For many years, I’ve been quoted from time to time by friends that I should go “professional” or that my photography skills are good enough to start charging people.
I’m not really sure why I haven’t gone professional and I have tried to charge for my services outside of comic con events. It’s not like I’ve started being a photographer for a few years or so, I’ve been taking photos for 9 years as of writing this article. I’ve continually tried to improve on my post editing skills with my re-edit project during the lockdown period and try and test different techniques with my camera. I never think I’m the finished article. I’m self-taught from all that I know, getting lessons/tips from friends at comic con, YouTube videos, and reading articles/tutorials.
I’ve many times offered myself services outside of comic con events to take photos of cosplayers at a set fee of their cosplay but few people take up my offer. And I think if I was a Cosplayer why would I want to pay for a photographer where I can attend the comic con and get photos for free and have an Ocean of photographers to pick from. Since lockdown, cosplayers have taken it upon themselves to learn how to take photos of themselves, so why would a cosplayer go back to asking someone to take their photo when they can take it themselves and have more control over the photo.
Talking about an ocean of photographers, there are so many photographers out there of various levels and skills that can be found at comic con and online, it can be hard to stand out so you have to be so good at what you do or offer something really different to everyone else.
I think the combination of what I just said, turns me away from being a professional as I find it hard to believe I’m good enough to become a professional. I love being a cosplay photographer as a hobby but primarily want to keep it as a hobby, nothing more. I wouldn’t want to become a full-time photographer knowing what it takes to be a self-employed person, I’m the type of person who wants to have a regular income and want to have photography to either express my creativity and where possible to earn extra money from it.
The lack of appointments to take photos does dent my confidence in my own ability as a photographer as I’m my head. I’m judged as a photographer in the photos I take, but without content to take photos or edit, it is very hard to feel good about one’s ability. I can imagine it’s similar to a cosplayer who makes or buys a cosplay, and no one either comments or takes photos of your cosplay.
Another huge factor is that I don’t think I’m good enough to go professional. I’m not sure what the mental roadblock which is preventing me. It’s possibly the lack of training that I don’t know what I’m truly doing with my camera, lighting rigs, or even how to effectively post edit photos.
I’ve never ever wanted to go professional when it came to photography. At the moment I’m enjoying it as a hobby and enjoy bringing smiles to people when I bring their cosplays to life in my photos. I would love to shoot more on-location shoots with people, both cosplay and fashion shoot to keep improving my skills and meet lots of people.
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One response to “Why I haven’t gone Pro as a Photographer”
[…] a previous article I wrote, I explained why I’ve never gone professional with my photography, as I don’t think I’m good enough, don’t have a full skill set to do photography […]