What does it take to become a professional photographer?
Raven B. Varona shares her journey from taking concert photos as a side gig to quitting her job and pursuing photography full time. She chats with Ascend editor Kelsey Alpaio about gaining traction in the industry, how she charges for her work, and how she cultivated an audience of 158k Instagram followers.
00:00 I Want to be a Photographer
00:49 Meet Raven B. Varona
01:44 How did you get started as a professional photographer?
02:44 How do I get permission to bring my camera to a venue?
03:29 It's all about relationships.
04:29 You've got to create an experience on social media.
05:23 What's the day to day like for a photographer?
06:42 Misconceptions About Being a Photographer
07:15 Let's talk money.
09:39 Do I ever have to work for free?
10:56 What's it like to photograph Beyoncé and Jay-Z?
11:23 What skills do I need to get started?
We’d love to hear from you! Tell us about your content preferences in our 10-minute survey: https://hbp.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2ldQ5v6xeoxKHrM?source=social_youtube
Learn more about Raven’s work at https://ravenbvarona.com/
Produced by Andy Robinson, Kelsey Alpaio, and Eliza Laycock
Video by Andy Robinson, Kelsey Alpaio, and Eliza Laycock
Editing by Andy Robinson
Assistant editing by Eliza Laycock
Animation and Design by Riko Cribbs and Karen Player
