Friday Sep 24, 2004

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advice on starting a photography career? monster.com sucks ass.

flyers? printwork in a portfolio? door-knocking?
VIEW 25 of 28 COMMENTS
oryx:
have you tried assisting? it sucks ass, but every pro photog i know around here got their start assisting. it's a fantastic way to network, even when you sometimes know more than the guy you are holding lights for.

i've found that a lot of people in the photo industy are much more approachable than you would think. i've gone for coffee with the editor of the globe and mail, email back and forth with my favourite photojournalist in london, and hung out with the associated press photogs covering the protests in nyc last month. find someone in your area who is doing what you want to do, call them up and ask to pick their brain. i've never had anyone say no. it might not lead to a job, but so much of this industry is about who you know, and that's a great way to get your foot in the door.
bobbyo:
it depends on what you want to do. there's really not a clear path to follow. everybody does it differently.

assisting is the best way if you're looking to get into the commercial end of things. find photographers whose work you like and call them (there's lots of online directories or even look in the yellow pages under commercial photographers). for the most part people are willing to meet with you. if you call + meet with enough people you'll eventually start getting hired for jobs. you'll learn a lot about different equipment, but also about the business, about what to charge, etc. you'll get to see what you like and don't like about any given specialty. i learned a lot more about photography by assisting than i ever did in photo school.

you'll need some sort of portfolio to get assisting work. people like to see what you do. and to know that you're serious. a book or a box of prints would be fine. limit it to your best stuff, maybe 10-20 images.

if you're looking to start shooting it require making lots of phone calls to people you want to work for to get your portfolio in front of them. start with small local papers and magazines then go bigger. it takes some time before people know who you are and a wiliing to hire you. its a slow process, but things happen if you keep at it long enough. its not the easiest way to make a living, but its very empowering being in control of your own fate and doing something you love.

good luck. hope this helps.

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