So, you want to become a commercial photographer?

This is a great choice for a creative career, as it gives you many opportunities for self-expression and meeting new people. Besides, as you advance on your professional path, you might get to travel around for work, which is always exciting.

By the way, commercial photographers are also in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this profession has a projected growth of 17% in the next eight to ten years. However, this also means that you might face harsh competition on your way to the professional Olymp.

To beat your rivals, skills aren’t enough. Sometimes, your success depends on personal qualities that help you build connections and find job opportunities.

What are these qualities for commercial photographers?

Generally, to be a successful commercial photographer, one needs to be a great communicator, think outside the box, be well organized, patient, detail oriented, honest and good at finding opportunities.

Let’s take a look at these in detail.

1. Great Communicator

Every photographer knows that the process behind the photo shoot is about working with a model, helping them find the right pose and relax. That’s why you need to be good at communicating your message, making sure everyone understands your intentions and point of view.

Apart from that, being a good communicator helps you find the right connections and build relationships with clients. A solid network helps lay a successful foundation for every career, and commercial photography is no exception. This way, you can also find gigs at the beginning of your career – word-of-mouth marketing works perfectly in this case, too.

Now, what if you’re a bit shy, and communicating with people is not your strongest suit? Can you learn it?

Of course! Actually, if you’re an introvert, you are good at listening and processing information, which is the first step to becoming a great conversationalist.

If you feel like you can’t find the right words to express yourself or too many thoughts are rushing through your head, try to speak slowly and break down your message into meaningful subsections. This way, you’ll be able to deliver a consistent, logical argument.

2. Organizational Wiz

A successful photographer is always well-organized, and we don’t just mean that you need to keep all your devices polished, cleaned, and in order. Your professional life should also follow a specific structure. Otherwise, you’ll end up missing deadlines and letting your clients down, which will affect your professional growth.

Luckily, just as you can become a good communicator, you can also work on developing your organizational skills. Here are some tips:

• Create a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule. This way, it will be easier for you to track all the deadlines.
• Manage your time. Break down your work week into days when you are out working on a photo shoot and when you work on editing photos. This will help you have a mess-free work week.
• Make a habit of creating extra storage. The most heartbreaking thing that can happen is losing all your work to a malfunctioning device or software. So, create a backup for all work files.

Working on self-organization can also help you avoid professional burnout, which often happens in people with creative jobs. It allows you to plan your tasks and workdays without overworking yourself.

3. Thinking Outside the Box

Every photographer (much like any other creative mind) wants their works to be remembered. However, creativity is hardly enough to achieve it; you need to see beyond already existing concepts to become successful and popular (if it’s your goal, of course).

Of course, people aren’t born with the ability to think outside the box. Think of it as a muscle in your brain – you can train it successfully with a few exercises.

First, try to view one concept or situation from different points of view. The situation doesn’t have to be photography-related – it can’t be anything from your everyday life. Considering and accepting several points of view makes your mind more flexible and helps you find unconventional solutions to problems.

One more exercise which can help you see outside the box is free writing. According to Indeed, this activity helps generate new ideas as it lets your thoughts flow undisturbed. Apart from that, it’s a great way to practice being confident if you feel you’re not a good communicator.

4. Fluent in Foreign Languages

As a photographer, you’ll have to learn continuously. The market is constantly growing, new editing software appears along with new techniques and trends. You need to be aware of it all, but did you also know that knowing foreign languages can impact your career the same way your hard skills can?

How?

First and foremost, it opens your mind. For instance, when you learn Spanish, you also get to know the culture of the people speaking this language. As you learn how people in different countries communicate, you also find out what guides them, their customs and traditions, helping you think outside the box.

By the way, knowing about as many cultures and traditions as possible helps you avoid cultural appropriation in your own works, keeping you away from negative publicity. In other words, learning foreign languages can prevent you from unknowingly making mistakes that can hurt your career.

Finally, the more languages you know, the more gigs will come your way! You will get an opportunity to travel around the world for work, build connections, and expand your resume with interesting projects.

5. Opportunist

Interestingly enough, this quality is often considered as something negative when, in reality, it simply describes a person that knows when a good opportunity comes their way and can recognize and accept it.

We mentioned in the introduction that commercial photography is a pretty competitive field. You might have to fight many rivals on your way to success, especially at the beginning of your career, when your resume is not that impressive and you need as many projects as possible to grow it.

