Starting out as a Photographer

Starting out in anything is a difficult and arduous task, especially if you are a procrastinator like myself. Recently I’ve been trying to market myself as a photographer and it seems like everyone is doing the same thing. Where do you begin? Well it would help if you have been shooting photos for a while, at least you would have something to show people, even if they’re not that great. I would also try to get some decent equipment, nothing too extravagant if you’re just starting out. If you’re going to spend money, spend it on lenses. Once you’ve got a decent portfolio of images and some decent equipment the next thing to do is get your name out there. The best way to do this is through social media and word of mouth. I’d start with Facebook and make a fan page with your photos on it like this www.facebook.com/cameraphonecarl. Next just sign up for all the other social media sites like Instagram, Twitter, Medium, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc etc. It’s best to use the same name for every outlet. For example I use cameraphonecarl for basically everything, that way I can brand myself easily and make it easier for people to find me. If I’m at an event and someone asks if they can find me on social media, I’d just say “yea, cameraphonecarl, I use that for everything”. This is also when you would give them your business card, yes business cards are still important. Not only should you give them your business card, you should ask for theirs as well. This way you’ll have their information too. I would say don’t worry too much about finding a style or a niche market in the beginning, just keep shooting and put your stuff out there. After a while you’ll start to notice what you like to shoot and when you look back at your photos in 5 to 10 years, then you’ll notice your style. At least that’s what they tell me!