How to be a Photographer (Like Everyone Else) ~ By Jon

Photography by Tim

I’m a photographer. Sure, there are a lot of people who say they’re photographers, but I really am, and you can be too! I’d like to share with you my 10 easy steps to take you from amateur to artist. These are tried and true methods that are being used by photographers every day (if you don’t believe me, check Flickr.) So get ready for all the glamour and success that is professional photography!

1) Start with your business name. It's best to develop your identity as a photographer before messing with any of the actual photography stuff. “Jeni’s Precious Moments," “Cathy’s Captures,” or something witty like that. If that’s too fancy, you can just go with “Memories by *insert name.*” You can’t be considered a professional, however, until you have a Facebook page and a Flickr account.

2) Buy a camera. Super-artsy people will find an old, used camera and hunt down a place to buy and develop the film. It’s more effort on the front end, but the nice part is that you truly just have to point it at stuff to have instant art. Of course, if you have Instagram, this is probably just a waste of time and money. I recommend some sort of DSLR. If you can change the lenses, it’s professional.

3) Make sure you have a flash. Most good DSLRs come with one built in. The lighting from it isn’t quite as good as the lighting they use at the DMV, but at least you’ll never miss that “special moment.”

Jon, his lovely wife, and Sarah (Editor) "celebrating" during their college reunion weekend.
By allowing this picture to be made public, we are suffering for YOUR art.

4) Find your subject matter. Flowers and birds always make good pictures. Babies are fun as long as they’re asleep. Bands always need photos and those are easy if you have some abandoned buildings nearby. Be sure to get a photo of yourself in the mirror for your business cards.

5) Tilt the camera. People are always impressed by intentionally crooked photos. Try tilting the camera a little and see how much more artistic your pictures are. It’s a simple way to have your work stand out from the crowd.

6) Shoot weddings. No matter what your favorite subject is, you should do this. Its great practice and an easy way to make money. Take it easy and have fun; someone else will grab the bouquet toss if you miss it. And don't worry too much about the camera, set it to automatic and remember, you can always fix it in Photoshop. 

 As a side note – most wedding photographers are lazy, so always take your camera to your friends’ weddings. That way, if the official photographer is missing something, you can step in and save the day! Besides, most professionals really appreciate the help and might even hire you.

7) Learn Photoshop. Ok, not really… I mean, Photoshop is really complicated. Just go to the “Filters” menu and play around. Everyday scenes become unique and interesting in a moment. There's even one that makes your photo look like a drawing. It’s really cool.

8) Convert to black and white. Any photo that is out of focus, too dark, too noisy or just plain boring can be saved instantly by making it black and white. A lot of artsy photos are black and white, so people will think you’re doing it on purpose.

9) Selective color. This is a fancy name for a very simple Photoshop trick. It’s when you take a picture and make all it black and white except for one element. This works great with flowers or family photos. You’ll probably remember this effect from Schindler’s List.

10) Blog. A lot. You’re an artist now, live it! Most photos are a lot more interesting once you’ve explained them. And who will appreciate your work if they don’t get to see it and hear about it over and over again?

That’s it. Do all of these things and you too will have officially earned the grand title of “photographer.” Time to start living the dream! I’d like to leave you with one final thought: believe it or not, most art historians do not consider Ansel Adams to be the greatest photographer of all time! And, no, it’s not Anne Geddes either. Most agree that that title belongs to Henri Cartier-Bresson. 

Later in life, Monsieur Cartier-Bresson stopped taking pictures altogether and returned to his first love, painting. When asked why he left photography, he said, “Because it’s just this…” as he wiggled his finger up and down. It's just pushing a button.

About this author: Jon is a mediocre Professional Music Photographer. You can mock his work at www.thatverynextthing.com.