Freelance photography is booming.

(Baonghean.vn) - There are ups and downs, joys and sorrows, in the story of freelance photography. However, driven by passion, it remains a profession chosen by many young people and has flourished in recent years.

From passion

Over the past five years or so, freelance photography has begun to gain attention and favor from many clients. With creativity, a good understanding of camera technology, and a sound PR strategy, this profession can generate high profits and become a thriving service.

Most freelance photographers today are young people, under 30, mostly men. Among them, the majority are young people currently studying or recently graduated from university or college. They came to the profession by chance, seeing it, then liking it, then becoming passionate about it, and gradually becoming hooked.

Young people pursuing freelance photography careers are mostly students currently studying at universities or colleges, or graduates.

Ngo Phuong (21 years old, Nghe An University of Economics) shared: “I started learning photography in 9th grade. I was so passionate about it that I was determined to buy a camera, and then I went to YouTube and social media to research how to use it. By 12th grade, I was able to take graduation photos and make videos for my class. Seeing that I did well, many friends approached me to take photos for their class or group. I decided to take on these jobs and have been doing it ever since. Besides a decent and stable income of 6-9 million VND/month, what I like most is being able to fulfill my passion and creativity...”

Nguyen Van Hoang (23 years old, K55, Faculty of Law, Vinh University) shared: “To afford a used Nikon D70s camera and 35-70D lens, I had to save up money from working as a waiter in cafes and restaurants. During that time, I went to school in the mornings, worked in the afternoons, and studied Photoshop and Lightroom online in the evenings. After getting the camera, I invited friends to go to remote locations to take outdoor photos and post them on Facebook. Gradually, many strangers contacted me to ask for my services and paid me. Not only did photography satisfy my passion, but it also helped me cover my tuition fees and other expenses.”

A photograph taken by a young freelance photographer.

For these freelance photographers, in addition to owning a quality camera, investing in accessories is also essential, such as flash units, triggers, light stands for supplemental lighting in cloudy conditions, and Ultra HD color-accurate monitors. Similar to other professions, freelance photographers also have specific pricing standards, ranging from 250,000 to 400,000 VND per person, depending on skill level, for a file containing 15-20 photos that have been edited using Photoshop.

Freelance photographers primarily receive bookings through social media platforms like Facebook and Zalo, followed by phone calls to confirm the appointment. For larger events like weddings or graduation photos, it's necessary to combine 2 to 3 freelance photographers, along with an assistant, to ensure quality work. Prices are usually agreed upon separately.

Joys and sorrows

The graduation photo season (from April to July) and wedding photo season (late November, early December) are the busiest times for freelance photographers. During these periods, freelance photographers often collaborate to form teams, ensuring the work is completed quickly and efficiently.

Truong Xuan Luc (23 years old, Phuc Tho commune, Nghi Loc district) shared: “What I remember most is taking graduation photos. Seeing the high school students brings back memories, reminding me of my school, my classmates, and my teachers. It gives me more ideas, and the boundaries between photographer and client disappear. We have fun together, come up with games, build puzzles, light fireworks… creating beautiful, natural, and impressive photo sets. Afterwards, the students even send thank-you messages, which makes me very happy.”

A young person "working" at weddings.

Alongside the joy, there are also many difficulties. One of these is the unpredictable weather. Then there are scenes that require many props and support staff, but for a freelance photographer, they often have to play many roles alone. It's also not uncommon for clients to make appointments but then not show up. When shooting weddings, freelance photographers lack advantages in lighting, angles, makeup, and a professional team, forcing them to collaborate with large studios. Not to mention, constantly evolving technology necessitates frequent equipment upgrades...

Nguyen Van Hoang shared: “For freelance photographers, the camera is their best friend, always valued and carefully preserved. However, unfortunate incidents can happen during the course of their work. I remember once, while photographing a couple at Nghi Thiet beach, I accidentally slipped and fell, both me and the camera into the water, and the camera broke. I was very upset, but I still had to apologize, ask the client for understanding, reschedule the shoot for the next day, and borrow a friend's camera to retake the photoshoot.”

Freelance photography primarily involves working outdoors.

Currently, according to estimates from some young people working in this field, there are approximately 100 young people "working" as freelance photographers in the province. They are mainly known through advertisements on Facebook. This "profession" attracts many young people in Vinh City, including high school students and university/college students.

However, if not developed properly, it can be misinterpreted due to the spread of social media. Many young people pursue this profession as a trend, simply to show off and express their interests. This leads to neglecting their studies, causing numerous problems and resulting in undesirable consequences.

According to Truong Xuan Luc: “Many people invest tens of millions of dong in equipment just to show off and... impress girls. First, they try to entice models to take photos, then they flirt and get to know them, damaging their reputation. Many buy cameras to take pictures for fun and also to make money, taking photos for clients while the quality is not guaranteed, causing many clients to think carefully before choosing freelance photographers.”

However, there are also many passionate freelance photographers whose photos are filled with meticulous attention to detail. They constantly strive to improve and innovate every day to perfect themselves and fully live out their passion.

Wang Yun