I know it's so easy to jump on social media (usually Facebook) and start locally advertising yourself as a professional.

### <center>Why not? You just bought a "professional camera", right?</center>

<center>https://improvephotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Fotolia_25858311_XS.jpg</center><center><sup>[Image Source](https://improvephotography.com/11018/14-tips-for-building-a-sub-1000-home-studio/)</sup></center>

I know that camera, all shiny and new, is just calling your name. What you think you hear it saying is that you can give up your day job and make money by barely lifting a finger...literally. You think it's whispering, "Freedom.... Money.... Fire your boss... Love your job!"

<center>http://www.redhawkestates.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/easy-money.jpg</center><center><sup>[Image Source](http://megad.tk/kihu/easy-money-tifi.php)</sup></center>

<center>With the exception of loving your job, I am here to tell you...</center>
# <center>Your camera is telling you lies.</center>
<p></p>

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWtTdii9vuv8PTNGESNGzHZHByrCyZEC3HgqNjyPTTJYa/image.png)</center><center><sup>[Image Source](http://www.azquotes.com/quote/1433512)</sup></center>

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNowW8EosrSj1CVJt3y5ZMTh7DkLPfhqmQtYaLBqJz7yx/image.png)</center>

If you do this right, you're going to love it more than you have ever loved anything in your life.

## What you don't realize is: <p></p>

- You're probably not going to make any money for a good while. 
*In the US, even the IRS expects you, as a new business, to show a loss for the first few years.*

- Now, instead of only one boss, you have *many* bosses.
<center>http://www.cleanlink.com/resources/editorial/2016/bosses.jpg</center><center><sup>[Image Source](http://www.cleanlink.com/cleanlinkminute/details/Cleaning-With-Too-Many-Bosses--48762)</sup></center>

- You have many more things to keep track of like taxes, licenses, your own education, quality control, inventory, gear maintenance, advertising, customer service, collections, fraud (you'd be surprised how often you get contacted via Facebook & email from scammers who specifically target photographers), and so on...

<center>http://i.imgur.com/CR9LGXQm.png</center><center><sup>[Image Source](http://www.autismafter16.com/article/05-22-2013/too-many-hats)</sup></center>

- You no longer clock out and go home. Being a business owner is 24/7.

- You are about to create a being that requires more time, attention, and nurturing than a living, breathing child.

- You've actually just *given up* some of your freedom, not gained it.

<center>http://www.businesslawgr.com/uploads/1/2/5/8/12580857/474126421.jpg</center><center><sup>[Image Source](http://www.businesslawgr.com/)</sup></center>

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQnAJn2qDgBHghpfm8tfVJoWKGKnb6Gk6ng4683zF1dfw/image.png)</center>

# <center>We all had to start somewhere...</center>
<center>...so here are a few things you should probably know and take to heart:</center>

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQme5dHzTqU5MN2T5yZRM6S7nacwJjoB8XfBCkAVASLzeiW/image.png)</center>

### 1. ***The very moment you start posting on social media (particulary Facebook) asking for session bookings, you are considered as advertising your services.***
<center>http://www.kennesaw-ga.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/license-application-1-300x182.jpg</center><center><sup>[Image Source](http://www.kennesaw-ga.gov/business-license/)</sup></center> That means, depending on where you live, you're going to need a business license and a tax ID. If they find you and you don't have it, they'll contact you. We've seen it happen.
You'll need a proper, secure way to take payments from clients so that their sensitive information is kept safe. You won't always just be paid in cash. In fact, more often than not you'll probably get a check.
You'll need a client contract to keep yourself safe.
If you do not have these things and you are already trying to take clients, you are building a foundation of sand that will eventually fall apart.

