If you absolutly love photography then perhaps a career in the photographic business might be perfect for you. There are three basict areas of photography in which you can choose to work - General, Commercial, and Advertising.
In most cases your intial step will be to obtain formal training in photography. No matter how much experience you think you have by taking some classes at a local college or even enrolling in a certification program you can learn all you need to know. Many photography courses also focus (sorry, no pun intended!) on the business aspects of photography, which will be a tremendous help to you if you decide someday to open your own business and will definitely be an asset if you get a job working with an established company. Once you have your schooling safely tucked under your belt then focus on one of the three areas of photography mentioned above to find your perfect niche in the market.
General photographers are usually the people who own their own business and may even work from home. Many general photographers do not live entirely on their income from the business, and some do not even have a storefront. Some of the things general photographers shoot includes weddings, senior portraits, and family pictures. General photographers will probably do some freelance work as well, often for commercial photography businesses, but the majority of their time will be spent building business relationships with people in the community and clients.
Commercial photographers work in a slightly different field of the business. Instead of working for the community, commercial photographers do work for companies. This includes doing work for catalogues, newspapers, architectural businesses, and other corporations that need photographs taken. Commercial photographers may be part of the company staff or may work freelance, by contract. Freelancers generally have more flexible schedules, but cannot rely on a steady paycheck like staff photographers. Most commercial photographers specialize in a specific area, such as food or exterior architecture.
Advertising photographers do just what the name implies - advertise. While there is not a lot of job availability in this field, your work here will get high rates of exposure, since it will be pictured in magazines, on TV, and as billboards, among other things. Advertising is a difficult field to break into, but by starting at the bottom and working your way up the corporate ladder, you can be successful here, as well as in any of the fields. Before jumping into becoming a professional photographer, realize that it takes time to reach the success level you want and dedication for earn your paycheck.
