Education · 1 of 5

The path

There is no qualification. There is a portfolio, and there is a business.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 9 to 12

   Shoot constantly. Yearbook, school sports, local bands, anything with people in it. Volume is how you get good.

2. 2

   Assist or second shoot

   6 to 24 months

   Carry bags and lights for a working photographer, or shoot alongside a wedding photographer. You learn more in six months of this than in two years of classes.

3. 3

   Formal study, optional

   2 to 4 years

   A two year community college program or a four year degree in photography or visual media. Useful for technique, contacts and access to studio gear.

4. 4

   Register a business

   Weeks

   Get a business name, a bank account, contracts, insurance and a way to invoice. This is the step most talented people skip and regret.

5. 5

   Build repeat clients

   Years 2 to 5

   A steady income comes from clients who book you again, not from viral photos.