24 Jan 2026
At the end of school, around 18, you are expected to decide what you will do for the rest of your life. One decision — based on exams, advice, or whatever felt right at the time — can seem like a stake in the ground: get it right and you win; get it wrong and you risk ending up in a job you dislike for the rest of your life, unsure how to change course.
But the world has changed. The decisions you made 10 or even 20 years ago mattered — but they were never irreversible. And if, back when you were leaving school, your real dream was to shoot — whether that is cool advertising campaigns for brands, PR projects, or something entirely different — we are here to help.
So where do you start if you decide to become a photographer? Which courses are actually worth your time? And how much should you realistically invest in equipment? To answer these questions, we are speaking to someone who did exactly that — leaving a stable career in finance to become a freelance photographer at 30.
Before we dive into the finer details, let me introduce the person helping me shape this story. Victor is a UAE-based freelance photographer who began his career in the financial sector, working as a stock market trader for more than 10 years before fully transitioning into photography.
Skateboarding played a key role in that shift — filming sessions and documenting new tricks slowly reignited a creative spark that eventually turned into a clear decision to change professions, almost at 30. Today, he is commissioned by major brands and takes part in some of the coolest creative initiatives across the Middle East.
Courses & workshops — do they really make sense?
For many people, the easiest way to begin a photography journey is through a course. And while a course won’t always teach you how to find your style — that usually comes later — it can offer a solid foundation: an understanding of light and composition, and a clearer sense of what to focus on next.
The UAE doesn’t offer a vast range of offline photography education, but there are a few solid options that are genuinely worth considering.
Given the limited options for offline photography courses, turning to online learning often makes the most sense. The good news is that there are a few genuinely strong platforms worth considering.
Masters of Photography takes a more inspirational approach, with courses led by globally recognised photographers — the kind whose work you have probably saved on Instagram and wondered, how did they do that?
LABASAD is another solid option for those looking to go deeper into documentary photography, with a 12-month programme that places strong emphasis not only on the images themselves, but also on post-production and the thinking behind the work.
Skillshare is ideal if you want to try the course before fully committing. With its trial period and wide range of short classes, it is a low-pressure way to explore different directions.
What is visual awareness — and how do you develop it?
This probably deserves to sit right at the beginning of the article — but I didn’t want to scare you off with a term that sounds a little intimidating and doesn’t immediately explain itself. So, what is visual awareness?
On courses, you can learn how to use a camera so your photos look “professional”. But visual awareness is what makes an image feel compelling — the thing that helps it stand out and actually get noticed.
How do you build it? I can’t offer any strict rules, but Victor definitely can — so I will let him take it from here.
Photo: Victor Dyachkov
What equipment is essential to buy at the beginning?
If you ask a professional photographer what equipment you should choose, the most honest — and quietly expected — answer is usually: whatever feels comfortable to work with. And while that advice is fair enough, it is not always particularly helpful. So here are some things to consider before you start:
- Choose a mid-range camera to begin with, rather than overspending.
- Invest in quality lenses
- Prime lenses (35-50mm)
- Zoom lenses
- Short telephoto lenses
- Fish-eye and tilt-shift lenses
- Try to define — at least in broad terms — the niche you will be working in.
Photos: Victor Dyachkov
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