Day in the Life of a Photographer: 20 Tips for a Photographer

Day in the Life of a Photographer: 20 Tips for a Photographer

As explained at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, a professional photographer uses their camera as a tool to create visually striking images that express a feeling or message of the subject in question. While being a photographer may sound glamorous and easy, where you just press a few buttons, and you have got your shots, there is much more to it than that. This article will look to list 20 tips on a day in the life of a photographer to give you a clearer picture of this career path, pardon the pun if it is of interest to you.

A check of your gear

Before the day starts, a photographer must conduct a check of their gear before heading out on an assignment as per RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. This is where you check to see everything is in perfect working order, then you also check to see all of your gear is in place to ensure you don’t forget anything before leaving.

Travel

Unlike regular office jobs which involve a regular commute to work, photographers regularly travel to the shooting site for work. Therefore, the job may take you both near and far depending on the client’s needs, which is worth noting.

Briefing time

When you arrive at the shooting site, one of the first things you do after saying hi to the client and exchanging pleasantries is to organize a short briefing time with the client according to RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.

Getting set up

Professional photographers deal with a lot of gear which means a shoot requires one to set up first before it is all systems go. Once you arrive at the spot where the shoot is set to take place, you will need some time to set everything up. This is also the time when the models get dressed if you are working with models, to ensure they are ready for the shoot.

Working with the subjects

As a photographer, once the shoot starts, the main part of your job is working with your subjects to create a relationship of trust and make them let go of their inhibitions and almost forget that they are being photographed. This is the only way to obtain candid portraits.

Finishing up with the shoot

As a photographer, you know while the shoot itself is important, it is not the only thing you have to do, which is why you have to ensure you stick to a schedule and finish shooting on time as articulated at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Once the shoot ends, and everyone, especially the client, is satisfied, time to pack up your gear and prepare to head back to either your client’s HQ or your office.

Pack shots

It is also important to highlight that sometimes the shoot can have a second part to it – the pack shots. Pack shots are pictures of the clothing and merchandise shot against a white background. If you have to take these shots, they will be taken after the main shoot is over.

Review

Once pack shots are over, it is now time for the client and yourself to review and select the photos together that will go into the collection editorial as captured at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.

It is not all about taking photos

While taking amazing photos of the subject matter in the brief is the main role of a professional photographer, everyday activities include a lot more than just taking pictures, which is something you need to be aware of when looking to get into photography.

Sending quotes

One of the activities alluded to by the previous point is the sending of quotes. Clients will make contact for a quote on a photography session with you regularly. This could be a family photo session, a corporate shoot, a wedding shoot, or a bridal party shoot, among others.

Planning

It is not recommended that you head off to a shoot without having a plan of attack in place. As covered at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, depending on the brief, you may need to plan some elements for upcoming shoots to fulfill clients’ needs adequately. Given that an average shoot day may require a lot of gear, you must make sure you plan ahead.

Sourcing clients

If you are an independent or freelance photographer, then you know that clients simply won’t come to you without you making an effort to attract them. Therefore, you will need to spend time advertising and marketing your photography services to gain clients.

Networking

A major part of a photographer’s day-to-day life is networking as discussed at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. This is a great way to build relationships and is a tried and tested method for photographers to get new clients.

Editing

Post-production editing is a large part of the role of a photographer. Clients can be very particular in their expectations, like removing unruly nose hairs from a shot. It is your job as a photographer to cater to the needs of your clients and make them feel like they are not a burden.

Curating

When in the post-production stage of your work, you will also need to curate the shots, particularly given that you might have hundreds of images for a shoot. Make sure you select and edit the best ones for your client to choose from.

Certifications

While there is no formal requirement for certification for this profession, it can help add credibility to your photography profile as discussed at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com. Certification through a degree, course, or bootcamp can help build trust with employers that you are qualified for the role, hence why you should try and set aside time for such.

Updating your portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of your best photography work used to showcase your abilities. This allows prospective clients to see what you are capable of. Given its importance in helping you find employment or clients, you should regularly take some time off to update your portfolio.

Early starts

While life as a photographer may not necessarily involve a 9-5, it doesn’t mean there will not be early mornings. As outlined at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com, depending on the kind of shoot you are doing, you may have to get started very early to make sure you are on location and set up to make the most of your shooting time and the available light (if you are working outdoors or with natural light).

Late evenings

In addition to early starts, you might also be working late into the evening depending on your client’s requirements. This shows that this job offers lots of flexibility when it comes to working hours, which is worth noting.

Administration duties

If you work on your own and don’t have anyone helping with admin, you will have to attend to the nuts and bolts of your business. This includes reading and answering emails for potential/current clients, handling bookings, and schedule in work for the weeks ahead, as well as invoicing clients and, possibly, chasing up unpaid invoices.

These are some of the things to expect when it comes to the day-to-day life of a photographer, with more on this topic, and much more, to be found over at RunRex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.