The best nightclubs and lounges the world over have several things in common, but one thing you might not expect them to share is the presence of a talented nightclub photographer. In Miami as in the rest of the world, having top-notch talent to capture the many ecstatic and exotic moments that happen under the sway of the pounding music and the flashing light is an absolute necessity. There is no better way to give a night out a special flair than to find yourself in a nightclub photograph — and no better way to market a nightclub than to show everyone the kinds of parties that go down there.

Having a nightclub photographer in Miami clubs adds to the “Paparazzi” atmosphere that those clubs promote — an atmosphere that appeals to one of humanity’s most base desires: to be rock stars. Treat the club-goers like they’re models, celebrities, or otherwise somehow worthy of a photographer’s attention, and not only will you get some killer shots, but you’ll see those customers again and again and again.

The highlight of a nightclub photographer’s night comes with some big name comes to perform a live concert at their club. Magazines, record labels, and PR firms are always looking for great shots of an artist performing live. You’ve got to be very skilled to balance the low light conditions with the constant motion on stage, but if you can take a few skilled shots, you can make some serious money as a performing artists’ photographer. Miami nightclubs, especially the larger ones, can offer a photographer opportunities like this on a surprisingly regular basis.

Once you’ve proven that you can take nightclub shots well and you snap a few hot-selling live artist shots, you can really start selling yourself to the local bands, record labels, newspapers, magazines, and websites. Get hired by one of those, and you can get a press pass and get well on your way to earning a serious reputation.

The profession of nightclub photographer is one that doesn’t see a lot of press — but it is one of the funnest, exciting, and — if you’re patient and persistent — profitable things you can do with a camera and the skill to use it.

If you’re a talented nude photographer, Miami has a lot of subject matter for you — but if you’re in it for the boobies, you’re in the wrong field. As pornography and so-called ‘glamour photography’ have become more and more prevalent, it’s harder every year to find someone capable of treating the nude form tastefully and without the mar of sleaze.

The number one thing you have to be able to make some classy photos of Miami’s beautiful ladies is take the sex OUT of the picture. Any attempt to look sexy on your model’s part, and what you end up with is tacky — not sexy. Looking sexy with your clothes on is one thing — it invites the imagination — but looking sexy while wearing nothing turns it into a predation, not an invitation.

On the other end, to avoid the ‘glam’ look, the simple secret is to have your model look away from the camera. Glamour shots almost inevitably feature nudes looking directly into the camera, so do the opposite. Tell your model to look into the distance and think hard about something she finds distracting. Alternately, if she’s really a good model, tell her to look lost in thought. The photograph will instantly look much more artistic and full of depth.

If your model must be looking at the camera, try to evoke an emotion that cannot coexist with thoughts of sex. That’s why many models appear to be scowling or brooding in their nude shots — because that’s one relatively easy way to focus on the art of the shot rather than the skin that fills the frame.

For a purely artistic shot, you can also create a nude shot that skips the face altogether. By avoiding any direct visual interaction between the model and the audience, you also avoid any chance of looking sleazy. You don’t have to cut off the model’s head; you can also simply face her away from the camera, or angle her head so that you get the idea of the face, but don’t actually see it.

If you’re an aspiring nude model photographer in Miami, keep these basic tips in mind, and you will find it much easier to produce truly classy and amazing nude photos of all of the beautiful ladies of the Magic City.

In the competitive and complex world of fashion photographers, Miami is a tough place to get started. We have literally dozens of very talented fashion photographers in the Magic City. Even in less competitive environments, most students of fashion photography fail to start successful careers in the field. If your only drive to be a fashion photographer is because it’s trendy, or it pays well, you’ll never make it in Miami. Fashion photography is possibly the single hardest arena of photography to break into.

That said, if you love the art and science of photography, and you’re hard working and patient, it is possible to build a name for yourself. Everyone likes to believe that they’ve got ‘the knack’ that will get the attention of the industry, but the fact is that overnight success comes after years and years of overnight failure. But if you’re willing to accept that hard work and focus plus talent will eventually lead to success, you might have what it takes to make it as a photographer in Miami.

The first step is to finish the compliment of fashion photography courses at an institute. As you prepare to graduate, talk to your institute’s Career Services office, and work with them to build a portfolio and a resume. Then, ask them to introduce you to local studios, newspapers, and merchants that work with fashion photographers. As you start to expand your network of industry contacts, you’ll find that getting jobs becomes easier and your personal brand starts to build itself.

At that point, you have two options. Either you can apply persistently to various reputable fashion photography organizations until you’re hired, and then work your way up the ladder there — or you can build yourself a website, take out some advertisements, and try to forge your way on your own. The latter path is much, much more work — and most of that work isn’t anything you learned about at the institute. On the other hand, the profit margin is larger, the clients are more dedicated, and after several successive successful years, you will have people seeking you out…and isn’t that what it’s all about?

When it comes to knowing what separates a camera-lover from a professional photographer, Miami folks, by and large, don’t. It’s fairly common to hear people say things like “Wow, that’s a great picture — your camera must really kick butt!” It’s kind of like crediting a great meal to the quality of the chef’s cookware .

Make no mistake — having the right tools is critical. But the craft of photography is far more than the tools. First, you have to know how to use the tools. Buying a $2000 camera and then not knowing how to control your aperture, shutter speed, exposure mode, ISO, white balance, and all of the other elements that go into making a photograph out of what could have been merely a picture.

Here are 21 things that separate a professional photographer in Miami from someone with a high-end camera and a good eye.

A professional photographer…

• creates photographs, he doesn’t ‘hope it comes out.’
• knows how to craft a consistent look regardless of location.
• can create soft, even lighting even outside of the studio.
• can control his shutter speed to capture ambient light, create movement, or freeze a moving object in place.
• may spend hours retouching a single photograph until it is perfect.
• spends as much on every lens he buys that he spent on the camera itself.
• owns multiple cameras.
• has accessories — light stands, umbrellas, tripods, remote controlled flashbulbs, backdrops, and more.
• creates multiple backups of his photographs in multiple locations to make sure his clients always receive what they were promised.
• will spend as long as it takes talking to you, making sure he understands your needs and desires.
• will ask for a ‘shot list’ so that he doesn’t miss out on anybody important at your event.
• knows how to direct a group shot to get a picture with no yawns, closed eyes, or off expressions
• knows how to capture the moment.
• can match the color of his flash to the color of the ambient lighting.

can put together a wedding album that tells a story.

• (16)can take good pictures in the dark without using a flash.
• knows how to use angles and blocking to take the most flattering picture possible, even of people who aren’t classically photogenic.
• will present you a contract that explains exactly what you are paying for.
• will see and capture the smallest detail that adds powerful emotion to a picture.
• spends as much if not more time editing and detailing pictures as he does taking them.
• doesn’t charge for a picture — or a set of pictures. He charges for guaranteeing and providing a very high level of quality and service — and then exceeding that expectation on every single job he does.