos. Even for family photos, there might be cases when an elderly family member is no more and that last photoshoot was the only chance for that family to have a great memory they wanted.

So before thinking of going professional, think of how much you actually know about photography. Yes, a modern camera has all auto functions and all you have to do is press the shutter button against a beautiful sunset and you have a great photo! If only a photographer’s life was so easy. As a professional, there are many challenges that you will face in your photography life. A location that has bad lighting. A location that is too small. The client wants to do something unexpected. To be prepared for any scenario, one must know at least the basics of photography and a little bit of science behind it. When starting out in photography, one is more eager to start taking photos than actually learning what every button, every knob and every setting in the camera is for. It is critical to know all of that. The most helpful thing you will do for yourself is reading the manual. Yes, when you buy a camera, it comes with a big book that explains all the functions of your camera. Take time to read it in detail. Don’t be in a hurry to become a photographer the moment you open the box. Even for those who are born with creativity naturally, they need to learn the tools to bring out their creativity.

Once you put in that effort, you don’t need anyone else telling you when you are ready. You will know.

Note: As a Memphis Wedding Photographer and Portrait Photographer, I regularly take classes for aspiring photographers. Message me if you are interested.