Think Professional Photography isn't worth it? Think again.

For months when I started this career, I have been told over and over by my own family members in which this is a job that will "never" be sustainable. One quote my father mentioned was "Kevin, everyone has a smartphone. They can take amazing photos straight out of the camera without ever having to hire someone to do it for them". Not exactly.

Sure, everyone can take a picture these days. However, does everyone know how to make good use of that photo and turn it into something gorgeous? That's what Professional Photography is here for.

It all starts with a photo.

Pictures represents a moment captured in time. Our best thoughts and cherished emotions come from a snap of a photographic lens. I would recommend you go take a look back at your memories, go through your attic, dust off the photos sitting in a box lonely for all those years, look at all the photos placed around the house and on your countertop, go look at your photo when you were a senior in your high school days and tell me here, what type of moment does it represent to you?

Back to the topic at hand however, professional photography can really help you stand out from the crowd. Someone who knows this industry down to the wire (Example: myself included.) can have a well - trained eye ensuring a photo coming out from the camera can evoke style or character. Also, when it comes from a Modeling, Business, or Real Estate aspect, you can expect a more polished look and feel for potential clients as well as buyers to look at.

"You can take amazing photos straight out of a camera or smartphone"

Take a look at one shot that I did with a previous client. This was right out of the camera. It may seem enough, but do you think it could be done better?

From the eye, this doesn't feel as pleasing as it should be. The dress lacks a lot of empathy due to how dull the color is. When I saw it for the first time, the dress was fabulous, however you can tell in the middle portion of her dress some of it was washed away in the shot. Color can really be enhanced in this picture throughout.

Continuing into my critique, background lighting and contrast need some or a lot of improvement. I can really see some potential if a little bit of shadow was dropped in there as well.

The end result says so.

Now, let's take a look at the finished product and all the critiques that I mentioned in the previous photo. It may look the same initially, but pay attention to the subtle details.

You can really see it is now pleasing to the eye. The background has dramatically changed from a bland stance to something that's eye - popping and well balanced. The hat that the subject is holding complements her perfect and refined skin tones.

Some shadowing was added to the stairs and around the picture as well as a bit of blur. With the dress however, a lot of color was recovered in the process. Compared with the one before, the actual colors of the dress stand true to the picture as a whole.

I wanted to visualize a welcoming pose of a new chapter in life. This person I worked with wanted to become a model. The hat being held in her hand to me represented a dream waiting to be accomplished. She may look off-kiltered by her age, however I remember one thing she told me during that photo shoot, "This is something I've always dreamed of. It's never too late to be who you want to become in your life".

More than the basics

With professional photography, it's a craft on what's needed in the photo and what shouldn't be in the photo. For me, I don't stop there. I have to look for inspiration from other projects or even my own to keep my creative juices flowing. It's more than just out of a camera, it's an imagination with multiple stories to tell out of one picture or even multiple pictures.

Stop trying to compare me to other people's smartphone pictures or your uncle's poorly conceived wedding shots. When creating something unique, quality control matters. Take a look at photos around social media networks and looking from the surface, mainly just group shots or quickly snapped pictures and hoping for a bunch of likes.

Most of the time when it comes to quality control, there's anxiety when if a photo is good or not. However, I take this a step at a time and as well - thought out as possible. To me, it's okay if one photo looks bad, there's always more down the line. As a photographer, I know the hardship of choosing a photo and wonder if I'm sure if it will even turn out good. I always keep my hopes up. Whatever it takes.

To conclude....

I'll wrap up what I said earlier, a picture represents a moment captured in time. Our moments are packaged in a 8 x 10 photo humans look at every day, month, or even year for the rest of our lives.

What was shown wasn't just a one and done situation. It takes commitment and a process. A process that can make or break the idea of a picture being turned into a storytelling visual. Each and every variable adds one layer into turning something considerably stunning. There are no shortcuts to a "good" photo. There are details that are always there and can always be improved, one edit and shot at a time.

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About the author

As a child growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota; I wanted a career that can inspire my creative ability and do work that matters to myself.

I want to make sure each and every person that sees me can have a long lasting impression in whichever light, shot, or creative idea that has meaning. The world is more colorful than the eye can see.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this article. It means a whole lot to me.

Made with love,

Kevin