Photographers, how did you learn the skills you need for your field?

I started out by taking pictures as a kid with my Kodak Instamatic. Then I studied photography in college. After that, I worked in film labs, camera stores, photographing for other studios and opening my own studio. It's a process where you are continually learning through experience and picking up tidbits from conventions, like those I attend for Florida Professional Photographers and PPA. You never stop learning.

• Attended RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology) graduated with a BFA in their school of Photographic Art & Sciences

• First job out of school was in a custom printing lab printing fine art Black & Whites for galleries and photographers

• Got a freelance assisting job with one of the fashion Photographers I made custom prints for and met lots of people in the industry: models, stylists and make- up artists, agency reps.

• Started shooting comps for model agencies, and portfolio work for new models

• Used those connections to shoot free lance work for new fashion designers

• Applied for a job at a large catalog house as an assistant but they wouldn't hire me because I was a girl (back in the day photographers rarely hired girls as assistants because they felt bad asking them to carry heavy equipment bags. ) no worries ,I went back an applied as a photo stylist and got hired. I didn't care that I wasn't shooting I just need to get in and be on set working so I could learn from the pros. While I was there I started dated a photography assistant who later became a staff photographer at the catalog house. We were both ambitious eager to learn everything we could about our new found profession.

• After the catalog house I took a job managing a top wedding and portrait studio in South Florida - wanted to learn more about the business of photography, pricing, invoicing, customer service, marketing a studio etc.

• After a lot of hard work there, living as frugally as possible and taking every extra dime we earn to buy equipment. I left my studio manager's job and opened my own studio with my husband.

• With very little money between us - we traded out photography services for everything.
• We did commercial shoots for the business man who rented us out studio space, we shoot ads for the company who sold sour studio furniture, for the frame company who frame all of our images for our studio, we shot ads for the guy who did our window coverings and polished our raw concrete floors in the space. what ever we needed that we couldn't afford we fond someone who was will to trade for our services to create impactful images of their businesses or services for advertising.

• That's it in a nut shell but I will tell you that I have never had a job that did not involve photography and 30 years later - my husband and I are still learning, still taking courses, still evolving and still doing lots of personal work to create the kinds of images that keep us relevant in this ever changing, fiercely competitive market.

High School Yearbook. Went to Junior College but did not do much there. Three years, US Army doing aerial surveillance. Police officer for 25 years and did every type of photography possible. I had to photograph many dead people. Attended many Nikon and Kodak schools. Returned to school and had five classes in photography. I have had my own Commercial Photography business for 32 years and work in the area of Commercial, Legal and Aerial Photography. My speciality is the legal aspects of digital photography. I also have 28 years of fire and arson photography as I am still with the local volunteer fire dept. I am always asking myself the question, how would I photograph that thing or object. I then go and create the image and learn lots along the way.

I received by BFA with a concentration in photography from Northern Michigan University. We primarily focused on Fine Art and submitting work for galleries. A lot of the work that I do now is completely different from where I started. I have watched countless YouTube videos, read a lot of books, and have just dove right in to learning anything and everything that I can. I also like Networking with other photographers for tip and tricks.

for the most part, it's a gift, I have "an eye".. which is very useful for composition and creativity. The lightning components I learned thru trial and error.

I learned my skills during high school at Interlochen Arts Academy and at Central Michigan University and continued my education with the Professional Photographers of America. You can become a member and take a lot of learning courses right from them there is also Lynda.com that has a lot of tutorials on the software you will need to use as a photographer in this day and age. But, if you want to really have a well rounded education check out a few classes at a local community college and then advanced courses through PPA.com and Lynda.com.

Shoot a lot and as often as you can. I grew up in the days of film so I had to write down all my settings for each image then compare them to the printed image. Today you get that info in the camera and the digital image. Study a lot and take as many classes as you can. Join a camera club.

Learn, Practice, learn some more, practice, rinse/repeat - read books, take courses from pro's (there are some great pros who offer online courses in a wide variety of aspects of photography. First, I'd figure out what kind of photography you're interested in - people, product, travel, commercial, real estate, weddings, etc.. Then, learn as much as you can - for example, I'm focused (no pun intended) on people - portraits, headshots, theatrical, etc. -so I took some online course (and live seminars) from pros like Peter Hurley, Joe McNalley, Lindsay Adler - as well as read their books, along with Gregory Heisler. I've learned Lightroom and Photoshop skills from pros like Matt Koslowski (I may have butchered the spelling of his name). CreativeLive has a number of training videos from pros on a variety of photography skills - the photographers themselves also sell videos/offer group training sessions live. I also subscribe to a number of pro's blogs, newsletters, etc., as well as some YouTube channels. I've volunteered to shoot events at the local school and have shot some events for businesses - then friends, and now are doing paid work.

If you're looking to get into wedding photography, food, fashion, etc. there are others pros who specialize and can provide training. But keep shooting and experimenting - it's a journey - I look at my photos from several years ago and wince a bit, even though I thought they were good at the time. And shoot a lot - most pros discard more photos from a shoot than they keep. Hope the above helps. Best, BB

I learned from deacons in my church when i was 15 back in 1977

Ok. Wow! So classes and education of course helped with the Business aspect. But nothing prepared me for being a Wedding Photographer.

I started super young and even have Super 8 video movies with scripts I made of anyone that would let me growing up. I even turned my bedroom into a makeshift studio hanging sheets from the ceiling to get that Magazine look.

So I have pretty much always had a camera with me.

I became interested in Weddings in the 90's as my Husband Pastored a Church and performed many Weddings.

My first Wedding in the late 90's actually went quite well I shot with a little Nikon. And that is when Film was what we used. I kept to natural light and the couple was quite happy.

After that I was on a mission to purchase better equipment and forage on. Lot's of trial and error. But for the most part I kept my clients happy.

The Digital age came and I was at first overwhelmed and kind of disappointed that everyone wanted Digital and hours of editing. So for a while I fought the change. Then I realized I missed what I had done and decided to do whatever it took to learn what I needed to.

So I purchased Photoshop and Lightroom. took all the classes I could and began purchasing Nikon Digital cameras and equipment. Right now we shoot with Nikon d810 fx;s and plan to upgrade to the new d850 later this year.

Back to Wedding Photography. It is extremely different than any other kind of Photography. You have to literally be an artist that can do all of these things.

"Fine Art" - (well composed bridal and couple photographs),

"Photojournalistic" - (the silent observer),

"Lifestyle" - (candid with some direction),

"Classic" - (posed portraits - family etc.),

"Dramatic" - (off camera flash).

Photography all in one day and in a sometimes very condensed Timeline.

We approach every wedding with this in mind. Post production is also extremely Important to discuss with your Photographer. Deciding your style such as "Light and Airy", "Vintage", "Dark and Moody Matte" or "Full Color" These are style decisions you make with your Photographer.

My personal processing style pick is classic and modern keeping colors true to life. But as a Business owner we aim to please the Customer of course.

Short answer... Be Passionate about what you do. Study your Craft. Study the business side also. Don't give up if it is your true dream.

Tammy