We’ve all heard the saying, “You have to spend money to make money.” You should consider that true when contemplating a career as a photographer. Not to discourage, but if you have dipped your toe in photography as an amateur, you already know that even basic equipment can be costly, however, if you are considering turning your hobby into a profession, the cost of equipment could rise exponentially.
In most cases, as a professional photographer, you will be responsible for providing your own tools to work with, however, in some cases, an employer or a school program will provide the equipment needed, or at least the specialty equipment.
Before beginning your certification program or an online Bachelor’s of Photography degree program, you must be sufficiently familiar with the proper equipment needed to do a good job. Depending on your area of specialization, be sure to do your research on your program’s requirements.
Certain pieces of equipment used in photography, you will not want to skimp on, such as, in the quality of your camera and lens. If you have been shopping around, you will quickly realize that cameras come in a wide array of prices, as well as, different types. Do you intend to specialize in weddings? You will need to prepare for low lighting. Will you be photographing landscapes in the bright sun? You may need to be prepared to deal with too much light. Does your interest lie in the field of sports? Perhaps a zoom lens would be helpful. Research what camera type you will need for the subjects you intend to shoot before purchasing or entering a degree program.
Other components needed may include a camera lens filter, light filters and reflectors, a tri-pod, external hard drive, a color checker, memory cards, cleaning supplies, rechargeable batteries, as well as, equipment bags for carrying your gear, just to name a few.
In addition, you will need to invest in graphic or photo-imaging software, database user software and accounting software. You may also need spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel and WordPress for creating websites.
Although the equipment costs for a career in photography can be exorbitant, at times, remember that you do get what you pay for and quality equipment will help you produce quality photos. However, do not let costly tools keep you from seeing your dream career come to fruition. With hard work and dedication, you can start at the bottom and work your way up. If you would like to learn more about photography, please see our list of the Top Online Schools for Photography Degree Programs that we have compiled for your convenience.