I have been witnessing a disturbing trend over the course of the last few years, predominantly in the various photography related groups on a popular social media platform. This trend is people who purchase their first camera and they want tips on starting a photography business.

The absolute worse offenders are the ones who purchase a camera on Friday and think they’re ready to shoot their friend’s wedding the following Saturday. WTAF to that for sure!

Let me ask you; would you buy an instrument you’ve never played like; let’s say a piano and think you would be ready to perform with the New York or any Philharmonic Orchestra in a couple months?

Of course not. That, unless you were some kind of musical savant would be silly to think that way right?

Think about all the time it would take to learn how to play the instrument at the most basic level proficiently let alone how long would it take to get so good you could play ‘La Campanella’ well.

The same applies here. The LAST thing you should be thinking about doing at THIS point is trying to do photography as a business. You have a LOT to learn just to be proficient at the most basic level to get consistent results.

Think about what it would take to get good, let alone master playing piano. Apply those same things to photography.

There are steps to this. It’s not a “I bought a camera I’ve never used, or I took photography in High School years ago and I’m ready to start up again and make money because it looks easy.” proposition.

The people who make money at this while creating visually stunning images have spent years developing their skills. They’ve spent countless hours learning how to expose, compose, and shoot to get their shots as right as possible in the first time in camera.

Those people learned how to do what they do by practicing for hours per day, every day. They maybe took classes or at least found mentors who helped them along. They received and were open to critique. Sometimes hard to hear if not harsh criticism of their work to help them develop their skills.

Thinking you are ready to enter the exciting world of photography as a professional because you have a camera, some editing software and have done a mere handful of photoshoots is insulting to those men and women who have spent years paying their dues.

STOP IT!