This Photographer’s Perspective

It’s no secret that life as a freelancer can be tough. The market is saturated with world class photographers and breaking in can seem like a daunting task. Most find themselves asking questions like “Where do I begin? What does it take? How do I even know what the next step is?” This post is a detailed follow-up to “I Need Your Help”…it’s for “T” and all other aspiring photographers looking to make a career in the world of freelancing. This is just my journey and my perspective, and I hope it helps you in creating the life you dream of.

The idea – It was my passion for photography, adventure sports and deep love for explorations in the natural world that lead me to a career as a photographer. Prior to my life behind the lens, I worked as an outdoor educator, directing a wilderness program for a large residential camp on the West Coast. Initially it filled my desire to share my passions with others. I spent a lot of time in the backcountry, had many great adventures and opened many young people’s eyes to the wonders of the natural world. As time went on and I assumed more and more responsibilities, I felt a shift; a burning desire to be more creative, work for myself and build a career as a photographer.

Education – Initially, educating myself was done through the reading of countless books/magazines. (This was before the days of the web and free info at your fingertips.) How to’s . . . the business of . . . general marketing/business management . . . anything I could get my hands on that feed my appetite for knowledge. (I’ve listed some of my favorite books/resources from over the years in a previous post here.) Eventually I felt I needed a stronger technical foundation so I enrolled in the Rocky Mountain School of Photography’s “Summer Intensive Program” in Missoula, Montana. During this time I started shooting consistently, something that I knew was extremely important for for building technical proficiency and developing a style I could call my own. Shooting consistently allowed me to do several things while building a foundation of technical knowledge. First, I identified what subjects I was drawn to and figured out what I wanted to focus on (adventure sports) in my career. Second, as I was shooting I began building a substantial library of photos that I would later go on to market as stock, helping to build my business.

Starting out – For many this is the scariest step: letting the world know you exist for the first time. Like most I was fearful of how my work would be received. But the important part here is actually taking the step. For me that meant researching a database of potential clients, building a small website, sending out e-mails and starting to package/prepare submissions to magazines that I felt my work was a good fit for. My first published photo ever was a sea kayaking shot that was used on the cover of a paddle sports publication out of Canada called Adventure Kayak (see below). It was nothing amazing but it was a start. For every time I succeeded in getting something published, I probably was turned down 10 times. That was OK. I kept all those “thanks but no thanks” letters for awhile and posted them on my wall as motivation. Most of the publications I was rejected by initially ended up using my work later on in my career. I got better over time. You will too.

My first published image – the cover of the Fall ’02 issue of Adventure Kayak taken on Thormanby Island in the Strait of Georgia – British Columbia

Building momentum – Throughout my entire career I have always used each success or failure as fuel and momentum for the next step. With each published photo and assignment completed you gain credibility. Eventually it builds, like a snowball rolling downhill, reaching critical mass. I used that first published photo of sea kayaking to gain the momentum I needed to get into other paddling related magazines. Those credits helped me into other outdoor and general interest magazines. The editorial work I had done gave me credibility to get into commercial and tourism related work. Now all that experience is helping me get in the big ad agencies. Do you get my point? It’s a process that takes time. Along the way you are going to screw some things up. That’s OK. I still do. The important thing is what you learn from the school of hard knocks. Like life, freelancing is a journey. Cherish the wisdom you gain, and enjoy each step of the way.

Overcome obstacles – About the time I finally I had things down with film, digital came along. Already established in the business I knew I wanted to be at the front of the pack. This meant I had to figure out a way to invest serious $$ into new equipment I couldn’t really afford at the time. I also had to learn new ways of doing almost everything I had just spent the previous few years figuring out. And this is not the only obstacle I have faced. There will be other technological advances, new software and techniques to learn. Expect them. Know they are part of the process. Tackle each one step at a time.

Don’t stop – As my career has progressed over the years so have my goals. I always know the direction I want to head in and the steps necessary to get there. Every few months I still take time to set new short, mid and long term goals. I am continually learning new things, experimenting with different techniques and evolving as a photographer.