So, how do you recognize a good opportunity from a bad one?

The offer you get should answer your needs at the time. For instance, you need experience in portraiture, and you’re offered a project where you can work on it. However, the proposed offer should be as clear as possible, including the remuneration. This way, you’ll know that you’re not being scammed.

6. Patient

Every job that requires constant contact with people can be pretty stressful. If we talk about photography, you will have to meet clients with different backgrounds, habits, and levels of emotional maturity. And we’re not going to lie – you will meet people on your professional path who will test you, but it’s important to remain patient to not harm your career.

What if your character is too explosive to deal with people’s negativity?

Psychologists have found that patience is not always about character. According to Sarah A. Schnitker, Ph.D., many other predictors determine our ability to be patient, such as our habits, the ability to regulate emotions, and our expectations.

So, when meeting a new client or attending a photo shoot with someone who’s notoriously difficult to handle, don’t set your expectations too high and try to focus on your work rather than dealing with their negativity. Also, it helps to realize that people behave the way they do because of different life events that formed their perception of the world. Try to accept that, but don’t let it get to you.

7. Detail-Oriented

This personal quality is closely related to being well-organized. As a commercial photographer, you’ll need attention to detail in everything you do, from organizing the right lighting for the photo shoot to understanding the storytelling part your photos should represent. The composition and the emotions it conveys also require being detail-oriented.

Can you learn attention to detail?

Absolutely, you just have to work on your observation and listening skills. Observing your environment, watching people’s actions, analyzing them, listening to what they have to say – all of this can help you become more focused.

Also, to be able to pay attention to details, you need to let your brain rest. So, don’t overwork yourself, take regular breaks, meditate, in other words, do anything to switch your mind off and let it calm down. This way, you’ll expand its capacity, and your memory will improve.

8. Honest

Finally, if you want to achieve success as a commercial photographer, you’ll need to be honest.

Indeed, there will be situations where you’d rather keep silent than say how you really feel, and, in some cases, you’d be right. However, if you strongly disagree with something or what you’re being offered does not fit in your value system, then you should be honest with yourself and with people.

You’ll also have situations with clients where you will disagree with their opinion about the project, but you should always stay true to your vision. If you have a clear understanding of what your career path should be, honesty is one of the only things that won’t let you deviate from it, as you’ll stand by what you believe in. This quality also differentiates a true professional from an average one.

Over to You

So, as you can see, a psychological portrait of a successful commercial photographer is pretty clear. You need to be good at communication and self-organization, be able to think outside the box, preferably be fluent in other languages, know how to take the right opportunity, be patient, detail-oriented, and honest.

Luckily, all these qualities are acquired rather than inborn. Hopefully, the tips we gave in our article will help you work on these personal qualities and achieve great success in your commercial photography career.

Below is an interesting video on landing your first commercial photography gig:

Interested in more articles like this? Click here to learn tricks from commercial photographers.

Finding your photography niche and what you enjoy capturing the most can be exciting. Still, as you probably know, different types of photography require different cameras and different specs. If you’ve decided that car photography is what you want to do, you’ll have to find the right camera for car photography to carry around.

Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find out which cameras are best for car photography and why.

As a general rule, for car photography you will need a camera with a high-speed AF system, a fast shutter speed, and a powerful sensor. Also, a camera for car photography must be compatible with a wide-angle lens.

Below, you’ll find the best recommendations for the tried and true cameras for car photography that have proven to be the best there are, so you should check them out before deciding what you want to buy.

What Is The Best Camera For Car Photography

Many cameras are considered the “best cameras” in the current market. Still, to achieve the highest image quality possible while doing car photography, you will have to take note of some specifications that your camera for car photography has to have.

Car photography cameras that take high-quality images don’t have special camera lens requirements. However, a good zoom lens should be on your priorities list.

Depending on the car you’re shooting at a specific moment, you might need different settings and focal lengths on your DSLR camera, so be ready for that.

Overall, it seems that a lens with a wide-angle will do the best work. It doesn’t need to be an ultra-wide-angle lens.

The next thing to consider would be the shutter speeds that come into play when you’re doing car photography.

The best option to go for is a fast shutter speed to get those crisp images, as fast-moving cars won’t look all too well with a slow shutter speed.

However, if you work with non-action images in conditions with low light, something with a slower shutter speed might actually work. Overall, to prevent having blurry pictures, you should opt for a 1/160 seconds rate or even higher, primarily if you use a handheld camera for car photography.

