Are you aspiring to photograph models? If yes, then this article would prove to be a complete guide for you.
Photography is one profession that has been around for a very long time because of people’s love for capturing memories. There are a host of niche areas to choose from in the photography industry and one of them is becoming a model photographer. The truth is that becoming a photographer for models will open a whole lot of business opportunities for you because you can be an all-rounder. It means that you can cover children cum babies, pets and of course adult models.
Becoming a model photographer is a viable and profitable business especially if you live in fashion forward cities like Milan, New York, Paris, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and a host of others.
The fact that anybody can learn the art of photography and start covering models from the street does not mean that there are no certified and accredited institutions in the United States and other countries of the world where you can take course or degree in photography. Here, New York School of Arts readily comes to mind.
If you truly want to become a photographer for models, then here are some practical steps that will help you fulfill your career ambition.
Step 1: Make up Your Mind That You Want to Become a model photographer
The first step that you are expected to take if you want to become a photographer for models is to make up your mind on it. The truth is that no one makes great success from a career if they are not resolute that it is exactly what they want. Come to think of it, irrespective of the career path that you choose to follow, there are times that you will feel seriously discouraged and would want to quit. In such situations, it is your determination and the fact that you have made up your mind to choose the career that will keep you going.
Step 2: Cultivate Your Love for Taking Pictures
The second step that you need to follow if you truly want to build a career as a photographer for models is to cultivate your love for taking pictures especially ‘model wannabes’. Part of what you need to do to cultivate your love for taking pictures is to take pictures whenever the opportunity presents itself. Besides, the opportunity is always there to take pictures. They say ‘practice makes perfect’ hence the need to keep honing your photography skills.
Step 3: Register in a Photography School and Acquire Photography Skills
If you are resolute that becoming a model photographer is just the right career path for you to follow, and you know you have genuine love for covering models, then your next action plan is to source for a good photography school to attend. There are several photography schools where aside from earning a college diploma or degree in photography, you will be given the needed exposure to grow as a photographer. If you live in and around New York, you can attend New York Institute of Photography. You can also consider the following top 5 photography schools if you live in the US; Yale School of Fine Art, New York Film Academy, Brooks Institute, School of Visual Arts New York, and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Step 4: Research on Photography and Choose a Niche
Engaging in thorough research about any subject matter or profession that you want to pursue cannot be overemphasized. As a matter of fact, the more your read up every available material on the career path you want to follow, the easier it is for you to rapidly grow in the industry. So, part of what you need to do if you want to become a photographer for models is to try as much as possible to engage in research as it relates to photography and modeling. These are some of the niche ideas you can choose from; adult modeling photography, pet modeling photography, and children/babies modeling photography.
Step 5: Apply as an Apprentice to a Well-Known Photographer that Covers Models in Your City
The next step to follow if you want to build a successful career as a model photographer is to apply and become an apprentice to a well – known photographer that covers models in your city. Becoming an apprentice photographer will help you perfect your photography skills. It is important to note that becoming a photographer for models is not only about taking great shots but also properly managing the business and this is what you stand to gain when you learn under someone who is already successful as a professional photographer for models.
Step 6: Purchase Your Own Cameras
Some people learn on the job, while some people go through the formal way of learning, but no matter where you learnt the skills, if you want to start your career as a model photographer, you are expected to purchase your own camera. You cannot become a photographer for models by just making use of smart phones or tablets to take pictures; you would need professional cameras. One of the things you will learn as an apprentice or a student in Photography College is to be able to identify the best camera and lenses that will help you produce pictures with high quality. No matter the skills you possess as a photographer, if you do not make use of the ideal camera, then you should be rest assured that you won’t come out with good pictures. You can research online or ask your mentor to recommend the most suitable camera to start your photography business cum career with. There are several high end cameras out there in the market, but you just have to know the one that will serve the purpose you want to use it for.
Step 7: Register Your Business
If you have acquired all the necessary skills that you need to become a photographer for models and you have acquired your cameras, laptop and other work tools, then the next step you would have to follow to make your business formal is to register the business. When you register your business, it will give you the leverage you need to do business with corporate organizations and agencies as a legal entity. You can as well access business loans and grants et al.
Step 8: Open Your Studio and Market Your Services
The last step to follow especially if you have the finance is to set up your own studio in a nice location in town and go out to source for clients. In the bid to market your business as a photographer for model, you can partner with modeling agencies. When you work with an established modeling agency, you will sure get modeling photography deals on a constant basis. Once you are able to gather good collections of your modeling photography work, you can attend exhibitions to exhibit your work for people to know what you do and how good you are at it.
Although it might take you some years to be able to carve a niche for yourself as a professional photographer who covers top models, but if you get the process started by enrolling in a photography school, and becoming consistent with your photography business, you will definitely grow to become a well – respected professional photographer that covers models in your country and even in the world.
There you have it; some sure steps to follow in order to become a model photographer.