Imagine having a high-paying career that lets you use your creativity to take photographs of people, recording forever their images and their lives. Welcome to the exciting world of the professional photographer.

When you become a professional photographer and start your own photography business you will have freedom, flexibility, and independence.

As a professional photographer you can work in an indoor studio, or you can choose to shoot photographs at peoples’ homes, event locations, or outdoors. You might even have your own home-based studio.

When you become a professional photographer, you will have many career options. In the FabJob Guide to Become a Professional Photographer you will discover how you can start your own photography business and succeed in the popular and profitable areas of portrait photography and wedding photography.

As a professional photographer with your own portrait and wedding photography business you could offer all types of photography services, or you might choose to specialize in the types of photographs that you most enjoy taking. For example, you could choose to offer photography services such as:

• family portraits
• wedding photography
• headshots for models and actors
• portraits of business executives
• high school graduation photos
• photographs of pets
• portraits of children
• pregnancy photography
• baby portraits
• photos for real estate agents
• glamour photography
• special event photography (e.g. anniversary parties, birthdays, religious ceremonies, private parties, etc.)
• home and business photography

Professional photography is a great business to get into right now. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the studio photography business will continue to grow over the next ten years. With more inexpensive and user-friendly digital cameras hitting the market every day, there’s never been a better time to become a professional photographer.

The guide covers topics of vital importance if you want to become a professional photographer and start your own photography business in the United States or Canada, including:

Taking and Selling Professional Portraits and Wedding Photographs

• Types of photography you may choose to specialize in, both in studio and on location
• The pros and cons of digital versus film, and advice on which to choose
• How to conduct an initial consultation with clients of your portrait or wedding photography business
• Bringing out the best in people during portrait and wedding photography, including:

• Tested-and-true techniques for taking great portraits of children
• How to help adults feel less self-conscious during portrait photography sessions
• Effectively working with brides and their families on the wedding day

• The industry standards for different types of headshots
• What you need to know about wedding photography

• Questions to ask the bride and groom before the wedding (plus questions they are sure to ask a wedding photographer)
• How and when to take formal wedding portraits
• Being ready to capture candid wedding moments
• A list of the typical must-have images for any wedding

• Preparing and presenting photographs that sell

• Digital editing and how it can help you sell more photographs (plus why too much editing can hurt your bottom line)
• Arranging a viewing session or posting photographs online (and what may be better suited to your market)
• A variety of fulfillment options for photography prints and albums
• Accessories you can add on to your orders

• Setting your prices as a professional portrait photographer or wedding photographer

• Charging session fees and day rates
• Selling enlargements
• Creating photography packages that sell more prints
• Adding value with additional services
• A comparison of basic vs. premium wedding photography packages
• Popular options for portrait photography packages

It can cost hundreds of dollars to take courses on starting a business, and chances are they will not include specific information about starting a photography business. The FabJob Guide to BECOME A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER contains some of the best business advice you could get from other sources, plus more