Do you think you know some of the rules about earning a crust taking photos? You may be surprised by some common misconceptions about professional photography.
1. Photoshopping is cheating
Before photography became digital, professional photographers would spend hours at a time in darkrooms, creating contact strips and carefully manipulating the contrast and colour of their images. These days, this process is far more efficient because of applications such as Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture. It's not cheating, it's essential.
2. Nikon is better than Canon
Or is it Canon is better than Nikon? Either way, it's incorrect. Both manufacturers produce extremely high quality gear and other suppliers including Sony, Olympus and Samsung make cameras that wouldn't look out of place in a professional's kit. Finding the equipment that suits your particular style and budget may be far more important than the actual brand.
3. The most expensive equipment takes the best photographs
Sometimes. Obviously a quality lens and camera body will mean you have the potential to take stunning shots, but pro equipment can also be very unforgiving. Even experienced photographers spend a great deal of time and effort making sure their photos are perfect.
4. Pros don't crop their images
Cropping is a very common practice, especially when taking action shots at sporting events such as a rugby match or F1 race. It's less common when there is plenty of time to set up the lighting and perspective, such as portrait or product photography in a studio. Many of the photographs you see in newspapers or magazines have been cropped - it's often how a good image is turned into a perfect shot.
5. Pros don't use auto settings
Again, it depends on the environment. For example, a fashion shoot in a studio allows a photographer the freedom to use manual settings because the lighting is carefully controlled and models can be given direction. However, when shooting models on a catwalk, autofocus and some form of auto exposure might give better results. A true professional will use whatever settings and equipment are required to get the desired result.
6. If you love photography, you'll love being a pro photographer
Possible, but far from guaranteed. Professionals get paid to deliver on the client's brief, which means they rarely get to choose the subject matter or style. You may be able to offer an expert opinion, but if you want repeat business, it's vital to give the client want they want. However, if you don't love taking photos, it's unlikely you'll be in business for very long.
7. Being a pro means flexible hours
Completely false! As a professional, you will work early mornings, Friday nights, pretty much whenever the client needs you. And if you plan to shoot weddings, don't make any weekend plans for the rest of your career.
8. More megapixels results in better picture quality
False. The single most important factor to affect picture quality is the lens; the megapixel count only reflects the size of the image. While this can be useful when zooming or cropping, there have been cases in the past where more megapixels actually increased noise and reduced picture quality. Thankfully, the current technology has advanced enough that these issues no longer exist. Spend as much as you possibly can afford on a decent lens, it's your most important asset.
9. Your hourly rate is what you will actually earn
Wrong again. Your client may pay you for an hour but once the session is over, you will most likely have to spend extra processing and cropping the shots. You should also factor in travel time to and from the shoot, and you may even have to organise talent. Because of these considerations, pros often charge by the half-day or for a minimum block of hours. And don't forget the time you have to spend just getting business - making contacts, responding to briefs, quoting and more.
10. Don't use flash in daylight
Lighting is arguably the most important aspect of any photograph; without any light, focus and perspective are irrelevant. Outdoor shoots can also be unpredictable - whether you're dealing with overcast weather, harsh direct sunlight or shadows. This makes flash extremely important, day or night. Every kit should also include a reflector for the same reasons.