I often get asked by students and people wanting to become photographers-how to.... Here’s my best advice for someone aiming to become a professional photographer-Please add your advice in comments so we can help those and ensure they have an understanding of how to actually become a professional Photographer and how to behave as such.
1. Master your craft.
Learn your camera inside out, understand lighting (natural and artificial), and get comfortable with editing tools like Lightroom and Photoshop and ai. Technical skill gives you creative freedom. (Know what you are doing) This also creates confidence. I am a great believer in working initially for a professional photographer or photographers in the field you are interested in. Simply get into the business and start making contacts. Make contacts and learn as much as you you can about working as a professional photographer. Learn how to work with art directors and all members of a team. Learn how to work with clients and develop your own eye and technique. “Look after your equipment and your equipment will look after you”. Know Photography.
2. Find your niche.
Experiment with different types—portraits, weddings, fashion, documentary, product, sports, etc.—then lean into what you’re passionate about and where you can stand out. You will have an inclination as to the area you are drawn to. Go with that. You may change at a later date and that’s okay-reinvention is a positive step for Photographers.
3. Build a solid portfolio.
Your portfolio is your calling card. Only include your best work, even if that means fewer images. Make sure it reflects your style and the kind of work you want to get hired for. This will take time to achieve and time to develop. It is ongoing, but you will develop a style that reflects your creativity-it adapts and changes along the way. The way you take photos will remain. TEST/TEST and TEST.
4. Learn the business side.
Photography isn’t just about taking pictures—it’s also about contracts, licensing, pricing, marketing, networking, and client communication. Treat it like a business from day one. IT IS A BUSINESS. Have the correct contracts in place, copyright laws and take action against copyright infringements. Errors in this area can be costly. Employ a good accountant and talk to other photographers to find the way that best suits you. Make sure the paperwork is in place and is legal. A solid marketing plan is essential. Try and meet clients and art directors/creative directors. Clients like to work with people they like and get on with. It is a collaboration.
5. Network like crazy.
Connect with creatives (stylists, makeup artists, models). Word-of-mouth is huge. Enter awards, join photography associations, enter exhibitions. Be a part of the community. Go meet people and say hello.
6. Practice relentlessly.
Shoot constantly. Challenge yourself with personal projects. Every shoot is a chance to improve—don’t wait for paid gigs to grow. Part of building your portfolio and on.. Always try new techniques-surprise your clients -bring something new to each shoot.
7. Be patient and persistent.
Success won’t come overnight. Stay humble, take constructive criticism, and don’t let rejection throw you off course. Keep showing up, and you’ll get better and get noticed. Work and work harder and harder still. This will take determination and focus. Make your self indispensable.
AI is already reshaping photography, and knowing how to use it can give you a serious edge as a professional. It is extremely relevant in today’s world and especially in Photography and film making. Understand it, apply it where you can, use it to your advantage.Personally, I don’t let it interfere with my knowledge of Photography but use it to enhance my photography-I minimise it but use it where I need to. Ai gives us no choice - in a lot of cases it is just there. You focus the camera, you get the exposure correct, you light it correctly, do not enable software to do it for you as you are the master of your craft. Use your knowledge and experience to control the camera and the image you want to create.
Here’s how to think about it:
Use AI as a creative assistant, not a replacement.(As talked about above)
AI can help speed up your workflow, but your eye, vision, and style are what make you stand out. AI can’t replace that—yet. Learn to direct it, not depend on it.
AI tools to explore:
• Editing & Retouching: Tools like Luminar Neo, Imagen AI, topaz, Retouch4me, and Photoshop’s Generative Fill can drastically cut down editing time. There are so many on the market. Talk with other photographers as to the best for professionals. Get what suits you. Personally, unless I really need it, I wont get it because I can do it without having to use ai software-always have done in the past-always will do.
• Culling & Organizing: AI tools like AfterShoot or Narrative Select can help sort your best shots faster. This can be helpful when time is short for editing. I still prefer to go through everything myself as you learn from each image you take-I believe it helps develop your eye and tehnique.
