How to Become a Freelance Photographer

How to Become a Freelance Photographer The Beginners Guide to Freelance Photography ChaptersHow to Freelance Behind the Lens: Education and SpecialisationHow to Become a Photographer UKPros and Cons of Being a Self Employed PhotographerFreelance Photography Requirements for Commercial PhotographyFreelance Photography for Fine Art PhotographyBefore throwing yourself full force into the field of photography of any type, let us consider a few numbers.Although no official records are kept and professional photographers are not tracked or polled in the UK, by some estimates, there are more than fifty thousand professionals that shape and drive the world of photography in our country.That doesn't include anyone who has a camera, taking snaps on weekends or special events, who could be considered an amateur photographer!Furthermore, there are no fewer than seventy four institutions of higher learning that offer photography programmes, all around the UK.Those do not count the professional photographers who offer workshops to beginners and intermediate photographers, in thei r studios or around town. Nor does it account for any apprenticeships they might offer.The cost of enroling in a three-year photography degree programme, on the average, ranges around £10,000 per year.Accredited online photography courses cost, on average, £600.Considering these numbers, you might question whether undergoing formal training as a photographer of any stripe would be worthwhile.Here is something else to think about: if you operate as a freelance photographer, you should have a measure of business sense.While you're thinking about all of this, let Superprof lay out a road map on how to achieve success as an independent photographer.Should you not have the means or opportunity to train with any established photographers, practicing on your own is the way to take your skill to the next level.Make it a habit of stepping out with your digital camera, or 35mm if you are a purist, and capture what you see.Filling your portfolio with a variety of subjects, environments, and composition will only prove you to be more versatile, open to any assignment.Anyone with a camera can call themselves an amateur photographer Source: Pixabay Credit: Alexa_FotosHow to Become a Photographer UKAnyone who uses a camera could be called an amateur photographer. If you charge a fee for your shots, you would be considered professional.As there are no licensing requirements on photographers in the UK, it would be relatively easy to set up a studio,  anywhere in our photogenic country.As compared to, say, France, where there are regulatory boards and specific legal requirements governing photographers.However, in our country, you must register your business with HMRC, and pay taxes on your earnings.We urge you to not neglect that vital step!With that cumbersome query out of the way, let us drill down to what type of photography you would specialise in.Some of the most lucrative ventures include:wedding photographyportrait photography â€" pets, babies and group/family portrai turefashion photography, either of the articles of fashion, or of models displaying themaction photographynight photographytravel photographycommercial photography â€" photos for adverts, brochures and menusfood photographymacro photography: taking pictures of small components, such as jewellery, machinery or insectsFreelance photography is one career field where passion alone can dictate what you do.Consider Anne Geddes, who so loves babies that she has made a name for herself in baby photography!Like any burgeoning photographer, she started out with minimal equipment, but as her reputation grew, she was able to invest in all of the accoutrements needed to be a successful freelance photographer.It is important to note that Ms. Geddes has no formal training in photography.If, like her, you have an eye for composition and pose, you too might be ready to acquire accessories needed for a fully equipped studio.Those might include:Lights, light meters and using lighting techniquesDiffere nt subjects require different lighting. Light also sets the mood of your shots; brighter pictures reflect elan; more diffuse lighting could imply anything from whimsy to deeper emotions.An assortment of camera bodies, lenses and filtersNot every camera will suit every purpose, and different lenses give different effects. Filters serve to add colour and/or effect.A tripod is vital in portrait photography, as are backdrops, props and other posing tools.The most vital question in outfitting your studio would be: what type of camera you will use?While digital SLR is all the rage, many professional photographers aver that film cameras are incomparable: in heft, in shutter action and for the shots they capture.You may consider using both digital and analog cameras, depending on your photography business and what you specialise in.If you undergo photography training through a series of workshops with a professional studio photographer, you may find that technological advances in digital ph otography give you more flexibility in capturing your subject material.Editing your images with Photoshop, you will find that you can enhance colours and subject matter much more easily than through any retouching techniques film photographers rely on.And you can do away with the darkroom and all of those chemicals, too!As a freelance photographer, you get to decide what you shoot and how you shoot it Source: Pixabay Credit: GlavoFreelance Photography Requirements for Commercial PhotographyThis type of photography meant for publication, exposition and reproduction.A select number of pictures you take could be enlarged; become wall art.A trademark of this type of photography would be limited issue; maybe thirty prints, and include an autograph.As such, that would make you, the photographer, an artist!On a much more mundane level, commercial photographers are contracted to take pictures of ordinary objects, such as furniture, food or clothing.They may be called on to emphasise design features, for example, or the use of the product in question.If your client is a resort in Bournemouth, you may be called on to photograph a hotel and various rooms, the beach and their restaurant, for a brochure or advert.All of these instances demand different technical skills, different equipment and practical usage of environmental factors, such as light and scene composition.If you know how to shoot the beach and the exterior of the hotel, would you be equally competent in capturing the indoor spaces and the food?Maybe your local council has appointed you to use your DSLR camera in capturing street scenes, to be attached to a request for more government funding.How would you use natural light and aperture control to expose the need in your neighbourhood?One last example: your aunt, she of the delicious pasties and pies, has finally decided to market her skill.She might depend on your imaging ability to show off her pies' flaky crust, juicy fillings and tempting thickness.Even t hough dear Auntie is family, as a pro photographer, you are not in the business of free photography!Don't forget to claim all of your rights to the images, even if you give your old dear a discounted price on her imagery.Dear Auntie's mince pies should steal the show, not your commission! Source: Pixabay Credit: BluemorphosFreelance Photography for Fine Art PhotographyThis aspect of the art of photography is where most lovers of the discipline wish they could hang their hat.It is, after all, the love of beauty and the desire to create art that lured you into photography, isn't it?As opposed to the commercial photographer, whose duty it is to represent pragmatic life in a certain light, the art photographer composes his shots solely for the beauty and emotional impact they bring.The art photographer tends to be more advanced, working independently, and takes his time staging and composing his shot.The most stunning photos we see lining museum walls were shot by such photographers, wh o, through patience and hard work, have attained a stage in their photography  career that they can take all the time needed to capture unique visions.In SummaryThe UK has no administrative or official requirements to becoming a freelance photographer.However, anyone who is self-employed is required to register with HMRC.Joining a professional photography society is a great way to network and gain access to photography workshops.No matter how adept you are at using your digital SLR camera or Nikon film camera, you can always learn how to do something you've not yet tried to do with it!Promoting your services as a freelance photographer requires you to decide what type of services you will provide: commercial, artistic, promotional, and so on.If your first love is the passion of capturing beauty, you can express yourself creatively even as you fulfill clients' needs.And, in spite of all of this advice, we strongly advocate for photography courses, as they are the surest way to achiev e professional stability and success.