When I started (in 1981), the local pros wouldn't give me the time of day for fear I would take their business. I went to the local library and checked out every book on photography over a period of time. Every time we went to a big city to visit I would find a book store and spend $50 I had been hiding back. After a few years, I found Rangefinder magazine and looked in the back and found seminars I could go to. I attended two or three a year for many years and still try to make at least one a year on a subject that appeals to me. I make my (meager) living from weddings and portraits (and sports and little leagues and etc).
I had only been taking pictures for four years when I met a lady who had a modeling school. She liked me because I didn't try to talk her girls out of their clothes or charge too much. I basically got paid my costs to learn how to pose and direct light. I would shoot with one camera (film) and do shots that I knew would work. The other camera (slides) I would "bend the rules" and try new things.
I joined a camera club right after getting my camera, but after four years and holding every office in the club and winning the contests to the point that they said "Hey let someone else win a while", I started working at photography at nights and weekends. In 1997, I sold the other business I was running and have been starving as a pro photographer ever since.
Nowadays, there are Yahoo groups, forums like this one, and even some educational stuff on Youtube. If you do a search, you will find DVD sets from Dean Collins (amazing to see in person in 1987) and many others who are highly respected portrait photographers.
Most of all, don't be afraid to experiment and keep notes on what you do so when you do it right, you remember how you did it. Rick from Arkansas "Arkie"
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