Variables in making the step to professional photography

Photography is a fascinating industry. Success is measured on such different paradigms. Money ain't everything but neither is artistic repuation or credibility. Many assume equipment is also paramount but this may not be true.

People get in to the industry for many reasons. For some its just about money. For others it is an artistic pursuit. Most combine to two with varying degrees of success.

I don't think either of the extremes is a strategy for excessive pursuit except in rare extremes. Bresson had to work just as geddes has to earn her credibility before she makes those millions.

These are abstract considerations though. There are some simple rules.

1 learn photography. Too many profitable photographers don't know enough
2 learn photography. This is so important its worth saying twice
3 marketing
4 the other business shit though getting the marketing right is paramount. Brand, word of mouth, broadscale marketing. The lot. They're all important to get right.
5 products. But this is part of the marketing consideration
6 don't be enamoured by equipment. So much is possible on a tight budget. Skill is more important than equipment.

Understand your market. That's a golden rule but hard to place.

But also be willing to define or create your market. Many photographers have a distinct style. They cast their profitability to the wind for something they value more than their market share. Those people define and create the market but never give a thought to market share or profitability. If you think about market share then this lesson of being willing to define or create your market may not make sense. That's why I wrote it.