There is a great line from the movie “The Edge” that I have used as my mantra over the years. It went something like “what one can do so can another.” Dream big, work hard and know your goals. Take that first step knowing that the journey can be whatever you want it to be. And don’t forget every now and then to turn around and look at how far you have come.

For more inspiration and other photographer’s insight read though the comments of my recent post “I Need Your Help”. Feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail if there are topics or specific things you’d like to see on my blog that will aid you in your journey.

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I Need Your Help

This week I received the e-mail below in response to my last blog post:

— “I’m 16 and take pictures. The outdoors and the different sports that bring you there are more like a home to me rather than something I simply enjoy. Two years ago I moved to Oregon which unleashed countless possibilities. When I’m able to bring my camera on different trips and really live in the moment and capture the faces of others enjoying the same experience, well… its great.

That is why I follow photographers like you, who are able to convey not only the beauty of the world but the moment and emotion behind it, in one image. I hope someday to be able to follow in your footsteps and bring the same inspiration to others and hearing their stories along the way. That is were it turns into a struggle for me, building a career on this. It doesn’t appear to be the clearest and steadiest path. However, here I am approaching the end of high school… it’s time to make something happen. So today I came across your latest blog entry. It seems as if this struggle is the job, the adventure, and what I want so badly. I just need to find a beginning.

Now to answer some of your questions. Your photographs make a difference and I can’t be alone in thinking this. On that rainy day when the trails are not ridable, when I’m low on money for the rock gym, or am simply stuck inside for a day, I turn to your website or open a magazine with photos by you and others and find a little piece of home.

Thanks for doing what you do,

“T”

“T’s” e-mail had more of a reverse effect than I am guessing he was expecting. It left ME feeling inspired and motivated to do more. Life as a freelance photographer is not without challenges. It has taken me over 10 years to build my career and there are still days that shake me to my core and make me question why I do what I do. That said, photography is in my heart, and I know without a doubt it is what I was put on this earth to do.

“T’s” email reminded me of the importance of giving back to the photographic community, something I have always had a desire to do. I’d like add additional content to this blog containing insider info on the photo industry. But in doing so, I’d also like to have your input. What type of information do you need? What topics or posts are most helpful to you? Do you want to see more behind-the-scenes, or how-to articles? Tips on running a business and being a freelancer? The door is wide open for your questions and suggestions.

I would like to ask everyone who reads this blog to leave a comment. If you are a photographer (no matter what genre), share with us your story of how you got your start. If you are like “T” and wondering where to begin, let us know what questions you have. Perhaps we can all help each other on our own journeys.

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Personal Connection

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How Do You Know If You Don’t Try?

Fear is a funny thing. It has the power to hold us back, keeping us in a place that is safe, comfortable and free from risk. It holds us captive like a ball and chain, tied to routine and old, stagnant ways.

Two years ago I would have never considered shooting mid-day under harsh light during the peak of summer. It just wouldn’t have happened. As someone who built a career on shooting naturally lit adventure sports, I was comfortable and accustomed to shooting golden light during the sweetest times of day – sunrise and sunset. Mid-day sun was like the plague, and I avoided it at all costs.

I guess this is exactly why I decided to get out of my comfort zone and schedule a mountain biking shoot in the middle of the afternoon in mid-July. I wanted to face my fears and expand my horizons. After all, how could I ever know what was possible without even trying? As it turns out, with enough wattage and the right light modifiers mid-day sun can be quite cool.

Photography, life or otherwise–you don’t know unless you try. Break the chains and try new things. You might just surprise yourself. You’ve got little to lose but a tremendous amount to gain.

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The Anatomy of a Road Biking Shoot

It’s no secret. I am huge fan of personal work and portfolio development (examples here, here and here. This week I carved out some additional time to work on another idea I have had floating around in my pea-sized brain and wanted to dig a little deeper than I have in the past into how I work. *DISCLAIMER* I am not at all trying to take credit for the ideas or techniques described in this post. Rather I wanted to share my own discoveries and methods of working.

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