How did you get started?

[jtraub01]

Looking for a quick summary from full-time photogs on how they became a photographer. Thanks!

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Lots of Practice and I'm still practicing today.

[mrsrice22]

Jim, if you have some time pick up this book VisionMongers: Making a Life and a Living in Photography [Book]

I'm reading it now and I think it's a great book for new/aspiring/amateur photographers that are thinking about turning their hobby into a career.

[SCone]

"Fast Track Photographer" by Dane Sanders

[HotHolly]

i did the "jump in head 1st" and "sink or swim method." caution: this method may be extremely nauseating to some people. u must like skinned teeth and flying by the seat of your pants.

[hue-e]

I bought a camera. Liked shooting photos. Then wanted to shoot different ways, then read about how to do what I wanted, bought more gear... and so on.

[BG Photo]

1 year majoring in Art at 4 year university, switched to 2 year commercial photography program (worked at Sears Portrait Studio same time), joined Army as combat cameraman for 6 years, photojournalism course at another university. Several other various training courses and workshops combined with all the previous gave me a pretty good foundation to work from. Now it's just constant practice and experimentation.

[trac76002]

I always liked photography and when I decided to go further with it I started taking as many classes as I could a Collin College and attending workshops.
Practice, practice, practice.
I study a lot online & I am always learning something. It is never ending!
I also highly recommend Kelby Training online. There are so many courses about photography, photoshop, etc.
It's been 3 years of part-time for me so far and lots of money spent. Hope to actually make a profit this year :)
Thank goodness for my full-time job!

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

While in Vietnam a friend handed me his old Pentax Spotmatic and I stated "I want to be a photographer" I've been after it ever since. After the Army I attended a small community college in Vancouver, Wa and learned some basics. Befriended a Master BW Photographer, Shedrich Williames and all I wanted was to be an artist. After 25 years I decided this wasn't making me any kind of money and moved over to portraiture. So again, lots of practice, lots of looking at others work, more practice, learning it takes alot of business cents more than being a great photographer, more practice, etc. etc.......

[Tom]

My grandfather gave me his AE-1 in about 95. Tried to get into HS Photography, but got turned down, so I took photojournalism in 97. Took it again in college in 99. Helped out in the lab after that. Got a very nicely paying job after graduating in 04 and bought one of these new-fangled digital deals. Took some more pics. Got hired by a newspaper to moonlight. Took lots more pics. Stumbled into it as a career. It was never a goal.

[dracula02]

I "googled" it.

[andyz]

First, I am not one. I'm not sure about the point of the question, but remember that just because someone says they are a FT photog, doesn't mean they are good at it, nor making a living at it. I've seen many small businesses where one person went FT in a business and could do so only because they lived off the other spouse/partners income and insurance. Many times I've read from the pros that business and marketing was more important to their business doing well financially that their photography skills.

So the bare question is good, but it isn't necessarily complete. :p

[jtraub01]

I thought it would be interesting to hear a few people comment on getting started. I have been in the IT field for 20 years and wonder if there is a way to make a transition to full-time photog. It has been a passion since I was a kid.

Thanks everyone.

flickr.com/traub_photography

[Linda Bingham]

I am an all in kinda gal so it was head first, trial and error. Everyone has to start some where but the key is you have to start. I have an olympus point and shoot from 20 years ago my first camera and I posed my children until they got cranky and then I found landscapes and architecture to be enjoyable all the while learning composition, posing, lighting etc. I went full time 5 years ago and as stated earlier I am still learning. I have a Canon 50D and L series lens that I acquired along the way. School of hard knocks really isn't all that bad.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Linda Bingham

I am an all in kinda gal so it was head first, trial and error. Everyone has to start some where but the key is you have to start. I have an olympus point and shoot from 20 years ago my first camera and I posed my children until they got cranky and then I found landscapes and architecture to be enjoyable all the while learning composition, posing, lighting etc. I went full time 5 years ago and as stated earlier I am still learning. I have a Canon 50D and L series lens that I acquired along the way. School of hard knocks really isn't all that bad.

I don't know your situation, but the school of hard knocks is a lot harder if you don't have a spouse working. Most of the new photographers I see jump in that way are trying to add a little supplemental income to their spouse's income while staying at home.

As someone who dove in head first without a spouse or any form of supplemental income, I highly recommend against it. It is a great way to go broke very quickly.