You will probably be working with automotive photography, so autofocus will be essential to consider. With that, you should also look for good in-body image stabilization.

Of course, good battery life should always be a top priority. When it comes to car photography cameras, this is important as you will be shooting lots of photos and angles, many of them with a flash.

So, let’s look at the cameras for car photography that tick all the boxes.

NEW Sony Alpha 7S III

This Sony camera is one of the best cameras for car photography for several reasons.

Firstly, it’s optimized for quality images in 4K and for speed and sensitivity, which is exactly what you will be working with when you do car photography.

Also, the processing power is way better and faster than its predecessors, so you’ll be able to capture everything you need on the go.

This camera also comes with something that’s new for Sony’s Alpha series – this one has an S-Cinetone picture profile, which means that you will be able to get a cinematic tone and color to your shot, especially if you also need to do some footage shooting.

When you take it into your hands, the first thing you’ll notice is the great build quality and the ergonomics of it.

Taking pictures will be even easier with this one because the menu system is highly improved and highly customizable, so you’ll be able to switch between settings easily at the same time as you capture images of moving cars.

Another great thing that will contribute to that is the autofocus, something that’s very important for shooting racing cars. Unlike most cameras, this one won’t easily jump to other moving objects when you’re photographing cars that are in motion.

Finally, the battery life is amazing, so even if you have to shoot high-resolution videos, this one won’t fall short on the battery front.

Overall, I can definitely see why so many people consider this one to be one of the best cameras for car photography.

Nikon Z 6II FX

If you are a fan of Nikon cameras and want to continue with that in your car photography journey, then the Nikon Z 6II FX can definitely be the right choice.

This is one of the best mirrorless cameras for car photography, and it comes with a variety of features that make that process easier.

This is a full-frame camera, so it will also work well if you need to do video content.

This full-frame mirrorless camera has been thoroughly updated following people’s complaints about the initial Z6 model, so it makes sense that it is a good one since Nikon made it with users in mind.

The autofocus of this DSLR camera is one of the best of its features, as you will be able to completely rely on the live autofocus, especially when shooting videos.

With a very deep buffer, this camera for car photography is able to capture live-action shots at a very fast rate.

It’s also amazing that there are dual card slots, so even if you run out of space during a shoot, you won’t have to worry too much about that.

With the high-tech processing system and the amazing autofocus, you will be able to shoot truly unique car pictures, whether it’s a moving car or not.

Canon EOS R6

The Canon EOS R6 is the best Canon camera to go for; if the Canon brand is your usual choice, this one will be the best for car photography.

The main thing that’s good about this camera is the autofocus it offers you.

The autofocus is very fast but also comfortable, and very high-quality images come out of it.

Other outstanding camera features with this one are the color tones and the sharpness it can get out of your shot.

Professional photographers also love the fact that this one comes with the same image sensor as the 1DX3, which means that the editing time you need will be cut in half.

I can say that this one tracks all the subjects you work with amazingly, which is why I chose this model to be among the best cameras for car photography.

This is also a mirrorless camera, so it might take some getting used to if you’ve never worked with one before; however, everything is made to be very intuitive and user-friendly, so I doubt that you will face any problems.

Finally, the great thing about this one is that you can choose which lens you want it to come with, and that kind of customization is a very big plus whenever you’re faced with a camera that’s a big investment like this one is.

Overall, it really is worth the price.

Sony Alpha 7R IV

This Sony mirrorless camera comes with a lot of great features that will probably make you consider it very closely.

The first thing you notice is the fact that this camera has a very high resolution. It comes with 61 megapixels, as well as a full-frame sensor.

You can choose the lens that you want to use with this camera, so since you need a camera for car photography, you should choose a wide-angle type of lens.

When paired with a good lens, this camera is able to make truly amazing photos, no matter if you need to do micro or macro photography.

Like most of the best car photography cameras, this one comes with dual slots for cards, which is a professional photographer’s most loved feature when it comes to this specific model.

Speaking of your specific need, car photography, the most crucial feature you should look into with this one is the fact that it really has a super high resolution.

It also has an HDR mode for that particular type of photography.

One small drawback is that the LCD screen on this camera is not a flip screen, so sometimes that might be a problem for you.

But, overall, this is a great option for car photography.

