
How to Grow as a Professional Photographer
In this interview series, we talked with Michelle Nicole on why she quit her day job and how she transitioned to full-time photography. In this last video segment, Michelle Nicole is going to tell us how she continued her growth as a photographer and how it contributed to her success.
4 Tips on Continuing Your Photography Education | Michelle Nicole Interview Part III
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Tip 1: Find a Mentor for Further Guidance
A mentor is crucial for your new photography business; someone who can guide you along the way from day one, giving you advice at every turn your career faces. Michelle Nicole’s mentor is Scott Robert Lim.

Tip 2: Learn the Technical Aspects of Photography
Don’t ever stop learning the technical aspects of photography. If you’re not comfortable shooting in full manual mode, then learn the Exposure Triangle. If you’re new to lighting or flash photography, then learn common key light patterns and how to control light quality. Learning the technical aspects of photography is a way for you to grow in your career and evolve your photography style.

Tip 3: Network for Community and Feedback
Networking is a fantastic way to get involved in the photography community. When you network, you make friends and colleagues that you can learn and receive feedback from. When you network, you also open yourself up to new opportunities that may not have been available to you if you were on your own.

Tip 4: Learn how to Interact with Models and Clients
Whether you’re an extrovert or introvert, you can always learn how to interact with models and clients better. This is something you can learn from your mentor, or by observing the photographers in your network. Any time you’re on a shoot with other photographers, observe how they interact with the models, and see what techniques you can add to your interaction arsenal.

Are You Thinking About Pursuing Photography Full Time?
This concludes our 3 part interview series with Michelle Nicole. If you’re thinking of becoming a full-time photographer and have any questions, let us know in the comments!
Tip 1: Find a Mentor for Further Guidance
A mentor is crucial for your new photography business; someone who can guide you along the way from day one, giving you advice at every turn your career faces. Michelle Nicole’s mentor is Scott Robert Lim.
Tip 2: Learn the Technical Aspects of Photography
Don’t ever stop learning the technical aspects of photography. If you’re not comfortable shooting in full manual mode, then learn the Exposure Triangle. If you’re new to lighting or flash photography, then learn common key light patterns and how to control light quality. Learning the technical aspects of photography is a way for you to grow in your career and evolve your photography style.
Tip 3: Network for Community and Feedback
Networking is a fantastic way to get involved in the photography community. When you network, you make friends and colleagues that you can learn and receive feedback from. When you network, you also open yourself up to new opportunities that may not have been available to you if you were on your own.
Tip 4: Learn how to Interact with Models and Clients
Whether you’re an extrovert or introvert, you can always learn how to interact with models and clients better. This is something you can learn from your mentor, or by observing the photographers in your network. Any time you’re on a shoot with other photographers, observe how they interact with the models, and see what techniques you can add to your interaction arsenal.
Are You Thinking About Pursuing Photography Full Time?
This concludes our 3 part interview series with Michelle Nicole. If you’re thinking of becoming a full-time photographer and have any questions, let us know in the comments!
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Really good tips
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Nice
Thanks for sharing such a great tips. I love photography,it’s really helpful tips for me..
Hello. It’s really great and helpful article. The most important tip is the mentor searching. Because A mentor is crucial for your new photography business; someone who can guide you along the way from day one, giving you advice at every turn your career faces. Cause without mentor you have to ask for help some professionals like https://pro-papers.com. And it’s expensive, you know.
I’m glad you found a mentor, and I’m sure you have gained a lot from him, but I am a little disappointed that he is prominently featured here.
Scott Robert Lim might be a good mentor for your photography, but he took a couple of my students to the cleaners with his gear scam last year. Someone who takes advantage of newbies who don’t have money to spare is hardly the kind of mentor I would want. No respect from me.
Good tips. But its not that easy to find a local mentor who would want to “waste” time on you.
Great tips
Great read! Was a happy surprise to see SRL as your mentor :) He rocks!