Comments on: How to Become a Professional Photographer

By: Kris Gironella

Kris Gironella — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:04:28 +0000

Hi Darren,

Love your article. I been into photography for few years but not as a professional photographer ’cause I have a full-time job as senior multi media designer and sometimes I apply my photography at work but not all the time and do BMX photography on the side for our own BMX website (flipbykes.com) and product shots for the BMX online shop which of course is free (no fees). I still want to be a professional photographer. I have the necessary gears that I invested big time but don’t know where to start. I need to strengthen my fashion / portraiture portfolio. I have my own personal photography projects but feels like it’s not enough. Do you have any advice for me? BTW the slave thing I guess is not applicable on my case ’cause I have a family and bills to pay. Cheers!!!

Best Regards,
Kris Gironella
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http://krisgironella.blogspot.com
http://www.flipbykes.com

By: Trent Grasse

Trent Grasse — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 09:20:30 +0000

being a slave gets you no where but being a slave. Charge money for work. If you aren’t being paid you are not being taken seriously and fetching coffee does not a photographer make. Learn about being a freelance assistant if you want to work commercial. If you want to work portrait work at a portrait studio. this is tottally possible. I went to hallmark. it was good for me i totally recommend it. I

By: Jon Miller

Jon Miller — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:14:20 +0000

I’ll say a lot of the information you presented here is so true. I got my start by being a “slave” to several photographers (fashion, commercial and a commercial/playboy photographer) and in each job I did the mandatory clean up the studio gig for weeks to a month before I got my promotion to 2nd assistant and then months would go by again until I got promoted to 1st assistant. In the meantime when I wasn’t cleaning I was watching, listening and learning what was being said and done. I asked what I thought was the important questions and got good answers. There are a lot of things I’m sure you can learn in schools, but real world experience isn’t one of them.

By: Marcos

Marcos — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:32:16 +0000

I agree with this article. However what do you do if you already have your under grad in something different then photography? I have my under grad in graphic design, which is related, kinda, but I dont have the technical photography skills nor do I have a portfolio. I shoot alot, but for fun and most of the work is amatuerish. Is it worth it to go to Grad School for photography, or would it be smarter to go somewhere like the hallmark institute? What would be the difference? Im confused. Thanks.

By: cavale

cavale — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:33:12 +0000

@avisioncame: i don’t think you understand the word therefore.

By: avisioncame

avisioncame — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:32:32 +0000

I totally agree with this article. A lot of good information coming from what seems to be a good source. But I think college for artists is just of way of leading yourself on. If you refuse to take the time to self teach, and develop your skill and style on your own, you are therefore unable to become a true master.

By: Oren

Oren — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:24:20 +0000

It’s pretty big of Jim Bryant to tell you all to go and work for free for two years. Honestly, though. He kinda sucks. No joke. Check out his site. It’s total crap. He couldn’t even be bothered to edit down to his best photos. He includes entire series of shots. Paesant leaning. Paesant leaning slightly further. So, yeah. You might learn something from him after two years of fetching him coffee. You might learn how to be a ho-hum photographer.

Seriously people. The education is out there. Figure it out yourselves. Don’t allow these leeches to take advantage of you. This isn’t 1983 anymore. Seriously.

By: Assistant

Assistant — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:22:07 +0000

As a assistant I have to say no f***ing way to much of this article. Some good points don’t get me wrong but as for being a slave or working for free / very little money… that’s not a good business is it?

Is it a good idea for a photographer starting out to do jobs for free or very little to “get a foot in the door” and by doing so push down the value of photography so that ad agencies can say well we paid so and so $burger all to shoot this last week so we expect you to do a shoot for the same peanuts budget.

I work hard to help produce outstanding images on shoots and if anyone be it a photographer, producer etc treats me like a slave that will be the last time I’m available when they call to book me.

By: Mike Steele

Mike Steele — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:48:17 +0000

I disagree with a lot of the advice.
My education was not in photography or anything related, I never worked as a photographers assistant and I am now a lead shooter for a news agency at the White House and have been published in over 100 different magazines and newspapers.
Basically you have described how NOT to be a photographer but how to be a photographers assistant, the two are not the same and one does not really lead into the other.

By: James Conkle

James Conkle — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 05:04:09 +0000

Hi thanks allot for the information! I just had a question and hoped someone here could answer it.
I am 15 years old and have been photographing for 2 1/2 years and love it! I am the photography editor at my school and I think its great! But I was wondering how I can further my photography development? I would love to do this “slave thing” but there are child labor laws. So does anyone have any suggestions?