• Style Matching: Some AI tools can learn your editing style and apply it to batches of photos automatically. This his definitely useful-particularly when time is short and you want all images to have a similar look.
• AI Upscaling/Noise Reduction: Topaz Labs (Gigapixel, DeNoise) is excellent for enhancing image quality without losing detail. Useful! Just in case. May be preferable to upscale an image that a client decides they want to make a bill board out of.
• Prompts & Planning: You can even use AI to brainstorm shoot ideas, mood boards, or prompt story-driven photo concepts. Again speed related but ensure they are your ideas that you put forward. The client wants to see your style in the images.
Be aware of ethics & authenticity.
Clients still value realness—especially in genres like photojournalism or portraiture. Be transparent about your use of AI when it matters (e.g., heavy image manipulation or composites). You may find you want to be a more traditional photographer-make that decision and stick to it-clients may very well book you because of that.
Stay competitive.
Be proactive in generating new work and entering your work in awards, do exhibitions, Try and keep up to date with trends and styles in your chosen genre. But always ensure that you are you. Bring new ideas to regular clients, keep them keen, interested in your work and approach.
(As AI-generated images improve, knowing how to incorporate AI into your process will help you stay relevant. This includes learning how to use it to offer unique services or achieve visual styles that are hard to do manually.)
AI-generated imagery (e.g., Midjourney, DALL·E, etc.)
This is more relevant for commercial/fashion/product photography. Some brands are exploring AI-generated images to cut costs. But your skill in storytelling, human connection, and capturing emotion in real environments is something AI still can’t fake well.
Bottom line: Don’t fear AI—learn it, master it, and use it to elevate your human creativity.
1. Pre-Shoot: Planning & Inspiration
• AI Prompting & Storyboarding: Use ChatGPT or Midjourney prompts to generate mood boards, concepts, themes, or creative shot ideas.
• Tools: ChatGPT (that’s me), Midjourney, DALL·E, Pinterest + AI moodboard generators
• Tip: Describe your shoot idea in detail to get custom visual references you can show clients or collaborators.
2. During the Shoot: Assistive Tech
• AI-Powered Cameras: Some mirrorless cameras have AI autofocus that detects eyes, faces, animals, etc., and keeps them tack-sharp. Know how to fully use those features.
3. Post-Processing: Editing & Culling
• AI Culling Tools: Automate the painful part of selecting keepers.
• Tools: AfterShoot, Narrative Select
• AI Editing Tools: Speed up editing without losing your look.
• Tools:
• Imagen AI — learns your Lightroom editing style and batch-edits like you would
• Luminar Neo — powerful one-click edits with great sky and portrait tools
• Retouch4me — AI skin retouching, eye enhancement, and background cleanup
• Photoshop (with Generative Fill) — for creative edits, object removal, and scene extension
4. Output & Enhancement
• AI Upscaling & Restoration:
• Tools: Topaz Gigapixel AI, Topaz DeNoise AI, Remini
• Use these when clients want huge prints or you need to save a lower-res image.
5. Branding & Marketing
• Content Generation: Use AI to help you write social media captions, blog posts, or SEO-friendly descriptions.
• Tools: ChatGPT, Jasper, Notion AI
• AI-Generated Backgrounds or Concepts:
• Combine real photography with AI backgrounds or composite scenes to create surreal, editorial-style pieces.
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Knowledge is power. Have the knowledge and use it how you want.
Be aware though of the environment. Be sustainable and eco friendly in your process and approach on and off shoots. AI uses a lot of power which has a very negative impact on the environment. Decide on how you want to be seen as an artist. Ethics are important when you become a professional photographer.
As photographer follow the code of practice, act in a professional manner and be respectful to all in the team and talent. Show respect, gain respect, and you will run a very successful business.
https://photographersunited.co.uk/index.php/about/code-of-practice
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