How to Become a Museum Photographer

Many people do not understand the technique and skill required to become a photographer. In addition to keeping up with the latest technological trends, you must also have an eye for capturing your subject as well as the capacity for handling client relationships, which in many cases, conflict with your personal and professional opinion on your craft. However, the rewards can be huge as every photographer will tell you that the headaches are all worth it every time they get the shot; the one that nets them large monetary wage as well as critical acclaim. Museum photography allows you the opportunity to do just that. Here are some tips on how to get involved in this rewarding, yet challenging, industry.

Instructions

1. Invest in quality equipment. This is the most important aspect of museum photography. You must have a camera capable of capturing art in a number of mediums, from sculpture to paintings to moving exhibits and more. Keep in mind that many photographers are still using film format to shoot art photography of any kind as many say they kind it doesn't distort color values and just has the best overall quality. However, digital cameras are catching up in terms of quality, so the choice is simply a matter of personal preference. However, since most camera technology is trending towards digital, for the purposes of the most modern take on museum photography, here are some great digital cameras for the job:* Fuji S2: This is a digital camera and one of the few on the market that boasts the best color balance. * Leica M8: The newest digital rangefinder camera, which makes it easy to capture tight and wide-angle shots. They are easy to focus in low light, which is the case for many museum settings, and come in a compact body, owning to the art photographer's creed of shooting better with less equipment.* Nikon D3: It has a 51 point auto focus, boasts picture control settings that give new meaning to color control for photographers and features a fairly modest 12MP resolution,It's important to note that the camera is not what makes a good shot; it's your ability to capture to beauty behind the subject of your photograph. This talent is not acquired overnight. It takes time, practice and an innate ability to see beyond what is being shown in your lens.

2. Practice, practice, practice. The only way to land the museum job of your dreams is to be able to show future employers that you have the experience needed to get the job done. The best way to gain this experience is through practice. This could be in the form of internships, paid gigs, freelance jobs and more. The more work you take on that fits this particular type of photography, the better your chances are for landing a museum photography gig in the future.

3. Market yourself. If you want to be a museum photographer, you need to market yourself accordingly. This means if you show your photographs, you need to show shots in this particular medium. If you have business cards or other marketing materials, you should prominently feature art photography. In addition, if you have a portfolio, an entire section of it should feature the kind of photography that museums like to see. Alternatively, you should be able to shoot a range of photography styles, as many employers still like to see versatility in a photographer's portfolio. This means that while art photography may be your specialty, you are still able to shoot other types of subjects.

4. Maintain a portfolio. This is a photographer's calling card and the one thing that lands jobs better than anything else does. Your portfolio should look neat, professional and impressive. Meaning your photographs shouldn't be located in something that looks like a photo album. You should have it properly bound and your photographs professionally framed. Moreover, photos should be printed at the highest resolution possible and in the proper format. A good portfolio is one of your best chances at landing a great museum photography job.

Tips & Warnings

• A good image-editing program is as important to a museum photographer as the camera itself. Programs like Macromedia Fireworks or Adobe Photoshop will allow you to go into a photograph, remove imperfections and manipulate it as needed to get the best art photography possible. The initial investment in one of these programs may be costly; however, the result is well worth it.

• Investing in a quality collection of lenses is also as important as the camera itself. Different lenses have different purposes and a good variety within your collection will guarantee that you can shoot just about any kind of art, no matter what they medium may be.