DSRL Amature MONEY MAKING! What,Why,How and...

It is very famous gadget, sometime people call it "my baby" (but not me), and others maybe just get it and use it without any happy expression (professional maybe).

Whatever it is, getting your first DSLR camera is not very easy, especially on budget. This is very serious toy to own. Money saving is the most painful part to own this baby. I also got one, and you know what, after you buy it, soon you will realize that you need to spend more to "feed" your baby...What?? Yup that is true. Most of the DSLR supplier will give you a basic equipment such as DSLR body, kit lens (commonly you will got 18-55mm kit lens), beg, tripod, battery grip (if you lucky enough) and maybe an extra battery (very rare).

So, after you study your toy seriously, then you know you got to invest some other equipment to the camera such as external flash, extra battery, new lens (depending on your style, and this could be very expensive) and other equipment.

Then you will definitely ask yourself...WHY DO I HAD TO SPENT MORE MONEY TO THIS SHIT!!!

Hehe, so now, I guess now you know why most of the professionals end their freelanced career to "Wedding Photography". Yup, they need to EARN MONEY, for their so-called baby and also for their own to.

WHERE SHOULD I START?

To get wedding photo shoot with your "low experience with basic kits and lack of confident and influent" is almost IMPOSSIBLE.
So the idea is first you need to get some people to know you as a good photographer

Start with BIRTHDAY PARTY!
Yup, this is very good for a start.But be careful, this kind of party usually done in indoor. Indoor means low sunlight, and it give you very slow shutter speed where you need to increase ISO level..And basically the photographer know what happen if they put ISO level to high.

Basically they pay you below RM100 for this event.

Too hard?

Here the tips:

Try to make the diffuser for your pop up flash (using tissue or paper or white film casing), so that you get better flash shoot (almost unnoticeable).

After that, use LOW ISO to reduce the noise effect.

try to use manual mode!
this part is very tricky where you need to adjust the shutter speed in constant aperture value and ISO with pop up flash turn on. The idea is to adjust the shutter speed to the right speed to get prefect light-entered to the photo.


This is the example of the photo using this method (with pop up flash, shutter about 1/13, ISO 200, f/4.5) the flash shoot almost unnoticeable



Now you get an BIRTHDAY PHOTO SHOOT. Next thing you need to create your portfolio.

Try to edit the photos nicely with Photoshop (don't manipulate it 100%, touch up is recommended) and print it as your portfolio! This is for your customer's reference and yours as well.




After the birthday party, try COUPLE/FRIEND GROUP photo shoot.

This event enable you earn up to RM200 below (it also depending on your photo editing's skill) hey, show your port folio!

This also an easy way to gain money, as your friend with their couple need a best photo for their own (pre wedding photo shoot maybe?).


(example of edited outdoor photo)

So in this task, you need to know the best spot in your city and also bring along your extra battery, charger perhaps, and also your lens hood. It is very important to avoid glare to enter the lens.

Mostly it will be done outdoor, such as at city, beach, park etc...and give you advantage on lighting..make sure use Low ISO possible.

Shooting outdoor may have problem with shadow. If your shoot the subject pose behind the sun (light source) it gives you shadow (silhouette). So to clear your subject, you need to use your flash even though your are outdoor.


(Silhouette..not really a Silhouette..)

WHAT ELSE I CAN DO AFTER THOSE BDAY PARTY AND OUTDOOR SHOOT?

try Convocation shoot! It pay you about RM 150 to RM 300 (base on your confident, also your print)

Same concept as the previous outdoor photo shoot, just make sure you not spoiled once-in-their-lifetime photo shooting^^

WHAT ELSE?

Now, after you earn your money, you enjoy your shoot, you know your equipment or your baby well...then

you need to buy a better equipment for the rest of photo shooting

Then? In this level, you already in "best photography"..and can now try to shoot wedding event! as you know alot of indoor and outdoor from your previous photo shoot outing^^

Equipment?

Try this

wide angle lense (about 10-20mm lens for short range an wide covered frame)
Flashgun (for nice bounce flash hit and enable you to use low ISO)

and off course, if you have enough money..invest new DSLR BODY..and shoot again, again, and again....the you will deserve "PRO-PHOTOGRAPHER"...with a lot of $$$$$ hehe~

Let start today!

(some of idea came from other professional's tips..credit to him^~^)