Beginners guide to photography Are you the Daboo Ratnani of your gang? Are you the go-to person for clicking a kickass profile picture? Are you the annoying friend who doesn’t let her friends eat before taking a picture of the food in front of you? Are you constantly looking forward to seeing life through the lens of your camera? If yes, you are most probably an aspiring photographer. Your weapon might be a Canon EOS 6D, a Digi cam or a humble little Mobile phone. Whatever it may be, you are the person that likes to capture beauty through your camera lens. Have you thought about doing it for a living? If not, you should. Photography. A few years back, an average Indian would hear the word and think about a Passport photo or wedding photos. Why? Because those were the only fields where a photographer could make a living. People had a primitive idea about Photography and the exposure (pun intended) was abysmal. The scenario is changing rapidly in our country and there are millions of youngsters who want to take up photography as a profession. And the good news is there is high demand for photographers, today. Here’s the catch. Becoming a professional photographer takes more than just passion. Pursuing photography doesn’t end with creating a photography page on Facebook. If you want to take it seriously and make a living out of it, there are some things that ought to be done. 1. Zoning in on your field of interest: Gone are those days when becoming a photographer automatically meant a wedding photographer. Even though it is still a viable option, there are numerous other fields that might interest you. Press Photography, Feature photography, Commercial photography and Fashion photography are only the starting few names of a very long list. 2. Selecting a photography academy in India: Innumerable photography academies have emerged in India where aspiring photographers can learn the tricks of the trade. You know what that means? There is no need to toil in your biology class or accountancy class when your mind is only thinking about how cool it would be if your picture features in the Nat Geo magazine. It is essential to pick a photography academy in India, which offers the course you want. 3. Perseverance : This point applies to anyone who has an unconventional ambition. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference. -Robert Frost These great lines serve as an inspiration to anyone who is trying to do something unusual with their life. Becoming a photographer needs talent and technique. It also needs resilience. In a country like ours, not becoming an engineer or doctor is frowned upon. But stir not. Be sure to have an unfazed attitude while the universe puts you down, questions you and tests you. Fight the odds because the end results will be everything you have ever wanted.
