Answers
There are many ways to become a photographer. The most obvious way, as you probably know, is to get a camera and start shooting! But if my guess is right, you've probably already done that and know this is something you want to do. From this point, there are several options you can take.
See if your school offers a photography club, and if not - start one! This will give you a chance to hone your technique and meet people who share your interest. If you get a moderately large group of people together (ten, maybe 15 or more!), you can also ask professional photographers to come and speak to your group. Be sure to keep the names and numbers/emails of these people (this is called "networking") so you can contact them again when you want feedback on your work or, better yet, an internship or job. Other good ways to network (and improve you skills) include taking all the photography classes you can - at school, at a community college, or at a local arts organization. This will also look good on your resume if you want to do this for a living and prove you're serious about it.
If you're in high school, your school may require a "senior project" or allow you to complete an independent study for credit. This will allow you to spend a lot of time working on your developing your portfolio (a collection of your best work that you can submit to contests, art fairs, colleges and beyond!) and can be a great opportunity to get feedback. If this doesn't seem possible for you in high school (or you've already graduated or are a senior), you can always pursue a similar approach (such as a BA or senior project) in college.
And, of course, SELF PROMOTE. Apply to photography internships (ask your guidance counselor, arts organizations, art teacher, or google), apply for whatever job you can find with professional photographers (or even just working at Sears at the photo booth!), send in your work to as many contests and scholarships as you can. Manny colleges will also be happy to look at your work if you send it in with your application. If you don't put yourself out there, you'll never move forward!
See if your school offers a photography club, and if not - start one! This will give you a chance to hone your technique and meet people who share your interest. If you get a moderately large group of people together (ten, maybe 15 or more!), you can also ask professional photographers to come and speak to your group. Be sure to keep the names and numbers/emails of these people (this is called "networking") so you can contact them again when you want feedback on your work or, better yet, an internship or job. Other good ways to network (and improve you skills) include taking all the photography classes you can - at school, at a community college, or at a local arts organization. This will also look good on your resume if you want to do this for a living and prove you're serious about it.
If you're in high school, your school may require a "senior project" or allow you to complete an independent study for credit. This will allow you to spend a lot of time working on your developing your portfolio (a collection of your best work that you can submit to contests, art fairs, colleges and beyond!) and can be a great opportunity to get feedback. If this doesn't seem possible for you in high school (or you've already graduated or are a senior), you can always pursue a similar approach (such as a BA or senior project) in college.
And, of course, SELF PROMOTE. Apply to photography internships (ask your guidance counselor, arts organizations, art teacher, or google), apply for whatever job you can find with professional photographers (or even just working at Sears at the photo booth!), send in your work to as many contests and scholarships as you can. Manny colleges will also be happy to look at your work if you send it in with your application. If you don't put yourself out there, you'll never move forward!
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Take a lot of pictures and get familiar with Adobe Photoshop. Weird angles on pictures look cool too.
art school