six keys to success
How does a photographer make the transition from enthusiastic amateur to professional? Well, it starts with the sale of that first photograph. Then, hopefully, there will be another sale, another assignment, another job to follow. And then one day you’ll stop and look back at years that have gone by. That’s pretty much my vantage point as I write this.
If I were starting all over today it would be in a very different photographic world than in the early ’80s. My teeth were cut on Tri-X and D76. If that means nothing to you then ‘no worries’. The short version is that you missed some analog fun from before the digital revolution. But time is moving so fast there’s not much sense in waxing poetic about silver-coated film and toxic chemicals, at least not right now. I’m sure that will come in later posts, though, because I just can’t help myself.
Regardless of the area of photography you are entering (advertising, editorial, wedding, portraits, etc.), certain skills are necessary. Some photographers are stronger in one area than another and they play to those strengths. Maybe it’s possible to partner with someone else that is strong in areas where you could use some improvement. My studio, Daylight Photo, is a business partnership and we compliment each other very well. But usually, when you hang out that shingle for the first time, it’s you against the world. You have a camera and you want to make some money with it, simple and pure.
At the beginning of any career one usually has no idea of the actual skills and work necessary to succeed. That’s a good thing because, hopefully, it is pure passion fueling your interest in a photographic career…a simple, exciting, unadulterated love for photography. If you can keep that passion burning despite highs and lows you will most likely find yourself in possession of a satisfying career in photography. Live to shoot, shoot to live.
In following posts I’ll break down my thoughts on professional photography in a six installment (or so) outline, each addressing things I feel are key to success:
1. technical knowledge
2. customer service skills
3. marketing
4. business requirements
5. what they might not teach you in photo school (or what you should have paid more attention to, if they did)
6. the bottom line
Next time: technical knowledge
Hey Jim,
I’ve really enjoyed reading through all your posts. You offer some great information. My name is Andrew Todd and I’m a photographer on the west coast of Canada. After working for a few years doing short films from government art grants on the east coast I switched to still photos and starting doing skateboarding photography. Coming from a cinematography background and having connections with some great skateboarders it only took me a few months to get some photos published internationally. It didn’t take me long to realize that a constant income from skate photos is probably never going to happen. For a year I assisted for a professional commerical/industrial photographer and learned a great deal on the business side of things. My name got around and I started doing my own paid jobs regularly and when the photographer I was working for wasn’t available for a shoot he would refer his clients to me.
I ended up moving to the west coast a year ago to make a go at doing photography full time in a larger market. I had spent some time doing communication technical work before for the government and lined up a contract working for the military in Victoria, BC, a short ferry ride from Vancouver and Seattle which seemed like a great location for photo opportunities.
So here I am a year later. I’ve been side tracked on a different project and managed to open up an art gallery in chinatown here in Victoria but am still working full time on the government contract. My girlfriend/partner works the gallery full time. My government job pays extremely well but I’d just like to be making some moves back into doing photography on a full time basis. My problem I’ve been having lately is trying to target prospective clients and getting my name out there. I have done a great deal of online marketing with facebook, a website and a blog. Will it come down to cold calling people?
If you have a minute to review my site I would appreciate any feedback you could give me on my situation.
http://www.andrewtodd.ca
http://www.andrewtodd.wordpress.com