Seriously, the business has gotten hard to make a living within, and of all the photogs I know, only a few of us are really successful at making a real income. I always recommend to people entering the business to either do it part time to see how it goes, or have another source of income until things take off (if they do).
If one does decide to enter the business, hard work is what it takes to make it. Hanging out a shingle alone will not do it.
I agree with hard work, but you should also try to have your own style, a reason why to pick you instead of me. Be detailed, look twice before you press that trigger to make sure everything is in place. Look at a zillion photography books and practice what you like from them. Your style many times develops as you practice.
Don’t just send promos out, call the art buyers and try to meet them. Most won’t but only takes one that likes you to get you working.
Millons of people ‘take’ pictures. Some make a living at it with hard work and perseverance , but the photographers who do thrive have vision and a unique way of making pictures that tell a story. They have a passion that colors what they do. Find your passion and follow it. A simple ‘I like to shoot everything’ won’t do. You need something that sets you apart. Often it’s that personal passion that allows your unique style or vision to get editors’ attention.
I consider myself a potential up and comer, and I have to say that most of the above has been quite true so far. Especially on the note of following something I’m passionate about. The work quality really does seem to follow passion, especially because most people won’t stick with anything they hate for long enough to get really good at it, and they won’t try to make it awesome when they are working on it and hating their work. I still could use some help learning how to promote myself and charge for my services, though.
People see and recognized confidence quickly. It is a personal quality that comes with a strong self identity, usually it results in a strong sense of purpose. I think without a sense of purpose of what you want to do, you will ramble and not be definitive.
Be committed to one project until it is finished. Patience is key, work your ass off, be visible , so get out to events where you can meet influential people. Find someone to be a mentor. The biggest mistakes are made from the lack of knowing how to get a client. I think having a coach/mentor is key to being successful. Give back by doing charity work.
Don’t quit the night job until you can sustain and support well funded personal projects through photography work. Do NOT Work for less than what your it costs you to do business. If you don’t have a business plan you will find the road ahead is pretty miserable.
Lastly put 10-15% of you earnings into a money market fund and eventually a Simple IRA, you’ll want to retire one day. If you start investing into your retirement early you will be happy with the results when you are my age.
Stealing other photographers’ photos and passing them off as your own is easy, but when you get caught, and you will, your career is likely to be over. Some good examples:
All great comments! You’re all right. You can only slice a pie in so many pieces before no one gets enough to survive. I’m at the point of going back to doing what I really enjoy about photography and how it all started 4o years ago. Looking at photographers like Weston and Adams, they took work they really didn’t enjoy to pay the bills, but never stopped doing their own work. And there are many more successful photographers like them. I think all in all we want to be remembered in a positive way, making our contribution, no matter how small it may be. To make a difference. Always keep the passion and drive to create…
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Don’t work for free, or cheaply. You want your work to be valued. Don’t undercut the competition, you Are the competition!
Make time to shoot personal work, and seek out feedback (not facebook).
have rich parents…?
Seriously, the business has gotten hard to make a living within, and of all the photogs I know, only a few of us are really successful at making a real income. I always recommend to people entering the business to either do it part time to see how it goes, or have another source of income until things take off (if they do).
If one does decide to enter the business, hard work is what it takes to make it. Hanging out a shingle alone will not do it.
Have an idea and make it great <– I'll let you know if it works soon
As my dad once told me:
“Hard work is the best competitive advantage, since most people are lazy.”
I agree with hard work, but you should also try to have your own style, a reason why to pick you instead of me. Be detailed, look twice before you press that trigger to make sure everything is in place. Look at a zillion photography books and practice what you like from them. Your style many times develops as you practice.
Don’t just send promos out, call the art buyers and try to meet them. Most won’t but only takes one that likes you to get you working.
Millons of people ‘take’ pictures. Some make a living at it with hard work and perseverance , but the photographers who do thrive have vision and a unique way of making pictures that tell a story. They have a passion that colors what they do. Find your passion and follow it. A simple ‘I like to shoot everything’ won’t do. You need something that sets you apart. Often it’s that personal passion that allows your unique style or vision to get editors’ attention.
I consider myself a potential up and comer, and I have to say that most of the above has been quite true so far. Especially on the note of following something I’m passionate about. The work quality really does seem to follow passion, especially because most people won’t stick with anything they hate for long enough to get really good at it, and they won’t try to make it awesome when they are working on it and hating their work. I still could use some help learning how to promote myself and charge for my services, though.
People see and recognized confidence quickly. It is a personal quality that comes with a strong self identity, usually it results in a strong sense of purpose. I think without a sense of purpose of what you want to do, you will ramble and not be definitive.
Be committed to one project until it is finished. Patience is key, work your ass off, be visible , so get out to events where you can meet influential people. Find someone to be a mentor. The biggest mistakes are made from the lack of knowing how to get a client. I think having a coach/mentor is key to being successful. Give back by doing charity work.
Don’t quit the night job until you can sustain and support well funded personal projects through photography work. Do NOT Work for less than what your it costs you to do business. If you don’t have a business plan you will find the road ahead is pretty miserable.
Lastly put 10-15% of you earnings into a money market fund and eventually a Simple IRA, you’ll want to retire one day. If you start investing into your retirement early you will be happy with the results when you are my age.
Have fun
There are no shortcuts.
Stealing other photographers’ photos and passing them off as your own is easy, but when you get caught, and you will, your career is likely to be over. Some good examples:
http://photographersdirect.blogspot.com/2011/09/terje-helless-fraudulent-photos.html
http://fairtradephotographer.blogspot.com/2012/01/photo-thief-who-made-me-laugh.html
http://fairtradephotographer.blogspot.com/2011/11/jam-studios-sticky-fingers.html
Thanks for sharing! Amazing what lengths some will go to to get “famous”
All great comments! You’re all right. You can only slice a pie in so many pieces before no one gets enough to survive. I’m at the point of going back to doing what I really enjoy about photography and how it all started 4o years ago. Looking at photographers like Weston and Adams, they took work they really didn’t enjoy to pay the bills, but never stopped doing their own work. And there are many more successful photographers like them. I think all in all we want to be remembered in a positive way, making our contribution, no matter how small it may be. To make a difference. Always keep the passion and drive to create…
Learn to differentiate between a request and an opportunity.
Delegate time & resources appropriately.
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