AS friendly photography jobs?

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I'm thinking about going into the photography profession on a freelance basis. I mostly like to shoot candid photographs of people. I have some equipment to start off with, but I'm terrified of actually dealing with the people. I'm currently a freelance graphic designer, and while I do enjoy the work I do (but am losing interest quickly), I absolutely hate dealing with my clients. It's gotten better, but it was hell in the beginning, which is where I would be starting with photography.

Is there anything (professional) that I could do while I ease into the field and get my confidence up that won't completely freak me out? Thanks!

How do you feel around children? School photographers have to see alot of kids in a given day, but they only have to deal with the parents via those little envelopes (I assume, unless they have put this online now, it has been a bit since I have ordered any school photos).

Also, the photographers that are in house at places like Walmart or JC Penney are constantly hiring part time workers (at least where I live). You still have to deal with kids and parents, and would probably have terrible hours over holidays and such, but it could get you started without having to spend more money on your own equipment.

If those have too much interaction, someone out there photographs all the products that go into magazines and websites. As a jewelry maker, I know for sure that I am crap at taking photos of my pieces that I've made, although luckily I have a friend who is a professional photographer. You could start out doing photos for artist's websites and etsy shops of their paintings/ceramics/whatever.

hope that helps!

Not to mention food ! ! All those newspaper ads for apples that are on sale, or a bakeries goods posted on their website, or cookbooks. Two things I have seen, but don't know how well it works out, are professional pet portraits (people LOVE their pets), and professional car pictures for car collectors (who are VERY proud of their cars).
I guess these all require going out and meeting people and cutting deals, but maybe you can get a friend to help you with that.

(And post some of your pics ! ! I always enjoy seeing others work.)

I think Photography jobs in general are really drama-free if you ask me honestly. All you need to do is just pick a drama-free catergory. Stay away from Baby and Child Photography though. You can such things as fashion photography, landscape/aerial photography (meaning taking pictures from an airplane or a electric mini-copter), or event photography. You can even own your own studio where you can have helpers volunteering on the side as well, too. I am looking into possibly exploring this arena myself, actually.

Good advice right there. I interned as a photographer for a local newspaper last year and it was drama-free although I was uncomfortable approaching kids and strangers about taking their picture. I got better at approaching people over time but I still don't like doing it and doubt I ever will be comfortable doing it.



I love event photography and that was my strongest area working for a newspaper. I'm a sports fan so I'm almost always assigned to cover sports for the newspaper and also have my own personal clients of a baseball team and two racing teams. Covering events has helped me meet a lot of other photographers and some of them I've become friends with and I've found that helps me be more comfortable if I'm not the only one taking pictures at an event.

Maybe the thing to start with is product photography - i.e. photographing items for catalogs, which you can get paid for and you shouldn't need to interact with anyone except your employer.