I am a photographer. I love light and manipulating it to create beautiful images. I’ve been fairly successful--as a photographer--not necessarily as a businessman. I’m “self-taught” (with a lot of mentors along the way) and like many of you, bought the books and went to seminars about lighting. My education lacked what I now know was/is a critically important component: I did not study enough of the business aspects of photography. If you want to make a living with your camera, then you HAVE to learn the business side. Kirk Tuck has written an outstanding primer on starting and running a photography business. Hold on to your hats though--this book is written in a no nonsense style that is brutally honest. It’s a style that I find refreshing, but it might frighten the weak of heart. However, if you are serious about making a run as a professional photographer, then Tuck’s book is a great place to start. Tuck states that he  likes lists. Here is a list of some of what I found extremely helpful in the book:

Tuck does not ignore wedding and portrait photographers; his definition of “commercial photography”’ is creating images for a profit.

I am at a point in my career where I am looking to shift gears. My “focus” (no pun intended) is shifting to teaching photography. You can bet that I’ll be adapting many of the ideas in the Commercial Photographer’s Handbook to fit the needs of my school. 

So, you want to become a professional photographer? Put down the lighting book and study this Handbook.

 

Reviewed By: Stephen Dantzig