Catapult my Photography Side-Career

In order to get experience and hopefully to take some portfolio-worthy images to attract potential customers, I began shooting a couple of events. I photographed an acquaintance’s wedding a couple months ago. A couple of weeks ago, I shot a double event of baptism & first communion of the two sons of the woman who works with us.

I’m new at photographing events, and I get the jitters just thinking that I won’t take the expected photo, or that it will come blurred, or underexposed, or someone will invariably close their eyes… Of course, I’ve only had two events (non-paying), and I need to build up skills. But what I have discovered is that I need to push my skills and talent even further to make up for lack of equipment.

The photo above I think has a good camera angle, the location is unique, the sky could not be more helpful, and the rapport I had built up with both children was great. However, the lack of a decent flash that illuminates more evenly than my built-in one is a deterrent of the image, and it fails to capture a wider range of colors while flattening it. Plus shooting with a built-in flash feels like shooting with a point&shoot camera.

So I’ll just have to figure out how to compensate for this while I get more equipment. Most of the accessories I had for my film camera do not work for my digital one, so it’ll take me a while to have a more complete set. My only advantage is that people here do not expect high-end photography, so “snapshots” would do. But being me, I wouldn’t and won’t be satisfied with snapshots, and I want to deliver a better product. I think I just need to get more events —or just show up at the church— and snap away…

Starting is the hardest step to make. I have made some serious attempts in the past —and some not-so-serious— of dedicating myself to photography. Being a constant nomad and never lingering in a place too long, an established photography business is not a possibility. Having photography as a side-career makes full sense. I’ve been struggling with myself as to what path I should take. While I make these decisions, I’m just going to take whatever opportunity I find to practice and to promote myself.

I recently took a set of photos of my neighbor’s dogs. They’re breeders, and they’ll use the photos in their site. I’m not sure if I made the best decision of giving the photos away as a way to promote myself in exchange of letting me take their photos and sell those photos on my account. The versions I gave them were low res, but still. I know this will be a path of learning through mistakes and successes. Maybe this wasn’t a mistake and may turn into good recommendations. At least I have started.