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQme5dHzTqU5MN2T5yZRM6S7nacwJjoB8XfBCkAVASLzeiW/image.png)</center>

### 2. ***Leave important events like weddings and newborns to more experienced photographers.***
<center>http://i.imgur.com/9XFYITEm.png</center><center><sup>[Image Source](https://onmogul.com/products/top-5-features-of-a-qualified-wedding-photographer)</sup></center> It's not because we don't like you. It's because these are the biggest moments in some people's lives. It's because people sue over things like this. These are the kind of things that end friendships and careers. We are just trying to help you. If you want to expand to these types of photography, we recommend possibly contacting photographers in your area to see if any of them are willing to let you shadow. In fact, offering an extra pair of hands to assist with simple tasks can sometimes get your foot in the door. 

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQme5dHzTqU5MN2T5yZRM6S7nacwJjoB8XfBCkAVASLzeiW/image.png)</center>

### 3. ***Do not - I repeat, DO NOT - use other photographer's work to advertise yourself in any way, shape, or form.*** 
<center>http://cdn3.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/preventimagetheft.png</center><center><sup>[Image Source](http://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/4-ways-to-prevent-image-theft-in-wordpress/)</sup></center> If you want to create pictures that look like that image you love, go out and create them. Then, voilà! You now have something to advertise with.
Snagging a photo from Google even just to "show the *kind* of photography" that you want to provide is stealing someone else's hard work for *your* own gain. Display only your own images. No excuses here.

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQme5dHzTqU5MN2T5yZRM6S7nacwJjoB8XfBCkAVASLzeiW/image.png)</center>

### 4. ***Professional family photographs should not look like Instagram shots.*** 
<center>http://cdn.cosmo.ph/how-tochoose-the-best-instagram-filter-main-image.jpg</center><center><sup>[Image Source](http://www.cosmo.ph/celebs/entertainment/how-to-choose-the-best-instagram-filter)</sup></center> It's incredibly easy to get carried away and over-edit a photo, and this was a hard lesson for me to learn, myself. THESE PHOTOS DO NOT PRINT WELL.
Since were on the subject of printing, also watch your horizons and your vignettes in editing. 
A little tilt in your horizon is great, but when the baby looks like it's going to start rolling downhill at any moment, you've gone too far.

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQme5dHzTqU5MN2T5yZRM6S7nacwJjoB8XfBCkAVASLzeiW/image.png)</center>

### 5. ***Don't talk bad about your clients on social media. Ever.***
<center>https://liceremovaladvice.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/badmouthingyourcompetitors-1.jpg?w=240</center><center><sup>[Image Source](https://liceremovaladvice.com/2013/08/03/bad-mouthing-the-competition-is-it-a-good-idea/)</sup></center> I could write a book on why this is a bad idea, yet I still see people who have been photographers as long as I have who do it. 
It's unprofessional and it's embarrassing. Stop.

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQme5dHzTqU5MN2T5yZRM6S7nacwJjoB8XfBCkAVASLzeiW/image.png)</center>

### 6. ***Lastly, the biggest piece of advice I have is learn, learn, learn!***
<center>![](http://i.imgur.com/Cz70RU8l.png)</center><center><sup>[Image Source](https://www.haikudeck.com/never-stop-learning-education-presentation-TjLFJE99lI)</sup></center> Learn the industry standards, they exist for a reason!

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQme5dHzTqU5MN2T5yZRM6S7nacwJjoB8XfBCkAVASLzeiW/image.png)</center>

These are a few things that will put you on the road to becoming a professional photographer, not just owning a "professional camera" and having a Facebook page.

# Good luck!!

<center>![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcyq4KMoBbZF28JB7ycXsQ4evHSJ65TPyozpjz8n845qy/image.png)</center>

This post was authored by my fiance, @jazzyfish. She originally posted it as a rant on Facebook, but I told her this needed to be on Steemit. To give her as wide an audience as I felt this post deserved, we agreed that posting it on my page with a credit to her would be the best bet. I edited her post, did a little wordsmithing, and added photos and formatting. We hope you enjoyed the read. :)

Oh, and go follow @jazzyfish if you're not already!

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