I’ve been in this profession (photography) for more than 10 years now.  Back when I first started, I thought that “if you build [shoot] it, they will come.”  Now that I’m a bit more seasoned in this industry, I know that’s not the case.  Wow, is it not the case at all.  The world is very different from that naive first-take of mine.  If you can’t tell already, there are several things I wish I knew about photography when I first started out.

If I could go back in time and give my past-self three pieces of advice which my current-self has learned, they would be:

1. Build a Quality and Consistent Portfolio

You really need to build your portfolio with a few dozen consistent in style and quality photos which are also really good.  Fill up your portfolio with more and more good photos.  Then compare them to each other and remove the weaker pictures.  You must do this several times before you can really expect to sell your work.  Potential customers will want to know what kinds of photos they can expect.

If you don’t show quality AND consistency in your portfolio BEFORE charging money, then customers will doubt your ability to perform the job.  They will evaporate and disappear long before you know they exist.  Alleviate and dismiss those doubts long before they form with a consistent high quality portfolio full of photos they will love.  Once you achieve this, you can start charging money for your work.

2. Develop Your Photo and Editing Style

You really need to develop your own photography and editing style so you can be consistent.  This involves lots of continuing education and experimentation.  Go learn how to use the tools at your disposal.  Develop presets and actions which will speed things up for you.  Try and try again with those photos which don’t quite work out in processing.  You never know when you might finally make it work the way you hope.

Once you see some form of consistency emerge in your subject matter and your editing style, you know you’re on your way.  Keep at it.

3. Go Photograph More

You really need to go photograph a lot more to develop that style in photography and editing.  Book learning is not enough.  So, go photograph more.  Photography, much like music and other arts/crafts, is something you must practice to improve at.  Formal and informal education may help you improve at a much faster rate.  However, they’re no substitute for pure experience in the field.  If you really want that dream portfolio, you cannot sit on your hands.  You must go create those images.  The likelihood you will snag one of those on a given shoot is relatively low.

If you increase the number of shoots you take, then you also increase the likelihood of nailing a portfolio-worthy or even a gallery-hanger photo.  Even if you’re still building up skills, you need practice photos to work with.  Go shoot some more.  Keep at it until you see the results you want.  Now you know what minimal level of work you must put in to accomplish your goals.  Keep going.

Conclusion

Since I can’t travel through time, I’m focusing on being grateful for the lessons I’ve learned, even if I had to learn them the hard way!  They’ve taught me how to become a professional landscape photographer.  Hopefully, the things I wish I knew about photography will help others like you on your journey.