It can be thrilling to start a professional career as a freelance photographer.
It’s a rewarding way of working, even with its challenges, because it gives people a chance to cultivate their creativity, capturing incredible moments and building a business around their passion.
Let’s explore seven different ways how you can become a successful freelance photographer.
Whether you’re already a professional or you’re starting from the ground up, you will need these tips to succeed as an independent worker.
1. Niche down quickly
If you want to stand out in the photography world, you need to niche down. It’s the only way to be seen.
Firstly, you have to decide on your niche. In other words, what type of photography you’re going to specialize in. To help you make this decision, here are the questions you can ask yourself:
- What type of photography you’re the most excited about?
- What are your skills and interests?
- Is there another photographer whose work you adore and who succeeded in this niche?
Whether you’ve gone for wedding photography, food, fashion, or wildlife, it’s important to know it and attract your ideal clients from the start.
2. Build a strong portfolio
When you’re a freelancer, you have to know how to market and promote yourself. This is why a strong portfolio is a great tool when it comes to getting more clients.
A portfolio should showcase your best works, your style, and your skills as an artist. It should also be varied, don’t limit yourself to only one event or one photoshoot.
It’s important to update it regularly, making space for the newest works and leaving out the old ones. This is what will captivate new clients.
Remember to keep your data safe by investigating the platforms you’ll use and by not clicking suspicious links.
3. Invest in high-quality equipment
As a freelance photographer, you’re rely on your equipment. That’s why, you need the best gear you can get. Yes, phones can take great pictures, but is it enough to get the clients you want?
While it’s not necessary to spend life savings on a camera at first, it’s good to ensure that the quality of the equipment you have is as high as you can afford.
Do your research and invest in the right lenses, lighting equipment, and other tools that you’ll need for your specific photography style.
4. Boost your technical skills
Photography is not only about taking pictures. You know it better than me. There is a lot of skill that goes into it, mainly:
- Composition;
- Lighting;
- Exposure;
- Post-processing;
- And so on.
As with any other industry, you need to be aware of trends and tools that come out every day and can make your job a lot easier. You can also start a course, take a workshop or join other photographers to improve your skills.
5. Pay attention to social media
When you’re a freelancer, especially in photography, having a social media presence is key to success. Of course, you shouldn’t underestimate the power of a good old-school portfolio. But platforms such as Instagram will allow you to reach a wider audience and potentially expand to new markets.
Social media platforms allow you to connect with other professionals, share your passions and skills, engage with your community, and find new clients.
When it comes to your online presence, you need to take into consideration cybersecurity. Online businesses are facing a rise in online threats, such as malware. Consider downloading a VPN app to make your online experience safer.
6. Become a pro at networking
Knowing and working with other professionals is very important for any career, and networking is something that can help you to get new important connections for your job.
Visiting photography events, taking specialized workshops, and even attending conferences might be a good idea.
Being a bit more social and learning how to find the right people will give you a chance to connect with like-minded individuals, potential clients, and other professionals in the industry.
Networking may be something you’ll need to learn, but it can potentially open new doors for you and your career.
7. Don’t forget about customer service
This is another area where you can’t let things go downhill. Customer service will make you stand out in the field, and it is what differentiates good and the best professionals out there.
Ensure clear and quick communication, be transparent about the services you provide and the pricing, and only take the clients you know will match with you in personality.
It’s also important to deliver your work either ahead of the deadline or right on it. Go the extra mile to surprise your clients, and try to make their investment in your services into a positive experience.
To sum up
In order to become a high-profile freelance photographer, you don’t have to go above and beyond. There are a few fundamental things you need to put your efforts into.
The most important things are: having the right mindset and investing your time into connecting with the right people, getting quality equipment, and perfecting your professional skills.
You need to grow your talent and skills, create powerful strategies for self-promotion and publicity, and apply a lot of dedication. Here’s the list of important things you need to take care of when you want to kickstart your career as a freelance photographer:
- Define your niche;
- Build a strong portfolio;
- Invest in quality equipment;
- Build your skills;
- Pay attention to social media;
- Network with people in your industry;
- Remember to provide exceptional customer service.
This is your chance to be free while working whenever and wherever you want.
