Nowadays, people can encounter photography without their wanting it. Globally, close to 67% or around 5.3 billion people are using cell phones or cellular-enabled tablets and devices that are capable of taking some kind of digital photos and videos. That is a huge exposure although it is eventually people would find out that such devices are not the ideal equipment for taking stunning photos they see around them. That does not, however, mean they cannot record events as they occur around them in both still and video format.
Some believe this technological capability had rendered professional photography dead. The reason for that accordingly is many lucrative employers had been letting go their in-house photographers. They are relying heavily on photos they can get on the internet without charge and with no restrictions on how to use them. These photos, for the most part, originate from citizen photographers who can take photos anytime and anywhere while going around minding their day-to-day life.
Such a simple unhampered engagement among the digitally empowered citizen photographers might compel some to examine photography closely. Among the many things they will find out, there is something called genre that categorizes the kind of photos they can take. It is not easy to list all genres here, but at least mentioning the few popular ones might shed light on what genres really are. One can start as a street, nature, wildlife, landscape, portrait, events, and products photographer revealing that this is only a scratch of the surface that makes photography very fascinating, whether it is used as a hobby or as a career.
Of course, for the hobbyist, the amateur, or the enthusiast photographers if they have a fairly sophisticated equipment lineup, it would definitely enable them to catch so many captivating and interesting scenes. For those who want to carve a rewarding career, the opportunity it avails is unlimited as long as certain ingredients are prevalent. And choosing the right genre is key here because finding the right career niche means having a financially rewarding undertaking that should have a potential a few other careers match in terms of the freedom and creativity it avails.
Choosing the ideal equipment for what one wants to accomplish is on top of the list and it will take time and resources to attain the particular level so that the best equipment is at the disposal of the aspiring beginning photographer. Photography also needs exhaustive editing because using it straight out of the camera is not always possible. Editing by itself could require a lifetime dedication since mastering photo and video editing software such as Photoshop or Adobe Premiere requires a full-time engagement. It is not only that photo and video editing are two lucrative careers by their own that are worth looking into.
What this shows is, in the field of photography and videography nothing stays static. The equipment always changes and new introductions surface frequently necessitating the upgrading of equipment, while at the same time there are new ways of doing things that require learning and applying. The same applies in the area of editing where there are new introductions taking place often that require putting them to work on an ongoing basis.
The other problem is finding the perfect genre could also be a problem since there will be a conflict when considering to which genre to commit one’s scarce time and long-term career. Event photography such as a wedding has the potential to pay good compensation. But there are others such as fashion photography that could also be lucrative that will make the choice-making process difficult. Product and portrait photography also have similar potential. What about sports photography where there are many employers looking for photographers? All sorts of news outlets and publications are also in need of photographers to cover current events.
To start out, specializing in a few genres might be the way to go so that not to lose out on what the other popular genres are offering. The only problem with such an approach is becoming the Jack of all genres might kick in because such photographers might not be able to develop an expertise in a particular genre to exploit fully what goes on for it in a form of opportunity.
This reveals that photography and videography are very intensive fields and once the right equipment and the editing facility are there, the other most important aspect is what genre to choose that could make or break a career. This by itself demonstrates that there is a high level of maneuvering to put to work in order to be dually benefited from the field of photography and videography in today’s marketplace.