Career in photography.

How to begin a career in product photography?

• I am currently in high school, and I'm planning to study photography in college. I'm most interested in doing portrait photography or product photography, but I don't know which path I'll take as of yet.  Is either portrait or product photography a more stable career than the other? I hardly know any details about product/commercial photography... But I do know that I don't want to do the "white background" product photography... I'm really interested in taking the photos that go in T.G.I. Friday's menus and Pottery Barn magazines and such.  What is needed to land a product photography job with a business firm? An impressive portfolio? A certain level of experience in product photography?  As a product photographer, do you work freelance and get hired by business firms on a per-job basis?  Or, do you start out working for a photography studio and get delegated jobs that come from businesses like Pottery Barn?  As a product photographer, would you benefit most from a major in marketing or photography? 

• Answer:

  It'll be equally hard/easy to establish yourself as a professional photographer in both of those areas. Stick with what you do/enjoy better. Let's say you decide to stick with product photography. Firstly, and most importantly you have to start shooting right away. Research famous product photographers and start trying to replicate their work. Pay special attention to lighting that they use, backgrounds, composition etc. Practice and built a respectable portfolio. It doesn't have to be huge but rather a versatile portfolio showing that you can work with different types of products (big, small, reflective surface, see through [glass] etc.). Then, it all comes to another very important aspect - advertising. Start placing ads everywhere you can promoting yourself as a product photographer. Prepare to work hard though, because it won't happen overnight!