Advice for aspiring photographers - from Magnum photographers.

What advice would you give young photographers?
Photograph because you love doing it, because you absolutely have to do it, because the chief reward is going to be the process of doing it. Other rewards — recognition, financial remuneration — come to so few and are so fleeting. And even if you are somewhat successful, there will almost inevitably be stretches of time when you will be ignored, have little income, or — often — both. Certainly there are many other easier ways to make a living in this society. Take photography on as a passion, not a career.

:thumbs:
 
Thanks.

"3) Photograph things you really care about, things that really interest you, not things you feel you ought to do.
4) Photograph them in the way you feel is right, not the way you think you ought to."
 
RjLPhotography said:
What advice would you give young photographers?
Photograph because you love doing it, because you absolutely have to do it, because the chief reward is going to be the process of doing it. Other rewards — recognition, financial remuneration — come to so few and are so fleeting. And even if you are somewhat successful, there will almost inevitably be stretches of time when you will be ignored, have little income, or — often — both. Certainly there are many other easier ways to make a living in this society. Take photography on as a passion, not a career.

:thumbs:
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I'd quite like a career in photography but understand that the only money in photography is studio work. So I'd still do unique shots in personal time as a hobby.
 
I'd quite like a career in photography but understand that the only money in photography is studio work. So I'd still do unique shots in personal time as a hobby.
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Rubbish. There's livings to be made in a wide variety of photographic areas. Editorial is a big market, there's commercial, advertising, news, product, sport, SO many different types.

Look away from weddings and family portraits, and keep taking pictures of what you love, the rest will come with hard work and persistence. :)
 
itsdavedotnet said:
Rubbish. There's livings to be made in a wide variety of photographic areas. Editorial is a big market, there's commercial, advertising, news, product, sport, SO many different types.

Look away from weddings and family portraits, and keep taking pictures of what you love, the rest will come with hard work and persistence. :)
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Maybe me saying "Studio work" was too specific. I meant there's only money to made in commercial and advertisement photography. If you specialise only in landscapes, I believe you'd struggle to make a living.
 
Jarrrp said:
Maybe me saying "Studio work" was too specific. I meant there's only money to made in commercial and advertisement photography.
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More rubbish

Jarrrp said:
If you specialise only in landscapes, I believe you'd struggle to make a living.
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Agreed :)

PS I make a living as a sports photographer... may not be a greatly paid living but its a happy pay the bills living :)
 
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Making a living through landscape photography is largely the same as making a living through studio photography. It's 10% ability and 90% marketing*.

Landscape photographers don't have the overheads a studio photographer does. If they can market their work effectively, then they can do very nicely.



*Percentages may not be accurate.
 
Jarrrp said:
Maybe me saying "Studio work" was too specific. I meant there's only money to made in commercial and advertisement photography. If you specialise only in landscapes, I believe you'd struggle to make a living.
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Still wrong. Dave's post hit the nail on the head.
 
HMansfield said:
Making a living through landscape photography is largely the same as making a living through studio photography. It's 10% ability and 90% marketing*.

Landscape photographers don't have the overheads a studio photographer does. If they can market their work effectively, then they can do very nicely.

*Percentages may not be accurate.
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I would agree very much!! It seems if you can talk the talk your in. Personally I prefer to concentrate on the quality of my work, but in turn this does means I get less enquiries.
 
I dont shoot any of the types of photography mentioned above and manage to make a living ;)
Money can be made from ANY type of photography, you just have to find the place to sell it.

Great article by the way :thumbs:
 
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