Here's how you can set realistic goals and deadlines in your photography career.

Considering a career in photography? The first bit of advice I can give you is to get that business license. Once you accept even a single dollar for your work, you are liable to pay sales tax. Trust me, others will report any they come across without the proper licensing. After that, I'd say hone your skills as a photographer so you can offer the very best final product to your client. There is a LOT to learn about photography/lighting. To get the clients, I recommend learning about SEO for your website, Facebook ads, and Google Ads. BUT, nothing beats the power of face to face networking. Join other photographic communities, local civic groups, your school functions, etc. Get your face and your name out there.

When I was studying photography my lecturer used to say “Any fool can take a photograph, it’s unfortunate that so many do” I felt that was rather cruel and somewhat elitist. Over the years I realised that what he actually meant was that that making a good photograph involved much more than pressing a button. Lens based imagery has changed exponentially since my college years. The traditional darkroom has all but disappeared. However, the factor that remains constant is Quality. No matter what equipment you are using your focus should be on using the equipment at your disposal to secure an outstanding result. Whatever you I wish you success.

If you are considering a career in photography, I would suggest you join your local Photography Guild and talk to the other members. The conversation usually starts with what do you shot which could mean what genre of photography or what camera, either way once the conversation starts they will help guide you to find the right mentor. Finding a mentor is priceless...

This is step is absolutely VITAL. You really need to spend time thinking about what success looks like to you in regards to your photography. If success means having a big social media following, your goals and tactics might be different than if success means you can support your family on the income generated by your photography. Keep in mind, there is no wrong answer here. But it IS important to be aware that you can't BE successful if you haven't DEFINED what successful looks like.

Defining success is such a personal decision, and one that can change over time. What success looks like early in your career may, and should, look different several years in. But it'll also be different from the guy down the street. Success doesn't have to mean lots of money either. It can mean what your lifestyle could look like, personal and/or artistic goals, recognition from others. You need to decide for yourself what that looks like.

A very helpful view. There is no point in saying that you want recognition as a master photographer if you don’t spend time learning what that entails. You also need to accept that many famous photographers only received recognition late on in their careers. On the other hand, deciding to specialise in a niche area that you know a great deal about will enable you to establish your reputation. Real passion always helps Produce outstanding work and success may well follow

Small victories are good for morale. However we often learn far more from our failures! The important thing is to avoid making the same mistakes multiple times. Breaking things down helps us understand which tasks can be simplified and restructured. Analysis of this kind should inform your planning and decision making in a positive way.

Know where you want to be then figure out what it'll take to get there. If you don't have a destination in mind when you start, you won't know how to map out how to get there. You should also give yourself smaller goals to aim for to help keep you on course. These not only keep you on track, but give you opportunities to celebrate along the way.

This is true and very much part of professional organisation. Using flow charts which pin point deadlines and way points should keep you on track and enable you to manage your time budget successfully

Setting realistic goals and deadlines in your photography career begins with clarity. Define specific objectives like learning a new technique or securing a certain number of clients. Break these down into smaller, actionable steps with deadlines—this keeps you focused and motivated. Consider your current skill level and resources to ensure achievability. Regularly review and adjust goals as needed to stay on track and maintain momentum towards your professional aspirations.

Reflexiona sobre dónde te gustaría estar en 5 o 10 a?os. ?Quieres ser un fotógrafo reconocido internacionalmente? ?Dirigir tu propio estudio? ?Especializarte en un tipo específico de fotografía?

No le veo futuro a tratar de ser fotógrafo en estos días...si tuviera que volver a empezar, - 2024 hacia adelante- me dedicaría de lleno a la AI y dejaría en un segundo plano el equipo fotográfico...ojo, en un segundo plano no quiere decir que no haya que invertir en equipo actualizado. Realmente me lo pensaría dos veces...la fotografía es un cadáver insepulto. Hágase hacker!!