Nikon D850 FX

This Nikon camera is a camera that you will love instantly, and on the first try, it truly does seem like the best camera out there, in general, since the image processor is amazing and the shots you take actually look like they’ve been touched up.

This one also has an excellent sharpness ratio and a great pixel-level contrast when it comes to image quality.

The rear touch screen of this camera for car photography is another thing that leaves a great impression since it’s very responsive to the touch, almost like you’re using a smartphone and not an LCD screen.

This high-quality camera is great for car photographers not only because it comes out with high-quality photos but also because its autofocus is very fast, and that is very important for the car photography that you will be doing.

Besides the stunning images that you will get, this will also be a suitable camera for your needs because of the high-speed camera CPU, which will help immensely when taking a lot of shots at once.

And a small detail that also makes a lot of difference is the ISO range button has been moved to a more intuitive place than the previous models had it, so it will be much easier to find than before.

Finally, one slight drawback with this model is that there is no in-body image stabilization available, which can be something significant for car photography.

Fujifilm X-T4

If you take taking pictures seriously, but you also need a camera for car photography that will perform well even when taking videos, then you should seriously consider this one.

This Fujifilm camera is a hybrid camera, and the system it comes with includes all the different lenses that you might need.

The Stills/Move dial is also a feature that was done very well with this one, and it is that feature that makes it very easy to work with this camera.

Some of the other amazing this about this camera are also how quiet its shutter is, as well as its ergonomics and the battery life, which are all very important.

The autofocus on this one is very good; however, it’s not the most outstanding out there, which is a reason why this might not seem as great for car photography.

But, if you’re a professional photographer who mostly does car stills, the images captured won’t include much moving and motion blur. This one will be a great choice, especially if you’ve been keen on trying Fujifilm as a brand overall.

And while this isn’t truly a budget camera, the image quality it comes out with is very comparable to all the cameras that are priced at a higher level.

Panasonic LUMIX G7KS

Finally, a budget camera appears on this list, and if you are a beginner in car photography, then this might be your best camera for car photography.

The overall impression of this Panasonic camera is that it sits right in the middle when it comes to all the features and pricing, and the middle is sometimes the best way to go with.

With the 16 megapixels sensor, you will have a high ISO range and performance.

When it comes to recording videos, this one is good at it, and however, while it does do 4K videos, the manual controls are something that’s a limiter with this one.

This camera is very easy to handle and work with, as everything is made to be user-friendly and within reach, so you will have easy access to all the functions you need.

While the autofocus can be heavily dependent on the type of lens you use, it’s good to know that overall, this one has fast and accurate autofocus, which is, as you know, a very important feature to consider when choosing a car photography camera.

Even though the build is mostly plastic, this is a very well-built product, so you won’t have to worry about it breaking easily or anything of the sort.

But, the best feature of this camera is definitely its price point, so if your budget is tight, then look no further.

Canon EOS Rebel T6

This camera is a beginner camera in general, so even when you are a beginner in car photography, this camera can be a great choice.

It comes with the wide-angle lens that you need to do good car photography and an excellent image processor.

This camera has an impressive ISO range, so even if you happen to be in low-light situations, this one will be able to get the most out of your shot.

This is an APS C camera, and with that sensor and the 18 megapixels it works with, this one will provide you with outstanding clarity and tonal range in the photos you take.

The autofocus is also speedy, so having fast-moving cars in frame won’t be a problem.

If you have shaky hands and fear what impact might have on your photos, you should know that this camera’s viewfinder has proven to be amazing, so that absolutely won’t be a problem to worry about.

Finally, a nice addition to this camera’s features is that it has excellent WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, so you will be able to share them in no time.

Sony a7 III ILCE7M3/B

When you take this camera and start shooting, you’ll notice how sharp the lenses are and how sharp your photos come out.

It’s also perfect for shots with a low light and high ISO value, which might be something that you aren’t accustomed to, but it’s impressive nevertheless.

You can highly customize the controls to your liking, so whatever works for you, you’ll be able to set it on your Sony a7 III and change things up when the occasion asks for that.

The autofocus of this camera is fantastic, and that’s why it’s an excellent option for car photography, as the autofocus covers almost the entire frame.

The battery is massive and lasts for a long time, so this is also a great option to consider if you need to do car shots on the go.

But, the best thing about the photos you get with this one is how great images are with the low light performance; it is better than a lot of other more expensive options.

Nikon D3500

This Nikon camera is a cheap option that you can choose if you’re only just starting to work with car photography or if you’re still on a tight budget.

