New photographer looking to build up some experience

sasar

Hi All,

I'm quite new to this forum so I might have missed something...

I bought my first camera less than a year ago, but I'm really into photography and it drives me mad that I can't put my skills into practice.
So far I have had my photos in a few exhibitions and have got a 3rd place in one competition + I am giving private classes in photography.

So I was just wondering what would be the easiest way to become an assistant for some pro?


Thanks!:)

Calina

sasar wrote: »

....I bought my first camera less than a year ago, but I'm really into photography and it drives me mad that I can't put my skills into practice....

I don't get this sentence. Everyone on here seems to understand that the first step towards putting their skills into practice by taking their camera and making photographs.

I'm assuming - and this is a bit assumption for me since I'm kinda not well this weekend - that what you mean is that you want to turn pro. Doing what you want to do, I guess, you are talking wedding stuff. You want to be an assistant to one, you will have to sell yourself to them. That means - perhaps - finding said pro, walking into his studio with a portfolio and explaining why he should hire you as an assistant.

No one's going to hand it to you on a plate.

I put my skills into practice (apart from being on a 2 month hiatus right now) by taking photographs every chance I can get. That meant 25,000 photographs last year. Yes, you take beautiful photographs but now...you want to go further, that means selling yourself.

sasar

Thanks, Calina!

I actually do go out snapping on every opportunity I have. On flickr i have only a small amount of my photos.

The problem is that I do not know any photographer in Dublin... Well tanks for advice, I'll have to make a portfolio and start visiting studios.


Cheers!

mikeanywhere

sasar wrote: »

The problem is that I do not know any photographer in Dublin, I'll have to make a portfolio and start visiting studios

There's no shortage of photographers around Dublin. I would suggest that you go about putting together the portfolio as I know a few of them are getting requests on a daily basis for help. Having a portfolio will hopefully make you stand out from the others.

Good luck in your search!!

Fenster

I felt like that about a year ago; I wanted to go one step further with my hobby and to try and make a living from it. I have worked as a nightclub photographer, a general event and showroom photographer (see here, I'm really quite proud of this set), a wedding photographer, and a commissioned night-life photographer.

I'll admit that I enjoyed the actual photographic work, but I was left with a really bad taste in my mouth from incidents surrounding it. Work in Ireland nearly came to legal blows as the person I shot for tried to steal them, I went to court in Las Vegas over a nightclub shoot, I had a personally upsetting experience when I was shooting in the showroom and the photographer I shot weddings with actively tried to cheat me out of both pay and agreed usage rights.

Others here will give you a similar tale. I know Danny (Valentia) had a bad run when he was pro.

It has to be stressed that you must be a businessman first and a photographer second if you decide to "step up"

EDIT: Mike, get your arse on MSN as I might have work for you.

mikeanywhere

Fenster wrote: »

It has to be stressed that you must be a businessman first and a photographer second if you decide to "step up"

Very very very wise words indeed!!!

Fenster wrote: »

EDIT: Mike, get your arse on MSN as I might have work for you.

Sitting and waiting for you big boy!!!

Fenster

I waited five minutes and went to shoot some IR. ADD go go!

RCNPhotos

Have to say loved your pictures, especially lonely and the infared of the castle.