How to Become a Professional Photographer?

In order to become a professional photographer, you must have a great passion for photography in addition to formal education and experience in this field. To meet these requirements, you should first choose a reputable and accredited photography school that offers basic, certificate and at least a diploma course in photo-imaging. If you are newbie to photography, here is the list of all photo-imaging courses that you should take one by one in order o become a professional photographer.   

Photography – ‘Beginners’

Photography for Beginners course teaches how to use digital SLR camera to capture impressive images. You will learn different functions and settings of the DSLR camera and the technical aspects of photography including Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, White Balance and File Formats in a professional studio environment with a combination of information, practical and review sessions under the guidance of a professional photographer.  

Photography – ‘Intermediate’

After completing photography for beginner course, you should take an intermediate photography course to advance your technical skills of using Digital SLR Camera and expand your photographic creativity and editing skills. After completing of this course, you should take Certificate IV in Photo-Imaging. 

Certificate IV in Photo-Imaging

Certificate IV in Photo-Imaging helps you in learning essential skills of a professional photographer by enhancing your expertise in various technical aspects of photography (eg. Colour Theory, Studio Lighting Product Shooting, Business Studies, Post-Production Skills) and giving you an opportunity to put them all into practice so that you can qualify for higher level photography courses like a diploma or degree.

Diploma of Photo-Imaging

Diploma of Photo-Imaging course helps you in exploring more professional areas of job outcomes and includes areas such as Portraiture, Wedding photography & Studio Lighting. The Diploma also covers commercial areas such as Stock photography, Merchandising, Media & Journalism, and your final exhibition work and portfolio. You will be trained in Post Production so that you can work in different commercial applications and outcomes. It is worth mentioning that Diploma of Photo-Imaging is a very practical based course that attracts various commercial opportunities by expanding your industry based experience through professional training. After completing your Diploma in Photo-Imaging, you will be able to produce innovative and highly professional portfolios to expand your employability options.

Gather More Experience or Take Degree in Photo-Imaging 

Academy of Design is one of the leading creative education providers in Queensland that offers various nationally accredited photography courses like photography – ‘beginners’, photography intermediate, certificate IV in photo-imaging and diploma of photo-imaging. After taking diploma in photo-imaging, you can either gather more experience by working under a professional photographer or enroll yourself for a bachelor’s degree in photo-imaging, depending on your goals and objectives. Yet the safe bet is to take a bachelor’s degree in photo-imaging followed by 2-5 years training under a renowned professional photographer so that you can understand latest photography trends, create an impressive portfolio and make good contacts in the industry to get work and job references for yourself.