In the beginning, the first steps can be as simple as getting your hands on a camera that fits your needs (there are different kinds of cameras for various purposes and budgets), taking lots of pictures, and practicing as much as you can. But, these easy steps will only take you so far. To make the jump from amateur to professional you’ll need to put a lot of time and energy into developing professional-level skills. You can start by scrolling through the work of photographers you appreciate, reading books about photography, or watching tutorials on YouTube to learn some basics. As your skills progress, you can always take classes at a local college or enroll in a university-level photography degree program.