It’s a great choice if you need something that will help you grasp everything to know about photography in general and photographing cars.

A great thing that this camera has is its picture control system, as it comes with a wide variety of different modes – seven different ones, to be precise, and you will be able to find out what works best for you efficiently.

The autofocus is the best that it can be at this low price, and it also can do up to 5fps continuous shooting.

This one also works amazingly with videos, so if you’re considering that to be a part of your car photography career, it could be an excellent choice to go for something that works well with videos.

Just as I’ve said, this camera is probably the best one you can choose if you’re starting with car photography, or any photography, as you can quickly learn the basics and find out what your preferences are.

Learn More about Car Photography

After reading this and considering what your budget is and what your needs are, you will be prepared to make the best choice you can when it comes to car photography.

There are always new things to learn, and even though car photography sounds simple enough, getting into this niche requires that you know a lot about photography in general.

Depending on whether you work with moving cars or cars that are static, you will need to implement different aspects of your photography skills.

To learn more about car photography and make sure that this truly is the niche you want to go with, make sure to check out this article to learn everything there is to know about car photography, as having the best camera for car photography alone won’t make you a professional, but knowing the theory, too, definitely will.

FAQ

Which camera is best for automotive photography?

The overall best camera for automotive photography seems to be the Sony A7R IV.

The autofocus on this one is amazingly stable and accurate when you work with it; Sony outdid everything Nikon and Canon have to offer.

But, if you can’t afford that newer model just yet, the Sony A7R III works amazingly well.

What lens is best for auto photography?

When doing photography with cars, the best lens to go for is a wide-angle lens.

Ultra-wide lens can be a good option, but it’s not of the essence to have the ultra-wide-angle version; a basic wide-angle lens will mostly do the trick.

What camera do most street photographers use?

Regarding street photography, that comes with some special requirements, but it seems that the most loved camera among street photographers is the Fujifilm X100V.

Another one that many people love is the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II.

Is the Nikon D7500 good for car photography?

The Nikon D7500 is overall a decent camera for doing car photography, but you can get a lot of better options for car photography.

It has a good enough autofocus and a decent shutter speed, but not good enough for getting superb quality images in car photography.

“Should I go to college and earn a photography degree, or not?” This is a question that photography beginners can relate to, especially in this era when unemployment amongst college graduates is pretty high. “Education is the key,” they said, but that reality may differ for individuals in various professions. If you want to be a doctor, a lawyer, a pilot, an accountant, or an engineer, college may not be something you cannot opt-out of.

Other professions simply rely on individuals’ skills or talent that no degree papers can give you. Could photography be one of them?

There are no set qualifications, including attaining a degree, that defines whether one should work as a photographer. Some photography types, like medical photography, require one to have the proper educational qualifications. One can choose to pursue a photography degree to gain an added advantage or hone their photography skills without going to college. The choice lies with the individual and depends on the photography type they want to pursue.

Are you willing to pay skyrocketing college fees, sacrifice sleep to study, deal with exam anxiety and strict professors to earn a photography degree? Is it worth the effort? This article has all the answers you need to make that crucial decision. Read on to find out more about this noble profession.

What Education Is Required to Be a Photographer?

Photography entails taking images of various objects or people to record them visually. Photographers are key role players in capturing the perfect moments and sealing memories in timeless photos. Creativity and technical skills majorly come into play in this industry, hence the debate about what a photography degree can add to the equation. There are no standard education requirements for one to become a photographer, but formal education supplements other aspects of this career that no skills can bring.

Formal education can help photographers learn to market themselves appropriately, source the right job opportunities, manage finances, and pitch for better salaries. A photography program educates individuals on the right tools, exposure methods, lighting tips, photography foundations, and lighting tips.

Also, some photography industry areas, for instance, medical photojournalism, require one to have a specialized photography degree to qualify for that job. Other jobs require Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Arts photography degrees. These degrees are important to hone one’s skills essential for commercial photography. The programs may also offer additional skills essential in the photography industry, for instance, painting or drawing.

How Are Photographers Evaluated?

