Pros - how did you get there?

EMA747

EMA747

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Following on from a suggestion in my thread http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=248284 I want to ask those making a living off photography how you got there. I am really interested in Sports (motorsport especially), Press and Editorial and Travel photography most of all. I am not really interested in weddings but would still like to hear how those pros got to where they are now.

If you didn't read the other thread my problem is I would like to do a university photogrpahy degree in Press & Editorial photography but can't get any student funding so would have to pay £7900 a year in fees + living costs working out over three years something like £50,000 all-up. Is it worth the money and can I get the same teaching from short courses?

How much work experience is there out there? I would like to get some experience on real projects and get an idea of how things work in the pro world of photography. At the moment I don't have any idea how to go about getting sales and also how the images go from camera to client (ie workflow etc) in the commercial world.

Any comments really appreciated. :thumbs:
 
From what i know about my own experience, (3 year degree in CG arts and Animation) i can tell you that although its nice to have a degree and alot of people wont employe you unless you have one, its not a absolute must.

I completed 2 years of my degree and am not going to continue into my third for various reasons, one of those reasons is that i can virtually garauntee i wont get work. Only recently in the news the statistic is that 69 graduates are going for 1 job in 2010 compared to only 40 in 2009.

We had industry professionals give a lecture and on asking this next question, my mind was virually made up not to continue;

"Do you think that its a case of being damn good at what you do or the fact that you have a degree"
REPLY
"I'll be honest, i have been in the game for years and its pretty much who you know, not what you know"

Saying that though, the university i study at do a photography degree too, including Masters, an i have often thought about it and that maybe i should have chose that instead of Animation.

Maybe of no help to you what-so-ever and i'm sure there are plenty of people who have degree's and are doing really well, but i thought i would share my experience thus far.

Personally, i think that a stricking portfolio outweighs anything you have on paper.
 
I don't think Edinburgh Gary has any photography related qualifications but is doing pretty well for himself and is one of the best photographers around (if you ask me).
 
Not sure a press and editorial course would help you get a job, especially at that price.
My route was a BTEC 2 year course in Photography, got a job with the local paper straight after leaving college, 18 months later got a better job on a regional daily, then Birmingham Post and finally went freelance around 7 years ago.

I learnt more in the first week on the Macclesfield Messenger than I ever did at college, main thing was how to deal and talk to people from all walks of life (best thing to do is treat them all the same..)

I did a couple of weeks works experience with the local paper before college, and decided press photography was for me.
Not once have I been asked for any qualifications, it's all about portfolio and personality.
You may want to have a big think about trying to become a press photographer, the press course in Sheffield has just closed and round here several photographers have recently lost their jobs on the Post and Mail, across the country hundreds of editorial jobs have been lost in the past few years.
It's really really hard to get a staff job these days (not saying there aren't any about.)

Anyway on a more positive note (without contradiction myself), going to college is a really good way to develop yourself and develop your own style.
If you can afford it, try and go, as the job market at present is not great....If you do go to college, always be aware of the pictures you shoot are saleable as at the end of the day you will on day have to pay the rent!
 
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Edtog said:
Not sure a press and editorial course would help you get a job, especially at that price.
My route was a BTEC 2 year course in Photography, got a job with the local paper straight after leaving college, 18 months later got a better job on a regional daily, then Birmingham Post and finally went freelance around 7 years ago.

I learnt more in the first week on the Macclesfield Messenger than I ever did at college, main thing was how to deal and talk to people from all walks of life (best thing to do is treat them all the same..)

I did a couple of weeks works experience with the local paper before college, and decided press photography was for me.
Not once have I been asked for any qualifications, it's all about portfolio and personality.
You may want to have a big think about trying to become a press photographer, the press course in Sheffield has just closed and round here several photographers have recently lost their jobs on the Post and Mail, across the country hundreds of editorial jobs have been lost in the past few years.
It's really really hard to get a staff job these days (not saying there aren't any about.)

Anyway on a more positive note (without contradiction myself), going to college is a really good way to develop yourself and develop your own style.
If you can afford it, try and go, as the job market at present is not great....
Click to expand...

I agree with some of what you say. Being able to present yourself and talk to people on the correct level is a must, personality and a kick-ass PF will seal the deal. I know its fantasy but Peter Parker springs to mind.
 
The best way to make money in Photography is get a degree in marketing - then buy a camera...
 
Edtog said:
Not sure a press and editorial course would help you get a job, especially at that price.
My route was a BTEC 2 year course in Photography, got a job with the local paper straight after leaving college, 18 months later got a better job on a regional daily, then Birmingham Post and finally went freelance around 7 years ago.

I learnt more in the first week on the Macclesfield Messenger than I ever did at college, main thing was how to deal and talk to people from all walks of life (best thing to do is treat them all the same..)

I did a couple of weeks works experience with the local paper before college, and decided press photography was for me.
Not once have I been asked for any qualifications, it's all about portfolio and personality.
You may want to have a big think about trying to become a press photographer, the press course in Sheffield has just closed and round here several photographers have recently lost their jobs on the Post and Mail, across the country hundreds of editorial jobs have been lost in the past few years.
It's really really hard to get a staff job these days (not saying there aren't any about.)

Anyway on a more positive note (without contradiction myself), going to college is a really good way to develop yourself and develop your own style.
If you can afford it, try and go, as the job market at present is not great....If you do go to college, always be aware of the pictures you shoot are saleable as at the end of the day you will on day have to pay the rent!
Click to expand...
Good info thanks. How do you find out about jobs with things like local papers? (if there are any jobs at all!) How do you find people to show your work to?

Regarding your last point -I did A-level photography about 10 years ago (and got an A grade lol :D) and have done the uni thing (doing Civil Engineering though) so I am not so bothered about the "doing uni" stuff.
 
I didn't do any formal training and I am now a contract photographer for one of the agencies Daryl mentioned in his post. I got there by going out and trying lots of things, spending a lot of my money and not getting much back. I'd guess I might have outlayed nearly the same as you would for a Uni course.

The thing is, I've never been asked what qualifications I have, I've only ever been asked for a portfolio.

I would guarantee it's different for other areas of photography...but i've never come across qualifications as a stipulation for getting a job.

If you want to do motorsports, then go out and shoot motorsports...club level stuff to start with, karting or other things, find a local racing club and follow them around. Build your portfolio up and then approach an agency...a small one at first. Too many people like to run before they can walk and the damage they do is to their own reputation. Agencies like Action Images, Empics/PA, Getty, Reuters and AP will need you to be consistently good. You can't balls up a shoot and get away with it. You need to be at the height of your game before you go to them.

Start small, and work upwards.
 
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