What do you need to become a professional photographer?

Twilight one in Door County on July 31, 2008

Twilight Two in Door County on July 31, 2008

Twilight One in Door County on August 1, 2008

Twilight Two in Door County on August 1, 2008

These (above) pictures, the twilights were taken in Door County, Wisconsin, during our vacation days, which were from July 31st to August 4th.
The first two pictures were taken in the evening of July 31st, Thursday. It was cloudy. The second two pictures were taken in the evening of August 1st, Friday. Not that cloudy at that time. The evenings of August 2, 3 and 4 in Door County were cloudy. Even it was difficult to see the sun because of cloud.

Then, I remember a note from my diary of 1997. I took this note from a TV interview with a professional photographer. One of the questions was very interesting, which was about – what do you need to become a professional photographer? Since this is the era of almost every household has a camera and we also use it very often, I want to share about it with you, my reader. At least just for fun!

The question and answer was as below as far as I understood:

Q: What are the needs to become a professional photographer?

A: This is the question, which has asked often in seminars, as well. My instructors also told about this.
There are four needs to be a professional photographer. Everybody can learn about the first three and the last one cannot be taught because it is nature, not nurture. Here are the four basic needs to become a professional photographer:
(1) Drive: First of all, it is Diligence. You need to drive by yourself. For example, I want to get an excellent twilight photo. I can have twilight two times per day; in the morning and in the evening. If I want twilight photo of morning and according to local geographic, it is the best to get at about 5 or 6 AM, I have to get up at 4 AM in the morning. And yet, I have to check the lights of at 5 AM, 6AM, 7AM, 8AM, in order to get the most appropriate twilight or the best one. That’s the drive.
(2) Equipment: The second need is photographical equipment. However you are talent and you have diligence, unless you have good equipment, you cannot make excellent and professional photographs. You do need to have good equipment.
(3) Technical know-how: You need to have enough knowledge about the equipments and their related terms, which you use. (How the camera works; how the zoom works; how the colors work; how the resolution adjustment works, and so on.)
(4) The Eye: The final thing you need to have and, which is nature is – the Eye. You need to have artistic eye and view. It is nature, not nurture. Nobody can teach you about it. For me, I am seeing almost everything, just like a photograph, just like a picture. It is the Eye.

Now, you get four needs to become a professional photographer, which are DETE (Diligence, Equipment, Technical know-how and the Eye).

Have a good day!