Photographers are evaluated based on their ability to utilize their skills to capture excellent photographs. They should take photos by fulfilling critical photography elements, including light, moment, composition, color, and distance from the subject. These elements are detailed below:

Light

Light is an important element for photographers to illuminate an object or a scene. They use natural or artificial light for photos, considering the direction and quality to ensure the best outcome. A good image can tell the photographer intentionally used light to create the perfect mood that somebody else can interpret in a photo easily. An evaluator will judge this aspect by determining if the photographer used the lighting properly to accentuate the image’s textures. Also, the evaluator examines whether the photographer used light to add an interesting twist to the image using shadows and highlights.

Moment

Another element used to evaluate a photographer is creating a strong moment in a photograph. The photographer should capture all the essential elements in a picture, creating an image that tells a captivating story. Creating a strong moment involves highlighting a particular action or subject and showing how it interacts with other surrounding features. The final image should wow the viewer with the creativity that went behind creating it.

Composition

Composition is also an evaluating factor in photography. Composition entails putting together objects in a frame and emphasizing certain parts so they become the focal point in that image. The photographer needs to understand what the viewer expects in the final image. For instance, there should be a clear subject, good framing and positioning, and no distracting elements in the image for the composition to be perfect.

Color

Color can convey the photo’s mood for viewers to interpret as gloomy, mysterious, sad, or exciting. The photographer should use color to create strong images that evoke emotions among viewers. Some colors convey warmth. Others convey peace, while others tell happy moments.

Distance From the Subject

The photographer’s distance to the image subject can affect the overall effect of impact the photo has on viewers. The photographer should determine the focal length they need to shoot the image, helping them get all the important parts within the photo frame.

Types of Photographers That Don’t Need Degrees

Amateur and self-employed photographers don’t need degrees to exercise their photography passion. It doesn’t take any education, more so a degree certificate, for an individual to know how to take a selfie or capture images of certain objects or people. Also, some traveling and franchise portrait studio employers may prefer to hire photographers with no photography degrees. Rather, they would prefer to train the photographers to learn how to operate the equipment, interact with customers, and take the right poses to capture the right angles.

Photography degrees are only required in areas where technical or scientific skills are necessary, such as medical photography. That doesn’t mean anyone else cannot earn the degree, no. You can still pursue the degree for your benefit if you desire to.

When a Degree Might Be Bad in Photography

While a degree sounds like a great idea to help expand your photography knowledge, it may have some downsides that some people may not be prepared for. First, earning a college degree doesn’t come cheap. You will need to pay expensive tuition fees, work on various projects, and go for school tips-all requiring financial resources. Also, some of the subjects you learn in the photography course may not be useful to that career. You may have to learn other photography-unrelated subjects in the curriculum and lose focus on your main goal-honing your photography education.

Knowledge, Expertise, and Experience in Photography

Knowledge, expertise, and experience are important factors employers look for when hiring competent photographers. You need to show employers that you are well-suited for the job with the right skills and experience. Your resume needs to have “Skills” and “Experience” sections where you detail your photography skills, including attention to detail. Also, the resume gives the potential employer details of your experience using various photography equipment and software.

Have a portfolio of your best samples to share with potential clients and demonstrate your style and the image types or quality you produce. Having a portfolio and resume packages you as a professional photographer with the right knowledge, expertise, and experience.

Running a Photography Business

Running a photography business can be either a walk in the park or an absolute nightmare. The two outcomes depend on whether you know your way around managing the business effectively or you will make costly mistakes that will be the end of your business. As a business owner, you are responsible for handling the business’ finances, customer service, employee payrolls, marketing, and networking.

Also, you need to run the business like a professional. Potential clients need you to be on time, conduct yourself properly on set, invoice correctly, and communicate effectively. Always leave a positive first impression to secure repeat clients. Ask for testimonials and recommendations from your clients to grow your client base. Referrals are one of the most effective ways to gain more customers without incurring marketing costs.

Another important aspect of running a business is to use social media to showcase your work. Social media can be a powerful marketing tool if used correctly. As your fan base on social media grows, so are your potential clients. Be clever in utilizing your online presence and branding your business to land major photography gigs, securing your business’ success.

For more information on how to run a successful photography business, check out this video:

Earnings Potential With vs. Without a Photography Degree

Photographers receive different salary scales based on several factors such as the photography type, the client’s nature, geographical location, and work experience. Even when one doesn’t have a photography degree, they can still earn a decent income from their craft, as long as they are good at what they do.

For instance, commercial photography is arguably one of the highest-paying types of photography. Individuals practicing commercial photography can earn over $100,000 every year. That is a pretty impressive figure, considering that you can practice many photography types, including commercial photography, with or without a photography degree.

