If your a photographer, how did you become one?

[southernbelle_amy]

I am fairly new to photography, but I am so excited about it. I want to learn more and I have been studying everything I can. I have a pretty typical "8-5" job, part time 3 days a week and a new baby. I really would like shooting some photos, and have thought about doing my friend's families and seeing where it took me. I wouldn't do it to "make money", just more to express myself, at least at first.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get started?

[VVFF]

I am fairly new to photography, but I am so excited about it. I want to learn more and I have been studying everything I can. I have a pretty typical "8-5" job, part time 3 days a week and a new baby. I really would like shooting some photos, and have thought about doing my friend's families and seeing where it took me. I wouldn't do it to "make money", just more to express myself, at least at first.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get started?

A "Photographer" is a term you apply to yourself. No one can truly tell oyu you aren't one. You can call yourself a photographer whenever you feel comfortable calling yourself one.

So, my recommendation, is to go out and take a pictures. Don't settle for mediocre. If your picture isn't great, don't feel you have to keep it. Figure out what it is that separates a good picture from a great one. Learn as many details about HOW to take a pictures as possible. Oh, and have fun!

[Experiment_626]

I am fairly new to photography, but I am so excited about it. I want to learn more and I have been studying everything I can.Well, that's a big part of it right there. Keep at it and keep that enthusiasm and you can't help but get better. My advice is to learn something new and practice it, then repeat the process forever. Don't worry that you quite understand something that seems a little advanced. Lots of photography skills are built on the structure of other skills that you learn first. Just keep at it and always try to be learning something new, or perfecting things you already understand.

[deletedpenguin]

VVFF hit it on the nose. I think when you start thinking about the photo you're about to take, rather than just "snapping a photo", you're a photographer. You don't have to be the best on the block necessarily, but when you start thinking about framing, composition, exposure, depth of field, you're there...

[southernbelle_amy]

Thanks so far. I've noticed that all of the sudden I am thinking about my friend's kids, or a pregnant coworker, and of course my son, and how I would "shoot" them. Technically I know I am not there, but I think I could come up with some pretty creative things.

[Chikabowa]

I would suggest becoming a member of ilovephotography.com. It's real-life working and successful portrait photographers (well, all sorts of photographers, honestly, it's just dedicated to child-portrait photographers) who help new photographers along. While there is a serious business aspect to the boards, that is all on the application/paid side, and the free side is open to anyone who wants to learn photography. You'll have some of the biggest names out there pop into a post and give advice and help.

It's not for the faint of heart, the CC is blunt and to the point, but never in the 4 years I've been a member have I ever seen anyone purposely hurt another person or degrade someone. You just have to realize you have REALLY good photographers who are taking the time to teach you how to be better.

I highly recommend that you pop over there as it is a treasure-trove of information (especially when you use the search function!).

[southernbelle_amy]

Great website, thanks

[brack]

I bought a camera and started taking photos and not pictures. :goodvibes Now I think of a photo possibility even when I do not have my camera with me.