Celebrity photography is a fascinating career that is made through passion, hardwork and developing a clientele base. It is an aspect of photography business that deals with luxury photography and covering events and milestones of celebrities, businessmen, high net worth individuals and politicians.
It is also associated with taking lifestyle portraits, wedding photography and also videography. The name Kelechi Amadi-Obi, TY Bello, Bayo Omoboriowo, Tolani Alli, Wale Visual, Damilola Elliot to name a few are successful professionals in the photography world and have carved a niche for themselves in celebrity photography.
Some of the names mentioned have become official photographer to the president and vice-president of Nigeria, an ex-president of Nigeria.
Celebrity photographers grow from being ordinary professional photographers and being consistent in developing their crafts, they become one that is courted by celebs.
To make a fortune from this career, one really needs to know his onions and develop your craft and find your niche. One can make money by selling your photographs to magazines and media outlets in need of it. With the advent of technology, photography business has become highly competitive as an average individual has smart phones that have high pixel resolutions, but how many can maximise the usage?
The services of professional photographers are still in demand at events and festivities. To become a photographer, you must be accessible and your equipments ready to service your clients.
With different cameras ranging from N600,000 to millions, one needs to start somewhere and acquire one that can be utilized. The need for a studio cannot be over emphasized to process your shots.
According to Adewale Enikuemehin James known as Wale Visual, passion and honesty is an evitable virtue in making a career from photography. “celebrity photography involves creativity and you need to be able to use the technology at your disposal to take wonderful pictures that your clients would love and want to patronize you again and again and refer you to their friends. First be known for your work and others will fall in place as you grow in it”.
Celebrity photographers indeed earn a substantial income from their craft, and their fees are often not fixed. In a single month, a professional event photographer can earn well over fifty thousand naira, depending on their negotiation skills. This figure increases significantly for celebrity photographers, who frequently travel with high-profile clients to cover events and exclusive programs, further boosting their earnings.
Celeb photographers in Europe and America are sometimes referred to as paparazzi that sometime stalks stars to take a rare shots of them.
According to Damilola Elliot, the CEO of Damell Photography, known to be the official of photographer of The Experience music concert, becoming a celebrity photographer demands that the person hones the craft and is very sociable. He listed five things a celebrity photographer or an aspiring one must imbibe to make a fortune from the career.
Key Tips For Becoming A Successful Celebrity Photographer
Be Sociable and Informed
You must be highly sociable and stay updated on the latest trends, events, and happenings in the lives of celebrities. Building relationships and staying connected is crucial in this field.
Think Creatively and Be Well-Equipped
The ability to think quickly and creatively is essential, especially during fast-paced events. Having the right professional equipment is also vital to meet the demands of high-quality photography.
Choose Your Work Style
You can work independently by capturing images to showcase on your website, in exhibitions, or sell to blogs and magazines. Alternatively, you can be employed by a media house or blog as a staff photographer.
Many also combine both freelance and salaried roles.
Commit to Constant Improvement
Beyond being sociable, you must consistently hone your skills and stay competitive in the industry through regular learning and practice.
Understand That Earnings Vary
Income in celebrity photography is highly variable — it can range from zero to substantial amounts, depending on your network, experience, and how you price your work.
