So you want to be a…. photographer

I have always loved and been interested in photography but it didn’t truly come alive for me until my son was born a few years ago. As a first time mum, I wanted so badly to capture every moment with my son while he was still young. I started to live and breathe photography. All my spare time was spent scouring the library for photography books, reading article after article online, and working on my skills to capture everything around me. I have also completed some basic photography courses and attended workshops which have been helpful in networking and sharing knowledge with other photographers.

This year I joined the AIPP (The Australian Institute of Professional Photography) and received accreditation. It was a big milestone for me. Since I didn’t have any formal training, I felt it really validated me as a Photographer! I still learn new things every.single.day. As a professional photographer you need to maintain up-to-date skills so I like to do one workshop a year and also participate in short courses here and there. I read photography books to find new ideas and techniques to try out. I like to set photography challenges for myself to try new things. I also follow some successful photographers on social media who kindly share their knowledge and skills. Currently I’m focused on learning how to run my business in a very competitive world and how to stand out in the sea of other family photographers. For this purpose I see a mentor once a month who helps me hone my business skills. It’s all about constant learning and having the courage to put yourself out there!

Here are a few of my favourite photography books:

Envisioning Family by Tamara Lackey

How to Photograph Absolutely Everything by Tom Ang

The Art of Photography: An approach to Personal Expression by Bruce Barnbaum

The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman

Extraordinary Everyday Photography: Awaken Your Vision to Create Stunning Images Wherever You Are by Brenda Tharp and Jed Manwarin