I started by getting really handy with a mostly manual camera (canon AE-1 and A1). I'd practice taking some candids at Birthday parties, friends parties, Christmas, etc. Then some friends were getting married, and some friends of friens, and I got them to agree to let me attend and shoot pictures to use in a portfolio if I give them a couple of 8x10s,or sometimes I was flat out envited. After about three of these I had enough for a small portfolio. With some online advertising I started booking small, cheap weddings. People that are only inviting 12 guests, or wouln't otherwise hire a photographer. I also assisted another wedding photographer on several giggs. Through online marketing another wedding photographer found me and asked me to assist him, or fill his position if he could double book weddings (they knowing I'd do the photography). He paid me a flat fee for every wedding and handled all the customer stuff. I did all this on top of my day job. Then I started the process of moving to a different state. I finished up my contract jobs,even got a short notice one, and then moved 12 hours away to start a family. Now that I'm in my own house and unpacking I've already booked one gig for next year, and I'm starting to get the marketing engine fired up. I'm by no means the awesomest wedding photographer out there, but I'm competent, I have enough jobs under my belt to know what I can handle, how things work, what deliverables are expected, and how to use my equipment to meet or hopefully exceed the expectations of the client. I'm still going after some lower end jobs, but I'm moving up the ladder, redesigning my website,and trying to attract better paying customers. I'm a little behind when it comes to knowledge on the "running a business" side because of assisting and contracting at least half the time. It's fun though, and I like it! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
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