What's the best book to learn professional photography?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$8 Answers
What kind of photography? Weddings? Portraits? Photojournalism? Nature? Sports? Product? Stock?
All of them pull off of the same basic skill set, but require different specializations, and different means of achieving your goal.
Here are some skills that help to start with that may not be obvious:
Painting
Business skills
Advertising
Lighting
I can make assumptions here: I can assume that you're a good photographer and need business guidance. I can assume you know nothing and need to learn everything, or I can assume you have a business plan but need the photo skills.
All of them would get rather different answers.
If your photo skills aren't up to snuff, you'll need to work on them. For instance, for weddings or portraits, here would be some books to study for skills:
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lighting-Guide-Portrait-Photographers/dp/1584281251/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230052144&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Posing-Portrait-Photography-Head-Toe/dp/1584281340/ref=pd_bbs_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230052144&sr=8-11
Whereas if you want to sell photo stock and already know how to shoot good photos, something like this may be a good option:
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Stock-Photography-Shoot-Sell/dp/1581154844/ref=pd_cp_b_3?pf_rd_p=413864201&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1582971765&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0V624Q1ENH0YYP5K2GV1
Stock photography is nothing like wedding photography. Whereas weddings are about lighting, portraits, posing, and candids, and of course you use the same basic photography skill set, you don't shoot wedding photos to sell stock. You need to learn what stock photo buyers want, and where to find the ones that might pay you - taking the photos is secondary to selling yourself.
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Stock-Photography-Shoot-Sell/dp/1581154844/ref=pd_cp_b_3?pf_rd_p=413864201&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1582971765&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0V624Q1ENH0YYP5K2GV1
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
New versions of both have just recently come out and they will both comprehensively cover most areas of Photography.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
However, all basic photography relies on the same base knowledge. These things are often best outlined in an easy to carry book like this one:
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Fundamentals-Photography-Essential-Handbook-Both-Tom-Ang/9780375711572-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527photography%2527
Many local camera shops run introductory classes free or cheap. This is a great way to ask specific questions and learn the basics of camera use in an interactive way.
Don't forget about online forums. There are a ton of photographers who love to help newbies overcome the basics.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=photography
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Professional Wedding Photography: Techniques and Images from Master Photographers by Lou Jacobs
and
The Moment It Clicks: Photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters by Joe McNally
Both are available on amazon.com
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$In order to learn a subject, you must understand its terms and techniques. With that said, I would suggest "Illustrated Dictionary of Photography: The Professional's Guide to Terms and Techniques".
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230052573&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Shutter-Speed-Low-Light-Photography/dp/0817463011/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230052573&sr=8-2
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
If you need to learn basic photography before diving in to any of this, here are some places to start:
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230052467&sr=1-1
Ansel Adams -
The Camera
The Film
The Lens
Even despite the fact that those were written in another age, they are still almost 100% relevant today.
For photojournalism, if you can get an internship at a newspaper, it'd be a start, but the biggest key here is contacts, contacts, contacts. Same thing if you want to shoot sports. Find a way to get on to a high school or college field, take great photos, and use that as a basis for networking with people, and building a portfolio to go further.
Lastly - if this is a lifelong goal, pursue it - just understand that it's not easy, and the most important skill is that of selling yourself.
While many of the books mentioned are wonderful titles and will surely help you become a better photographer, but they will not necessarily help you become a professional photographer. Being a professional photographer is 20% photography and 80% business. As someone starting a photography business, I find it amazing just how much I need to learn in the business area. It isn't as simple as take photos, process photos, sell photos. Given that, I recommend the following books:
Best Business Practices for Photographers
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Business-Practices-Photographers-Harrington/dp/1598633155
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
http://www.amazon.com/Purple-Cow-Transform-Business-Remarkable/dp/159184021X
Free Prize Inside!: The Next Big Marketing Idea
http://www.amazon.com/Free-Prize-Inside-Next-Marketing/dp/B0007XWMZG
Business and Legal Forms for Photographers (with CD-ROM)
http://www.amazon.com/Business-Legal-Forms-Photographers-CD-ROM/dp/158115206X
Those should keep you busy for a while.