How to Become a Studio Photographer

With proper education, practice and determination, the skills for becoming a studio photographer can lead to a rewarding career. A creative eye, attention to detail and outgoing personality will help you succeed at a career in studio photography. Here is a guide on how to become a studio photographer.

Instructions

1. Learn your camera skills. Knowing how to use all the settings on your camera, including shutter speed, aperture, white balance, film speed settings and exposure compensation modes. Becoming a studio photographer requires the ability to troubleshoot exposure problems with your camera, so you must know what to do and be prepared.

2. Learn lighting skills. Take classes specifically on studio lighting. Learning through trial and error is also an option, but will take longer. Get familiar will fill lights, main lights, background lighting and hair lights, since they are all used in studio photography.

3. Get comfortable with photographing all ages of people. Photographing an infant should be just as comfortable for you as photographing a family of 10. Studio photographers have to take all types of appointments. If you narrow your services to just one or two groups of clients, you will never succeed.

4. Take classes or get an apprenticeship. Shooting in a studio is very different from taking snapshots outdoors. Taking classes will teach you how to make studio lighting work with your camera. Sunlight and the built-in flash are no longer your only sources of light. Working with a variety of lighting patterns and setups through classes or a work experience will make you a better studio photographer.

5. Practice as often as possible. Take pictures constantly. Practice your framing, posing and exposure skills. Test yourself in difficult lighting situations or with a cranky child. Gain experiences every chance you can get. This will help prepare you for the variety of clients that will come to your studio.

6. Exercise your creativity. Try a variety of poses and lighting patterns to become a better studio photographer. Reach out of your comfort zone and try new things after you have photographed the standard poses. Experimenting will keep your style lively and ever evolving.

Tips & Warnings

• Never experiment with studio lighting without the supervision of someone who is experienced with the equipment. Power boxes carry a high voltage charge and become dangerous when not properly attached to your camera equipment. You don’t want a power surge to damage your camera.

• Studio strobes and modeling lights can become very hot. Never leave them unattended, as they may pose a fire hazard.