The world of commercial photography covers varied genres, viz., food, fashion, product – each requiringgenre-specific skills and technical know-how. At IIPK, students are groomed and trained to explore all
the genres of commercial photography, and are guided accordingly to meet the demands of the
commercial photography market. Photography aside, the other crucial factors which come into play
when you talk about being successful commercially, are networking, client handling & PR management.
Understanding the market is important, and it pays to promote one’s brand through social media and
other appropriate channels. At IIPK students gain crucial inputs on the same from the faculty &
workshop mentors with decades of experience in the commercial domain. From interacting with art
directors, to coordinating with makeup artists & stylists – students at IIPK have the unique opportunity
to master the all-important ‘people management skills’ required for being successful in the world of
commercial photography. So, how do you start earning? The key here is not how good you are at
shooting; it is about how good you are in combining your technical skills along with your marketing and
business proficiency. Ask yourself these three very crucial questions:
(1) How much do I charge from my prospective client?
(2) How professional I am in my line of work?
(3) How well can I promote myself, and the brand that I stand for?
At the end of the day, nobody can actually teach you business. You have to develop it yourself, by asking
the above questions. IIPK grooms students so as to give them a proper understanding of the market, and
the guidelines for ‘pitching’ successfully at the client interface. But as the records show, it is the students
themselves who have taken the onus upon themselves, going that extra mile, putting that extra bit of
effort to be successful commercially. That in turn makes us feel proud for who we are, and what we
stand for. From e-commerce portals to stock photography agencies – there is opportunities’ galore
when you look at commercial photography today, not to mention the wide basket of profitable clients
and media houses. All you need to do on your part is get your work folio ready, create your brand, pitch
yourself to the clients, and start earning!