I've recently started photography and want to transition from an amateur to a semi-professional to earn extra income from my hobby. Currently, my portfolio consists only of non-commercial work. To enhance it with commercial projects, I've decided to take on some free assignments, but I made it a condition that I can showcase the images I capture in my portfolio.

My first job was for a beauty salon, where they wanted me to photograph various hairstyles on a model. I didn't have a studio or professional equipment; I only owned my Nikon D3400 camera. Early on, I was advised to invest in a prime lens with a wide aperture of 50mm or more, as these lenses are excellent for creating a shallow depth of field and sharp images. The most affordable option was the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G. This lens was ideal for my Nikon D3400 cropped APS-C sensor, as it offers the equivalent of a 75mm focal length on a full-frame camera, allowing for a relatively narrow field of view and a pleasing shallow depth of field. Since I had not acquired any lighting equipment, I relied entirely on natural light for my photography.

I hired model Georgia Brooks for a photoshoot and was initially pleased with the results. However, gaining more experience, I realized I needed to improve my lighting and composition skills. To do this, I studied the work of other professional photographers. I also lacked the skills to photoshop my images then, so I outsourced the retouching service to retoucher Pixel Polisher. He did an excellent job, and my clients and I were very satisfied with the results. Eventually, I decided to learn Lightroom and Photoshop to develop my style.

The Gear I Used in this Photoshoot

The Final Images of the Photoshoot (Edited Using Lightroom and Photoshop)

Tips and Tricks I Learned from this shoot:

• You can create stunning imagery with the simplest camera available. Mastering your camera's operation and embracing a photographer's mindset can unlock your creative potential.
• You do not need a studio to create artistic beauty or hairstyle photoshoots.
• Photoshop skills are valuable. Learn it early on in your photography career.
• You can create beautiful images for your beauty photoshoot by using natural light.
• I made a mistake by shooting some images in JPEG format. Although JPEG files can be edited, beauty shots should be taken in RAW to achieve maximum dynamic range.
• If your Photoshop skills aren't solid, consider hiring a retoucher to help you.

I hope you learned a lot from this blog. If you are interested in a one-on-one training session, drop me a direct message on my Instagram account.