How do I start my photography career young?

leahdeah2000: How do I start my photography career young?
hi!
I’m only 16 but photography is so intresting to me! I’ve heard of people starting photogrpahy at a young age, but I’m not quite sure how. Does anyone have any suggestions? I’ll be going to college next year and I’m planning on taking some photography classes there, but what can I do now to get a head start? Is there any suggested things to begin photographing? Any suggestions about anything is welcome!
Thanks!

Answers and Views:

Answer by AngiePangie
Try taking senior pictures for free for people at your school. Offer to put them on a cd for them for free. Don’t charge them anything, and don’t be insulted if they get their ‘real’ senior pics done by a real photographer. Doing this will give you a great learning experiance about lighting, shadowing, posing people to look natural, etc. If anything, it will give you great matierial to start a portfolio, and see if you like it. See if there’s a local fair that does photography contests. That’s another experience to see competion, and again to put something in a portfolio.

Good luck and have fun

Answer by Charlie P
I shot my first wedding at age 13. The couple couldn’t afford a “real” photographer so I volunteered, shot it for free and they bought a bunch of my (way too cheap) prints. I shot candids of my classmates in school; gave some prints away and sold additional copies. By the time I was in college I had a portrait studio in my parent’s home. I also started doing advertising photography for local businesses who also couldn’t afford a “real ” photographer … but they ended up paying me real money for pictures they really liked.

Hope that gives you some ideas. You’re never too young to start. Develop good skills and a professional attitude and your youth won’t be seen as a negative by old people like me. 🙂