Module 1: The Professional Photographer

Dondalea Stubbs

FAS 240: Business of Photography

Professor Spencer

Written: October 28th, 2024

Due: October 31st, 2024

Dondalea Stubbs
October 28, 2024
FAS 240 Professor Spencer
The Professional Photographer
1. What are the risks and rewards of being a photographer?

Photography, while beautiful in many ways, has many risks and many rewards not

just for a photographer but also for any assistant or volunteer as well. I think to a degree

that the balance between risk and reward lies honestly in the opinion of each individual

photographer out there. There is a lot to consider when you pursue a profession in

photography whether it is weather, travel time, prices, the number of sessions you do at

any given time, etcetera.

One key thing I recently struggled with is the weather. Just two days ago I was

attending an event, and I took my backdrop in camera kit, but I was not informed of it

being outdoors which made it difficult due to the sunlight. Too much sunlight created

overexposure, and I was not prepared on how to change my exposure. When it comes to

whether you should prepare in advance for any situation always bring protective gear for

adverse weathers such as rain or snow; another good idea is to find decently shaded

locations in case of there being too much sun to prevent overexposure if you don't know

how to change that setting.

Travel and commuting are another thing to consider. Especially if you are a

freelancer. Sometimes clients request you to travel and this is critical for you to carefully

plan. If you need to travel, be prepared to plan for adverse weather changes, traffic

complications in your mode of travel, and even have an emergency plan. You never know

when something could happen such as a flight bumping you from your flight, or your car

breaking down on you with no warning, or what if you're in an accident, it really is just

something you can never really know if it'll be a problem. Always make sure you have a
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October 28, 2024
FAS 240 Professor Spencer
The Professional Photographer
little extra money, have a first aid kit and emergency plan, make sure if you're going to be

gone for more than five hours you have food and drink with you, and always keep a

travel hygiene kit that could have things such as Tylenol.

As for benefits in photography, the most important thing is you get to have so

much freedom in your creativity while you are doing something that you love. Another

wonderful thing is that you get to set your own schedule, and you get to set your own

travel depending on whether you freelance or work for someone's company.

2. What does it mean to be a photographer?

When you are a professional photographer, often it is your main source of income.

You are receiving compensation for a service you are providing based on experience and

time. Most often you are someone well known for your work, and you may have the

opportunity to even feature your work in many ways such as online, in magazines, in

galleries and many other forms.

3. Can anyone be a professional photographer?

Being a professional photographer is hard. I have even had my doubts about

myself. It requires a lot of focus and dedication, both for your ultimate objective and for

the things you must do to achieve it. You also must be extremely creative and have

amazing interpersonal skills. I believe that running my own photography business with

the help of my best friend is the best way for me to approach being a photographer. As a

Co ownership, we would be able to split things evenly if needed; my best friend is

currently in school for business management, and we have discussed the opportunity of
Dondalea Stubbs
October 28, 2024
FAS 240 Professor Spencer
The Professional Photographer
him doing the management portion while I do the photography. This would help me as I

am not perfect with management. Multiple minds are always better than one. Managing a

business, especially in photography, requires a lot of artistic talent, managerial and

marketing skills, financial acumen, and a phenomenal ability to bounce back from

setbacks. Staying up to date on laws, software changes, technological advancements,

social trends, and much more is crucial to being a photographer. You must constantly stay

up to date, expand and grow, while constantly marketing yourself as a brand. Keep

shooting photos, be involved in local photographer community events, try to make

friends with other photographers in your area, do practice sessions just for the fun of it,

and always get your name out there as loud and proud as you can. Make sure you know

your lighting, settings, venues, programs, and so much more. Keep yourself up to date on

the value of your time and work. Find your niche, build your brand, build your clientele,

and reach for the stars.

4. What is the importance of artistry and business intelligence?

Artistry and creative ability are key in photography. Any vocation involving art

requires an eye for beauty in anything. Their work demonstrates devotion and skill.

Vision and inventiveness must be clear in any work you do. You must really get out there,

establish yourself by finding clients and form a bond. Always find ways to make the

process as smooth as possible.

5. What can I do now to prepare for a future as a photographer?

I have already begun to slowly prepare myself... I know over time I will need

more lenses, especially a 50mm lens for my camera as it is a good lens for photography
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October 28, 2024
FAS 240 Professor Spencer
The Professional Photographer
portraits. Lately I have been offering many sessions to practice and build skills as well as

a portfolio. I have a packet of paperwork for client information requesting information

such as client age, contact information, copyright and private printing release which

allows them to post on media as long as they leave my copyright in the image with no

cropping and also to print under the same rules, and I even request signatures for minors

from the parent or guardian. I add my own copyright information with the name of my

business in the bottom of every photo. I currently do not have a business license, but

these are practices that I am doing to prepare myself. I know that in the future I will need

to make a budget, equipment list, price list, and obtain any required licensure for where I

live. These are all things that I am currently doing and preparing myself for as I know

there will be things I need to do.