Getting a Portrait Photographer job.

How did you get your start doing Portrait Photographer work, and what career moves did you make to get to your current position?

Do you need a particular educational background?

My career has been in corporate IT I love technology and the things it makes possible. People are my other love, their variety and forgive the term - uniquity. While I have always been creative there it has been difficult to find an outlet in the arts where my lack of rhythm as well as an inate lack of ability to create anything resembling art as taught in the many classes attened, from sketching to painting my perceptions and interpretations failed to impress anyone (yours truly included). As life continued on I made a close personal friend who was a talented amature photographer who introduced me to this addiction where . . . lo . . . I found an amazing blend of technology, art and people. While I still do general photography my passion has become portraits of people and animals. My goal in a shoot is to capture 2 things 1) a portrait that is unique and personal and 2) a photograph that people close to the subject say " that is him/her!" please keep in mind these are generally two wildly different photographs. In general I do not start a shoot with much in the way of pre-conceved notions other than the description of what the shoot is for. Professional photo, senior photo, cd cover, artistic portrait, fmaily photos etc. Each shoot provides an intimate moment where the subject has become comfortable whith the camera and photographer and is just being themself - in these moments the personality peeks out in the body language, the eyes and facial expression. If I am able to catch that moment - I am supremly happy with the result. Career moves to get to this position - got a camera, joined a camera club, started reading, talking and shooting, learned and continued learning about light, lenses, people techniques, technology and so on. Opened a business on the side doing photography, and am currently in this position. Hope this helps.
-John