To take awesome pictures of buildings and get paid to do it is the main goal of the professional architectural photographer. But it is more than just clinical photos of buildings and walls, but it is also an art form in itself and the results can be very beautiful. Photographers who can naturally see the beauty in a brick wall are very valuable commodities in this profession, so start taking pictures and build up your portfolio.
Instructions
1. Go to school if you would like a formal education that will help your clients think of you as a dedicated professional, but in reality, a formal education is not a necessity for this job. The degree will also help you to project your abilities as an architectural photographer and get hired much more quickly. While it may not be completely necessary to have formal schooling to get into this business it does make things a bit easier for you.
2. Go to a good technical photographic school where they will teach you the correct and accepted ways of doing things as opposed to the "bad" habits that a professional photographer may pick up from assisting other photographers. Get a well formed education in your chosen profession and have a fully developed photographic portfolio when you graduate and begin looking for work.
3. Check out other photographer's portfolios (the visual record they keep of their photographic work) in order to get some idea of the style of architectural photography that is making it big in today's market. In other words, keep abreast of the current trends in this business to stay competitive.
4. Become an assistant to an already established photographer. This is how most of the successful architectural photographers get started and it is a far more valuable method than schooling as it teaches things you won't learn in a classroom, do the whole job rather than just the photography itself. This means handling equipment, carrying lights, cameras, lenses, film and various other necessities, plus gaining a full measure of experience on do the job correctly.
5. Talk to photographers who are working in your chosen field, study their work, read up on the newest trends in architectural photography and make yourself available to architects, magazine editors and developers. Make sure you have a spectacular portfolio to show off wherever you go, and keep your resume updated so it is always current.