How Many Years Does It Take To Become a Photographer?

There is no specific rule dictating the years it takes for one to become a photographer. Some are self-taught and can take a few months to several years to perfect their craft. Others go to school to have formal photography education and start practicing as professional photographers after graduating. Whichever way, individuals can still practice their photo-taking skills as professionals at whatever pace they are most comfortable with.

Bottom Line

No rule dictates photographers should have degrees to practice, except for specialized industries like medicine. Individuals can learn photography on their own and make profitable businesses out of their passion for photography.

To learn photography on your own, here are some awesome tips.

Finding the perfect camera is important, and a Sony Alpha camera is a great choice, so it’s not surprising that that’s the model you’ve found yourself with. Sony Alpha cameras keep getting standing ovations with each new model that comes out, and the A7III has come with a lot of great key features, and advanced features are the exact reason why professional photographers like it.

However, it’s expected that you will want advanced flash features that will enhance the image quality that your Sony A7III gives you, and that’s why you should definitely look into some external flashes.

So, now that you know that going for an external flash is the solution you should go for, let’s look into the best flash for Sony A7III. And you’ll have several different camera flashes to choose from, with all of them being the best that the market currently has to offer.

Top Camera Flashes For Sony A7III

On this list, you will find the best flashes that are currently available on the market and are all compatible with your Sony A7III.

You will be able to find the best flash for Sony cameras. No matter if you want it to be an original Sony external flash or if you would rather opt for another manufacturer, this list has it all.

So, let’s jump right in and find the best flash for Sony A7III!

Sony HVL-F45RM

When you take this external flash head into your hands, the first thing that you notice is how light it is, which gives it a big plus automatically, especially if you’re someone who takes photos on the go.

Another big plus that this flash for Sony cameras has is the fact that it’s a Sony flash itself, which could mean a lot of Sony cameras are your preferred choice.

This is also a good flash to go for if you often take photos in low light situations, as it’s a very high-powered flash; even though it’s small, it absolutely is mighty.

Taking photos in places like dance clubs ends up beautifully when its flash for Sony is used, so it is among the best flashes out there for such an environment.

The wireless radio communication of this camera also works amazingly well, so you won’t have any issues on that front.

One minor drawback of this one is that it doesn’t have IR focus but white light focus, which is also a good one but not the perfect solution.

EACHSHOT Godox TT350S

If you want a budget flash for your Sony A7III or any Sony camera for that matter, and you don’t worry too much about having name-brand equipment, then this Godox camera flash for Sony cameras is what you should look into.

Besides the price point, this camera flash head comes with a lot of other great benefits, too.

After taking pictures with it, I instantly noticed that the image quality was better and that the images were significantly sharper than what they were before getting this affordable flash.

Compared to other flash devices that I used to use before, this one is also much lighter, and it feels much more balanced to hold the camera while this camera flash is on it.

When it comes to the performance, this flash worked fantastically and gave the proper illumination in both indoor and outdoor situations, so if you need something that will be on point no matter where you’re at, this could be it.

It works with fast shutter speeds, and in general, it has a high-speed sync when you’re doing a shooting.

The battery life is also great and what you would expect from a two AA battery flash.

This product comes with some accessories, which is generally a plus, as you never know when you might need a mini stand or an Omni bounce.

The menu is also very easy to work with, so even if this is your first flash for Sony cameras, you’ll have no problem working things out.

GODOX V1-S FLASH

Godox flashes are well-known flashes compatible with Sony cameras and also with TTL auto flash, so if that’s what you need, then it is very likely that a Godox round-headed TTL flash like this one will be a good choice for you.

This flash head is an excellent flash for Sony A7III, and you will be able to get good shots both indoors and outdoors, and it also works great for special occasions like wedding receptions.

It also has a high-speed sync function, so you will be able to get a lot of photos at once with no problems; even in low-light situations, it will maintain proper illumination.

Another great perk about this one is the built-in wireless transmission system, making it easy for this flash head to control other flash devices you might have.

Besides being a great external flash head for different cameras, this one can also be used as an off-camera flash if that’s what you end up needing, as a studio flash, for example.

Overall, the flash duration of Godox products was proven to be great, so it’s no surprise that this powerful flash is as loved as it is.

One small downside with this flash is that it has a fairly expensive battery that costs almost as much as the flash itself, so that power-saving mode might be your best friend in that regard.

