One of our most frequently asked questions is ‘what qualifications do you need to study photography’?
The answer is broadly none. All you need is a desire to learn, a good photography course and some tenacity of spirit!
There are some personal qualities that make an excellent professional photographer, and these are;
- Patience
Learning photography takes patience, and working with people takes patience. Keeping calm and patient in a stressful situation is a fundamental skill and essential for any photographer.
- Skill with camera craft and lighting
There are no shortcuts in photography. If you want to be a great photographer, you must understand how to control your camera manually and learn how to use light in your images, both natural and artificial.
- People skills
Photography is all about people, whether you are taking portraits, attending as a wedding photographer or trying to sell your photographs or services. People skills are a fundamental core skill of any photographer.
- Artistic leaning
A great photographer sees a beautiful image even in the mundane. Where you or I may see nothing to inspire us, an artistic photographer can frame a stunning composition from seemingly nothing.
- Good business acumen
This could be the most crucial attribute of a professional photographer, and business acumen is almost more important than anything else. If you can’t sell your work, you can’t make money and carve out a professional career.
- An understanding of marketing
The marketing aspect of any business is multi-faceted now, with social media, online advertising and websites thrown into an already complicated mix. Concentrate your efforts on understanding this for a more successful business.
- True love for photography as an art form
It goes without saying the best photographers live, sleep, eat and breathe photography. Their passion shines through in their photographs and allows them to create real art.
- Imagination
We’ve all seen the same image of the same famous landscape or landmark. If you want to be at the top of your game, having a creative imagination is a great attribute. Think outside of the box at all times and create imagery that is unique to you.
If you want to develop your photography career, join an IOP online photography course today.
