Hey everyone. I'm a high school senior and I am taking a photography class. I have a project on a photography career. I love nature photography and I was wondering if any of you could help me out. If your interested please email me at kellarooz@yahoo.com.
Thanks
Kelly
Shoot, shoot and shoot some more. Then once your finger begins to get sore, edit like crazy, and then shoot, shoot, and shoot some more.
Seriously, the first big thing is to learn photographic basics. I see you are taking an intro class which is a great way to start. The basics will always be necessary, whether you stay with nature photography or branch out to other areas.
Read John Shaw's books. they are probably the best *practical* explanations of how to start photography, with an emphasis on nature. All of the theory details of DOF, Scheimflug, the pros and cons of the latest wonderfilms and wondersensors are basically ignored because he cares more about shooting and results than being a technogeek.
Post here and otherwise show your work locally for critique and understand that you will get negative comments. Your parents and friends will always say nice things, but that is their job.
Prepare for a second career. This isn't as bad as it sounds. Trained biologist - you'll have a better knowledge of how to find and id your subjects. Accounting - you do plan to make money? Marketing - that is how you'll make the money. Philosophy - at least you'll be able to carry a conversation and be a bit more well rounded. Besides, barring a massive stroke of luck, you'll need to hold a day job to pay for the photography, at least when you are starting. It is a lot better than living in your parents basement. And trust me (from experience), there is nothing worse than preparing for a career and realizing at the end that you don't want to do that any more. At least in this case, you'll have a plan B.
And shoot, shoot, and shoot some more, edit, edit, and edit, and then go out and shoot some more.
Best books, John Shaw. Your best friend, the trashcan. Learn to "see" comon things in a new way. Think way outside the box. Look for trends in the nature photo world. Do your own thing. Learn every thing you can about your camera and lens. Learn to set it with your eyes closed and know what you did and why you did it. Look at everybodys work. Look at art books, look and SEE what they did with light, color, form and space in the picture. Learn to move your work from mind to camera to computer to customers mailbox faster than the next guy. Many times its not the very best photo that gets published but the first to land on the editors desk. You have landed in a great place for help, use it.
Another thing about being in school for a higher degree - you can use breaks to shoot without having to worry about the 9-5 day job, make contacts, build a portfolio, use the school newspaper to shoot events for more training and practice, maybe even take advantage of the photography department if there is one.
Other things: Look at as many pictures as you can tolerate, and figure out why they do or do not work, Not just 30-40 once a week. I mean hundreds each week, if not more.
Take art appreciation classes. Again, you are after seeing as much work as you can. Learn to look at how the artist used light to emphasize or deemphasize a subject.
Go to Border's once a week and read every magazine on the rack.
Read you camera manuals. I know they are almost painful, but it comes down to knowing how the camera works, without having to think.
Study the industry, trends, what is being published, etc, now, before your income depends on having that knowledge.
Your backyard is an amazing source of photos, if you approach it creatively. You don't need to go to Yellowstone to get publishable photos. Besides, everyone shooting professionally now already has been there.
Take every opportunity you can to shoot.
As much as I like film, digital is a great learning tool since it is cheap and you get fast feedback.
Network now. Whether here, local clubs, local photographers. These connections will pay off down the road.
Give yourself time to become successful. A general rule of thumb I see is 10 years. Remember, it takes time to build the portfolio, make the connections, build a market base, establish a reputation, etc. This is why having the backup degree and going to school will help. If you work hard at it now, you can cut that time from postgraduation down to 4-5 years, because the connections and files are already there.
I need answers to questions like what kind of equipment salery school that kind of thing i got sick and the deadline caught up with me this is due tomorrow if any of you could help me answer the questions it would be great its kindof a carrer presentation my yahoo is kellarooz and my myspace is myspace.com/kellarooz anything would be great thanks again and btw thanks to all the responese already!
I need answers to questions like what kind of equipment salery school that kind of thing i got sick and the deadline caught up with me this is due tomorrow if any of you could help me answer the questions it would be great its kindof a carrer presentation my yahoo is kellarooz and my myspace is myspace.com/kellarooz anything would be great thanks again and btw thanks to all the responese already!
cost of education, set up costs: cost of equipment, office, labemployees, travel expenses, overhead costs: equipment, processing, framing, print media summissions, web, taxes, transportation, rent, who are your clients, how do you reach them, what is your product (mag photo, print, etc.) what do you need each day in your career to creat your product and to gain clients
Discussion
10 repliesThanks
Kelly
NANPA ( www.nanpa.org) has lot of scholarships and good program for youngsters.
Also...learn...shoot.shoot....ask questions....go get all of John Shaw's books ( among others) and study how the masters do it.
Feel free to email me as well if you have questions.
Are you shooting film or digital?
JG
Seriously, the first big thing is to learn photographic basics. I see you are taking an intro class which is a great way to start. The basics will always be necessary, whether you stay with nature photography or branch out to other areas.
Read John Shaw's books. they are probably the best *practical* explanations of how to start photography, with an emphasis on nature. All of the theory details of DOF, Scheimflug, the pros and cons of the latest wonderfilms and wondersensors are basically ignored because he cares more about shooting and results than being a technogeek.
Post here and otherwise show your work locally for critique and understand that you will get negative comments. Your parents and friends will always say nice things, but that is their job.
Prepare for a second career. This isn't as bad as it sounds. Trained biologist - you'll have a better knowledge of how to find and id your subjects. Accounting - you do plan to make money? Marketing - that is how you'll make the money. Philosophy - at least you'll be able to carry a conversation and be a bit more well rounded. Besides, barring a massive stroke of luck, you'll need to hold a day job to pay for the photography, at least when you are starting. It is a lot better than living in your parents basement. And trust me (from experience), there is nothing worse than preparing for a career and realizing at the end that you don't want to do that any more. At least in this case, you'll have a plan B.
And shoot, shoot, and shoot some more, edit, edit, and edit, and then go out and shoot some more.
Other things: Look at as many pictures as you can tolerate, and figure out why they do or do not work, Not just 30-40 once a week. I mean hundreds each week, if not more.
Take art appreciation classes. Again, you are after seeing as much work as you can. Learn to look at how the artist used light to emphasize or deemphasize a subject.
Go to Border's once a week and read every magazine on the rack.
Read you camera manuals. I know they are almost painful, but it comes down to knowing how the camera works, without having to think.
Study the industry, trends, what is being published, etc, now, before your income depends on having that knowledge.
Your backyard is an amazing source of photos, if you approach it creatively. You don't need to go to Yellowstone to get publishable photos. Besides, everyone shooting professionally now already has been there.
Take every opportunity you can to shoot.
As much as I like film, digital is a great learning tool since it is cheap and you get fast feedback.
Network now. Whether here, local clubs, local photographers. These connections will pay off down the road.
Give yourself time to become successful. A general rule of thumb I see is 10 years. Remember, it takes time to build the portfolio, make the connections, build a market base, establish a reputation, etc. This is why having the backup degree and going to school will help. If you work hard at it now, you can cut that time from postgraduation down to 4-5 years, because the connections and files are already there.