Altura Photo AP-305S

If you mainly do portraits and you need a powerful flash unit that will help them come to life, then this could be a great option for you.

This flash comes with a dedicated remote control, which is a remote trigger, so it will be easy to use and control the settings no matter what you do and where you are.

It also has a built-in diffuser that will be very helpful.

This external flash has a very high-speed sync, making it effortless to capture things with multi-flash shooting.

Many professionals find this one to be comparable to many different flashes that are more expensive, so if you’re not in the place to invest too much cash into your external flash, then you absolutely do not have to do so.

It works great with both macro and microphotography, and the manual mode on Sony cameras works excellent with this one as well.

It’s also fairly quick and simple to get up to speed with it and start using it; with just a little fiddling and experimenting, you’ll be able to set your preferred settings and start shooting.

Sony HVLF20M

If you want a Sony flash for your Sony camera to do some reasonable flash exposure compensation, this could be an excellent choice.

As far as flashes go, this one isn’t even on the most pricey side, so it can be worth considering.

The bounce mode of this flash for Sony A7III makes it very easy to get amazing results no matter what the environment you’re taking the photos in is like.

The pictures you get will have a great soft light effect on them, and they will also have really enhanced subject separation from the background, whatever that background happens to be.

While it’s not a professional kind of a flash, the results will have you believe that it is, as it leaps and bounds way better than a built-in flash does.

The color rendition of the photos taken with this external flash was also very nice.

The recycle time is also very short, especially if you happen to use NiMH batteries for it.

Overall, this seems to be the best flash for Sony mirrorless cameras, making it clear why it’s on the best flash for Sony A7III list.

This compact flash runs with its own batteries, which is the main reason why the cycle time is very fast, and it’s also invaluable to have a flash that won’t cut into your camera’s battery life, especially if you’re taking photos during events that take a long time.

Overall, this external flash for Sony A7III is truly an amazing choice, mainly because it is more or less a budget flash choice that comes from the original manufacturer.

GODOX AD200 Pro

If you need a professional-grade flash to add to your Sony A7III, and you’re unsure what the best flash for that is, then looking into this Godox one might be worth it.

With this flash, you will get interchangeable external flashes that you can set on the camera depending on what you need that day, whether it’s a bare bulb head or a Speedlite flash head.

Another feature that makes this a pro-grade Speedlite flash is the fact that the Lithium battery is one with a large capacity, and it offers 500 full-power flashes within 1.8 seconds of recycle time.

This is a great option to choose if you maybe have another camera besides the Sony that is made by someone else, as this flash is compatible with a wide range of cameras.

Even though this one is professional-grade, it is actually quite lightweight, so carrying it around won’t be that big of a problem if that’s something that you’ll need.

It has manual TTL and a multi-flash mode, so you truly are going to be able to do a lot of different fun things with it.

The setup for this flash is super simple, and the menus are very user-friendly and easy to navigate.

The photos that were taken with this flash usually take less time in post-production as the white balance is amazing in all of them, usually ranging in just a few degrees.

Overall, this is a great choice no matter what you need the camera for, as it works amazingly in all kinds of environments and modes, which is not something that is commonly found.

Of course, the price is a bit higher, but that comes with the flash being professional-grade, but it truly is worth the money.

Concluding Thoughts

Sony makes some very good cameras, but no matter what your favorite camera is, getting an external flash for it can be a great addition, especially if photography is something that you do professionally.

There is a wide variety of different flashes that can be useful for different occasions, and even though you have a Sony camera, you don’t have to get a Sony flash to get the best flash.

Among all of the different models, you can even find whole flash kits, which could also be very beneficial to you, so if you want to find out what might be the best ones to choose from, then you should check this article out and find the best kit for you.

Finally, after setting your A7III up with the best flash available, you’ll be ready to take on any photography challenge that comes your way.

FAQ

Which flash is best for Sony A7III?

Depending on what you need, the best option for a Sony A7III would be a Sony external flash, either the HVL-F45RM Sony external flash or the HVL-F20M.

The first one will be a better choice for doing professional shoots and events, while the second one is overall an excellent choice to go for no matter what you need it for.

Do you need a flash for Sony A7III?

One general drawback when it comes to cameras made by Sony is that they don’t come with integrated flashes, which can be a bit challenging depending on what it is that you need to capture.

So, if you like your Sony A7III, it will probably be best to equip it with an additional flash.