123 - The Reality of Going Pro: Skills, Sacrifices, and Success in Photography

The Nerdy Photographer Podcast

Hey there Nerdy Photo Crew, are you ready to take a deep dive into the skills and qualities you will need for going pro in photography? Spoiler alert: being a successful professional photographer is not just about owning a fancy camera! 📸

Becoming a pro photographer requires a mix of technical expertise, creativity, resilience, and a whole lot of patience. Knowing the technical aspects of photography are only the beginning. The most successful photographers also bring serious people and business skills, adaptability, and an eye for storytelling. And let’s not forget the determination to keep going through the long hours, challenging shoots, and occasional odd client request ("Can you put hair on my bald head in all 900 of these wedding photos?"

Tune in as we break down the essentials—from mastering your craft to managing client expectations, building a unique style, and staying relevant in a competitive industry. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, this episode will help you figure out if you’ve got what it takes to turn your passion for photography into a thriving career. Ready to dive in?

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Episode Promos

This episode contains the following promos:

• Let’s Be Real Unposed Photography Prompts - https://nerdyphotographer.com/lets-be-real
• Pic-Time Image Galleries - https://nerdyphotographer.com/recommends/pic-time/
• Luminar Neo - save up to 84% - https://skylum.evyy.net/c/1337833/1695882/3255
• Aperty - get an exclusive lifetime offer for a limited time - https://skylum.evyy.net/c/1337833/2166156/3255
• Save an additional 10% on Luminar or Aperty with discount code NERDYPHOTO

About My Guest

"50 years of photographic experience and I'm still trying to improve. Ex Olympus Visionary. Professional career was mostly spent as a bird and wildlife photographer. 14 books. 200 publications. More than 4400 images under license. Old guys know stuff!"

You can learn more about Scott Bourne and view his work on his website - scottbourne.com - or follow along with him on Instagram or Threads @bourne.scott

About The Podcast

The Nerdy Photographer Podcast is written and produced by Casey Fatchett. Casey is a professional photographer in the New York City / Northern New Jersey with more than 20 years of experience. He just wants to help people and make them laugh. You can view Casey's wedding work at https://fatchett.com or his non-wedding work at https://caseyfatchettphotography.com

If you have any questions or comments about this episode or any other episodes, OR if you would like to ask a photography related question or have ideas for a topic for a future episode, please reach out to us at https://nerdyphotographer.com/contact