In the past years I have regularly received a couple of emails a week from UK students studying photography for their GCSE or A-Level asking me questions or for advice.
I welcome these and so feel free to contact me, I can’t guarantee a lengthy reply but I’ll try my best.
It’s incredibly flattering when someone takes the time to write and tell you how your urban photography work has inspired them and they’d like to base their research on it.
It should be the aim for all photographers to pass the knowledge whenever possible and I always try to be as helpful as I possibly can.
I also try to be realistic and honest with students as the truth is that making photography work as a business is incredibly hard work.
It’s too easy to glamorise photography, look at Instagram and think photographers are just living the dream. These people need to be a little honest as I don’t think they are doing the world any good.
It’s not reality, most of the people on there actually have side jobs or financial support. Sure some are massively successful, but please don’t believe all you see on Instagram.
The earlier you learn that and reset your expectations to a high but “real” level, the happier you will be doing what you love, even if that means being at times skint because work runs dry.
Sorry, I don’t mean in any way to throw a downer on anyone’s dreams, but successful careers may start from a dream very soon followed by an incredible amount of work which you cannot drop or else you slide backwards.
That said, if you have passion, realistic expectations and believe in yourself, who knows what you can achieve. At least you work for yourself, on your terms. YOU can decide what your work ethic is, what your own company culture is.
I’ve worked for years in the corporate world, up to the point of being the Head of Sales and Marketing for a four star hotel in Kensington, London. I dropped it all, sick of the hypocrisy and having to suck-up to a boss, to pursue my photography as I couldn’t give it all my focus.
I risked my financial security for the uncertainty of photography. If I did that, it should tell you how much I am dedicated to my craft.
I have no choice other than to make it work do I?
As for you, decide how much you love photography, don’t be put-off by the lack of “likes” on social media, and study all aspects of running a photography business as early as you can if this is what you want to do.
Teach yourself how to create a slick looking website so you are not enslaved by Instagram, learn digital marketing, network, help others when you can, learn SEO, work a bit in a normal job so you can learn to interact with clients even if just behind the counter.
And go out and shoot photos, like your own photos but look at how you can improve in each and every photo you take. Follow your gut feeling instead of blindly following others.
Finally: Read my articles, there are gems in there.
Good luck!
Nico
