| Truly, many professionals in the photography | | | | Let me underline that I cannot recommend the |
| business are having a degree in photography from | | | | potential photographer to engage in micro stock |
| one of the different schools of photography, schools | | | | agencies. They pay too little, and you will have too |
| of art with a specialization in photography or press | | | | many pictures flowing around in cyberspace without |
| photographers education on schools of journalism etc. | | | | having enough control of their use. |
| Programs like Professional Photography, Digital | | | | May be my advice on life style shooting isn't making |
| Photography, Mass Communication and Graphic | | | | you happy as your dream was to become a wildlife |
| Design are among the offers at colleges and | | | | photographer or a similar kind of specialization as a |
| universities to get a professional photographer | | | | photographer. Never mind, include that kind of stock |
| degree. | | | | photos among your submissions to your chosen |
| But what I am focusing on is the possibility of people | | | | stock photo agency and let the sales reports tell you |
| skilled in photography without the basic training and | | | | what to focus on. But remember the life style |
| with another full time day job who want to live out | | | | photos. |
| their dream of being a photographer. The individual | | | | Commissioned photography as an alternative to |
| history of now well established photographers are | | | | stock photography to become a photographer |
| showing a diversity of paths to their career as | | | | An alternative to the approach mentioned becoming |
| photographers but here I will first emphasise the | | | | a stock photographer is to focus on the needs of |
| potential of starting the photographic career as a | | | | individual customers and to develop a reputation as |
| part time stock photographer. | | | | one of the freelance photographers available for |
| If the dream is to become a photographer and the | | | | special photo needs like: |
| question accordingly is how to become a | | | | - Shooting special events in a company |
| photographer this could be a no-risk opportunity for | | | | - Private weddings for couples that cannot afford to |
| the engaged amateur photographer who wants to | | | | hire a fully professional wedding photographer |
| change his/her life situation. As the stock | | | | - Photography for small business' websites, including |
| photography business is a very dynamic field it might | | | | product photography. |
| be difficult to give advice of any persistency, but let | | | | - Pet photography, as many people have their pet as |
| my try anyway. | | | | their most valued partner in life. Pet photographers |
| How to become a photographer through work for | | | | specializing in taking pictures of people's dogs, cats, |
| stock photo agencies | | | | hamsters, birds etc. might be able to do very well. |
| Income for photographers from stock photography | | | | - Equine photography. Similar to pet photographers |
| has been under attack for years but the kinds of | | | | equine photographers might be able to get a decent |
| photography that keeps the income and position best | | | | income part-time as a path to becoming a full time |
| is related to up to date model released photography | | | | photographer. Often the sessions on equine |
| with a focus on lifestyle and with a strong conceptual | | | | photography can be scheduled for weekends making |
| mood. | | | | it easier to combine with a full time job. |
| As that is also an area that are most difficult for the | | | | The beauty of this answer to the question how to |
| general amateur photographer to deliver of | | | | become a photographer is that some of these kinds |
| professional quality I strongly recommend this field as | | | | of photography can be combined with submitting |
| the focus point for the potential full income | | | | selected pictures of the commissioned work for |
| professional photographer. The submissions of photos | | | | stock agencies; just keep in mind to get all needed |
| to one or more of the professional photo agencies | | | | kinds of releases. |
| of this kind of stock photography will be able to | | | | Well established areas populated with lots of party |
| direct the person who wants to become a full time | | | | photographers, school photographers, travel group |
| professional photographer. | | | | photographers etc. might be difficult to dig into, |
| This will come through the continuously improvement | | | | unless you have a nerve for it and want to go for it. |
| of his or her style for shooting, as stock | | | | To run a portrait studio might also be a difficulty part |
| photography is a tuff marketplace with rather fast | | | | time area but to offer portraits etc. at homes of |
| response to trends and buyers requests. At the | | | | people might be an option, too. |
| same time these photos might generate enough | | | | Conclusion: To become a photographer through |
| income to support further training to become a full | | | | engagement in stock photography might be your |
| time photographer. | | | | best option. |