What Classes to Take to Become a Photographer?

Artwork showing a person in a blue shirt kneeling to photograph sprouting plants with a smartphone in a natural setting.

You enjoy taking photos and feel that you can capture the world better than most on a camera. You’re the one who’s always taking great candid pictures of your friends for their social media. You don’t feel complete when you are out somewhere without your camera.

If all of these descriptions fit you, then congratulations! You’re at the right place. While many people enjoy photography as a hobby, very few have what it takes to turn their passion into a career.

This is where you begin your journey, by asking the very important question – what classes do I have to take to become a photographer and turn my hobby into a professional skill? Good news: that’s exactly what we’ll be discussing in this article!

Why Become a Photographer?

Companies invest in visual content for their branding, social media accounts, and marketing initiatives. This is why you can rest assured that as a photographer, you’ll never run out of opportunities. You can work as a part-time photographer for events while juggling another full-time role.

Also, photographers receive good wages. According to PayScale Australia, they earn AU$41,150 – AU$102,746 annually which makes it an attractive role for many.

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The Skills You Need

There’s a lot more grunt to photography than most people realise. While some companies only require their photographers the usual skills such as knowing how to take photos in different settings, exposures, and angles, some employers require their photographers to know how to post-process or edit images using Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, etc.

Meanwhile, if you’re interested in starting a photography business, you might also need to be equipped in marketing, administration, client management, accounting, finance, and more! You see, to truly turn your passion into a career, you need all of these skills to make sure you earn money.

The Classes You Can Take

There are a lot of photography courses to choose from in the market. If you want to know the basics of photography, then choose a more general course. On the other hand, if you’re interested in specialising in a specific type of photography (wedding, fashion, photojournalism), then choose a course that offers a more specialised set of modules.

In Australia, for instance, you can take a variety of certificate courses in photography especially designed around the unique environments offered here to practice: Sydney Harbor for still, and landscape photography, Adelaide Zoo for wildlife photography as well and the Melbourne Cricket Club for action and sports photo shoots. A wildlife photography course can refine your skills, making it essential for those looking to specialise in capturing nature’s essence.

You also need to consider your budget and availability in choosing what to study. If you’re a busy person who doesn’t have enough time to go to university, then studying for a photography certification might be a good option for you.

Types of Photography and Career Paths

We’ve enumerated different types of photography and career paths below to give you more insights if you’re keen on pursuing this kind of role.

Aerial Photography

Aerial photography is all about getting the bird’s eye views of natural and man-made landscapes. This type of photography involves a lot of flying in helicopters and planes as well as climbing mountains and tall monuments. If you’re not afraid of heights and love taking breathtaking photographs, this might be the career path for you.

Macro Photography

Do you like to zoom in on small objects and play around with the sharp details and the blurred backgrounds? That’s what macro photography is all about. Macro photographers usually work freelance and sell their work as stock photos or to book and science journal publishers.

Pet Photography

If you love animals, this is a great way to combine two passions. People love getting photos of their pets and pet photography is emerging as an actual career you can take courses for. With the rise of social media, people will pay premium rates for professional pet photographers to shoot unique photos of their dogs and cats. Pet photographers are also hired by pet show organisers to take event photos.

Advertisement and Food Photography

Ever seen those beautifully presented foods and other items in advertisements? That’s exactly what an advertisement/food photographer does. If compositions and presentations are your thing then this is the job for you. These photographers have to be top-notch at making items look super appealing.

Underwater Photography

If you love swimming and diving in Australia, you can also try underwater photography, potentially enhancing your skills with a Certificate in Marine Studies. Underwater photographers work alongside tourists, scientists, and even TV producers to capture the beauty of the marine world. You might also do some underwater fashion shoots for magazines and advertising agencies.

So now you know exactly what it takes to become a photographer and also what kind of classes you can take in order to equip yourself for the role.

If you have questions or queries about our online photography class, please don’t hesitate to let us know by clicking the orange button below and filling out the inquiry form.

We hope this blog post has fueled your passion for this picturesque career. All the best!

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