I decided that this week my blog post would be a Q&A about my early years in the industry. I work with lots of young, just out of college assistants and I felt this post could provide some insight as to what it takes to be a full-time photographer. My social media manager provided me with a list of questions for this post. If you're a young creative with more questions feel free to comment below and I'll get back to you.
I graduated with a degree in Finance and went to work at a bank. Within the first 6 months, I wondered is this what life was about? I was incredibly bored. I wondered where the enjoyment was. Was I suppose to work and feel fulfilled during my off-work hours? No. I searched for something more interesting.
During that time my younger brother was in high school and had an interest in photography, he didn't pursue a career in the industry, but his interest led me to question whether it could be a career option for myself.
Till that point I had never done anything in photography. I was alway envious of people who were able to work creatively. I decided to enroll into a photography program. At first I enrolled into a adult ed classes, then decided to attend the program full-time. I was hooked.
What year did you begin working in the industry?
1990
What city did you work in?
Atlanta, then New York during my assisting time.
Did you work as an assistant, did you have to supplement your income with a waitressing job (or something similar)?
I spent 3.5 years working as an assistant and some of that time I worked in the equipment room of a photo studio called Industria, in New York City. I did not do anything else.
Did you have to get an internship to obtain work? What was that like?
No, I did not do an internship. All my leads come from word of mouth. I had a friend introduce me to a photographer and she took me under her wing for a 6 month full time studio manager position. After that I freelanced with photographers, mainly in the fashion arena.
Was your first year really the hardest year?
The first year out of assisting was the absolute hardest. It was MY first shooting year and I had NO idea how to find clients.There was no internet at the time, no way to search for them easily. It was hard to remain positive. However, I was lucky and one of the photographers I worked with passed my name to one of their old clients, I started shooting advertising for some mall clients. I considered it very lucky.
How long did it take to transition to a full-time shooter?
1 -2 years
What's the best piece of advice you could give to someone starting out?
Always do your best job! Go all out, keep all of your connections, don't burn any bridge. Take risks. Make sure you buy the best equipment for the job, even if you have to buy it very slowly. Work for free to get the right experience, being at the right place at the right time is important.
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