GregoryLike many people, when I look at a professional photographer, I think they must have had years and years of technical training.  This training equates to their success.  But what if you haven’t had years and years of technical training?  Can you still be a successful professional photographer?  I am proof – Yes You Can!
 
My journey into photography starts out pretty uneventful.  I had worked in factories all of my life – and being in Michigan – that meant sooner or later I would be laid off.  Sooner came and I found myself needing to put food on my family’s table.  I had a friend who took family photos on the side for extra cash.  I thought, “I can do that for a while until something else comes along”.  So….. out I went into the world of photography.
 
At this point I didn’t know the difference between an F-Stop and an ISO – And boy could you tell in my photos.  One image would be spot on and the next would be a mess.  This caused my frustration level to grow immensely.  So much so, that I had to make a choice – learn what the heck I was doing – or find a new way to make money.
 
Mind you – at this point – photography was still just a way to make money for me.  So off I started on a quest for knowledge.  I contacted every professional photographer I could get my hands on and read every book on the book store shelf.  Slowly but surely, I started to get it.  I could control my camera instead of my camera controlling me.  So knowing I could create technically decent images, I decided to devote myself full time to photography and not worry about finding a different job.  I planned to feed my family full time from photography.
  
So putting food on the table was great – but something was still missing.  Even though my images were starting to gain consistency, photography was still just a job.  I still couldn’t find a way to give my images that extra oomph that I saw in other photographers work.  I didn’t know how to make my images show emotion.  I was doing everything my clients asked for.  If they wanted traditional – I shot traditional.  If they wanted photojournalistic – I shot photojournalistic.  And still – I was not happy with my finished product – so I was not happy creating.  One day I came across a workshop that was being held in Chicago.   I recognized one of the people hosting the workshop as a name from one of the books I had read, and I thought hmmmmm….. her images are magnificent, perhaps her workshop will show me how to achieve that same look.  So I set off to learn from Bambi Cantrell and some other guy – Jerry Ghonis.
 
If some one would have told me that a one day workshop would entirely change my life – I definitely would not have believed them.  And yet – that is exactly what happened.  I learned that there is so much more to photography than just taking photos.  I learned about passion.  I learned that I not only control my camera, but I control the entire photo shoot.  I learned that it is ok to be “Me”.  I learned that I am a Rockstar!
 
On returning home, I announced to my wife that we had to change everything.  Our prices had to change, our style had to change, our entire attitude had to change.  Needless to say – since my wife did not attend the workshop (we barely scraped enough money together for me to attend – I think we even skipped paying a bill for me to go) she was not at all happy and not ready to get on board the “Rockstar” train.  But something had clicked inside me and I KNEW this was how I needed to function.
 
I started shooting with my vision infused into the photos.  I started telling my clients how the day would transpire instead of letting them tell me.  And a funny thing happened – my photos started to stand out.  My photos started to showcase that emotion that I had been striving for.  Now I not only looked forward to shooting, I yearned for it.  I got excited just thinking about it.  Before long I ate, breathed, and slept photography.  My passion and excitement started to overflow and I couldn’t wait to share everything I knew with anyone who wanted to hear about it.  
 
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This new found confidence had wonderful effects.  Our business grew by leaps and bounds.  Clients were choosing us because they liked the finished product, they liked our philosophy behind their day, they liked my energy – not just because they were price shopping.  People were learning the name “Schrader Photography” for all the right reasons.   My wife even became enthusiastic about the direction we were headed.  Now I had someone in my corner to give me that extra push when I needed it.  And there definitely were times when I needed it.  The first time I had to tell a bride during a consultation that I didn’t think we were the right photographer for her – and that I recommended she choose someone else – I nearly passed out.
 
There are days when I don’t like my images, days when I question whether or not I should call myself a professional photographer since I do not have the traditional technical background.  There are days when the bills seem to out weigh the income, days when there is always one more piece of equipment that I feel I need to add to my line up – and not enough money to add it.  Days when it seems every photographer in the world has a better handle on this industry than I do…….
 
And then I get an email from a bride who can’t thank me enough for her wonderful photos.  A bride who says she wants to get pregnant asap just so I can photograph her again.  A bridesmaid who tells me that her friend’s wedding was the most fun she has ever had – because of me.  A bridesmaid who tells me she wishes she could get married again – just so I could photograph her.   A mom who tells me that I captured their son (soon to be an adult) in his senior photos just as she has always envisioned him since he was a baby.  A pre-teen girl who tells me that I made her feel beautiful when she has always felt awkward.  These are the days that keep me going and keep me knowing that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.  I am a Rockstar Photographer!
 
With each passing day I am becoming more confident with my shooting.  I continue to learn from every photographer who will share their knowledge.  I read books, I read trade magazines, I read my camera manual.  I attend every workshop and trade show that I can afford – and even some that I can not afford!  I practice, practice, practice.  I pass the knowledge on to other photographers.  I love where my uneventful start in photography has taken me.  So if you are reading this article and wondering if you have what it takes to be a professional photographer – Yes You Do!