Photography can seem like a very flashy profession. The entry point is very low and you can start with 0 investment: just use your phone. However, as you get further and further along, you may run into some things that you don’t expect photographers to do. In this article, I will go through some of them.
I started taking pictures as a hobby. I never imagined it would become a job where I get to work with some of the most amazing people and meet amazing people. I also never thought that I would take a photo unknowingly. I mean, come on, how hard can it be? You simply need to be good at taking pictures. It’s correct? Well, wrong.
A lot of BTS videos on YouTube, especially those featuring large-scale fashion shoots, show that all the photographer does is simply have fun with the crew while the assistants and technicians. member learns everything. They put on their makeup, check the sparkles are right, then go back to drinking coffee and mingling with the models. While that may be true for photos that work at the highest level, it’s certainly not for ordinary people like you and me. Here are some annoying things that I didn’t expect when taking pictures to have.
It is physically demanding
Have you ever seen an inappropriate gallant? I have not. This is because as soon as you start getting a light rack, especially a good one, your gear weight will increase exponentially. My first standing lamp was the 1kg one, my last one was the 10kg one. And the thing is, you quickly realize that you need 10 of them. Add a lamp and sandbag to the mix, and soon you’ll have a very heavy rig that you pray won’t drop and split the subject’s opening.
With all that you carry and lift, you can be sure to cancel your gym membership and work out in the studio. So I use old gym weights as sandbags. 
GAS
Problems we never admit but all face. When you’re just starting out, it may even seem subconsciously, to become a better photographer, you need a lot of equipment. Me too, so one of the first things I do is invest in equipment, the more devices the better. Given that I have little or no money, I’m lucky I don’t buy too much, but I’m unlucky to spend that time on reviews and wishlists.
Business is the key
The problem with art education and art work is that artists can be brilliant in the arts and end up as trash in business. This isn’t ideal and can lead to you quitting when you’re great. I don’t believe that any photographer who is in his prime should be in a bad business. Sure, agents and others will take care of the day-to-day care, but photographers are also responsible for their company, which they own. Marketing and others are also among the responsibilities. If you’re deciding between art school and business school, save money and go to a business school. Just make sure you don’t forget the art.
In terms of business, you should also remember that you are a photographer after all. You didn’t choose to be an accountant or a marketing professional, and chose the extremely long way to get there by becoming a photographer. Instead of the other way around, you chose to be a photographer by being a good marketer and accountant. However, there are a lot of things that experts know that you don’t. This is why photographers sometimes hire agents or marketers to help them make more profits.
Just think about it: while you’re filming, your agency is finalizing another deal with a client, meeting new clients, and making sure you get paid. Your success is their success, so they are motivated for you to make as much money as possible. In any case, having someone separate and outsourcing things that aren’t “art” can be good when you get to a level of work that you can’t cope with or need to scale.
People assume you work for free
This is a bit of a sharp point, but we need to talk about it. People often decide to pursue professional photography because they really love it. I don’t think too many people choose photography because it’s a way to get rich quick. If yes then it is a very slow way and it will take you several years of free work to start making money. It’s a skill, really. Take pictures while making money with those photos.
But as you get better, people will still ask you to work assuming you’re happy to do it for free. There are two sides to this medal: you should be happy to work for free because of how much you love the project, but you should never do it – unless it’s your own. 
As a fashion photographer, I know nothing about products, cars, or real estate. However, someone always asks me if I can take a picture of something that isn’t my cup of tea. I mean, I can certainly take a good car photo, but it won’t be as well finished as a photo coming from a professional auto photographer.
On top of that, some people will expect you to work for free, because you are an artist and you have to love what you do. It’s sad when people assume that people in 9-5 jobs don’t love what they do, because some of them actually do. So if you ask a really motivated accountant to do your accounting for free because it’s their passion, you’re likely not going to accept. However, when you ask several photographers to do the same thing, is it okay? Sometimes it’s hard to say no because that’s the way we are, but learning to say no to things you think you should be paid for is a good skill that leads to more bookings. Once your work has a price, you will be surprised how many people are actually willing and willing to pay for it.
Stop thinking
Overall, here are 4 main things that I didn’t prepare for, but start learning to get used to. In short, you should be a good businessman who knows how to run a company. You really should make sure you’re motivated, but also paid, and that the money isn’t a gym membership, because with all that you’re going to do, you won’t need it.
