WHERE DID IT ALL START?
Following my post on here seeing if anyone new to the industry wanted a chat regarding getting in to commercial photography, I've had some super interesting conversations which made me think I'd write it up in to a condensed post in the hope it was useful for more creative folk and budding photographers! As I said before, I can't promise to be an expert but I am more than happy to share my journey with you....
So, how did you get in to commercial photography? What were the steps?
This is probably the question I get asked most which is totally understandable and still a question i ask other photographers and image makers - how did they do it? What did they do and how long did it take?
It is a question I know has such a long and variable answer yet still I ask it myself!
So on that note, I'll do my best to answer.
For me I did go to uni and study photography, but didn't immedaitly decide to freelance or do it as a job. I worked in a family portrait studio and a news agency helping in various forms and once I left there after 2 years, actually went to work as a junior menswear designer. So totally different! (Always something I'd been in to and had previous qualifications in)
It was actually here that a colleague really gave me my first leap in to photography, as her sister worked at a venue which needed an urgent event photographer after a cancellation. I hand't picked up a camera in two years and had no experience, but I said yes.
From there I continued to shoot events for the venue and slowly I realised this was something I wanted to explore further, and now was the time. I was young, financially hardly any responsibilties so I moved back to my parents and gave it a go - getting a part time job four days a week and for the next two years, getting as much experience in as many fields of photography as I could. Events, portraiture and families - and yes, I did a lot of stuff for no money!
Through good or bad luck, and after a good few years I was made redundant and rather than look a gift horse in the mouth, I took the small savings I had acquired and decided to push it even further and take the portrait and event element that I loved and push it further.
I was freelance.
The leap was real. I lept, I dived in to the deep end and I took the risk with my eyes closed and my fists clenched in a mix of fear and excitement! Here I am 11 years later with many, many changes along the way; LOTS of bumps, bruises and no easy sails.
Do you own all your kit?
This is something people seem to get fixated on, but don't.
Get what you can, use what you have and learn about what you want to shoot and what you need and then if you have to or want to, buy it.
I've collected kit like many photographers and still have nowhere near the amount I'd like - I'd love to spend £10k on some Profoto lights or a new medium format camera. But wouldn't we all!!
Start small and keep building, and hire. I hire kit all the time and if I can make it part of the job charge I will but if not, then personally I just consider it past of the cost of providing the best service I possibly can. Not everyone will think like this and will always charge kit hire but this is totally a personal preference.
Experiment and if you know other photographers, consider using a similar brand so that you can share. That has been super useful for me throughout the years.
How long did it take you to make money? How hard is the hustle?
Short answer - the hustle is hard. You have to want it and you have to be hungry for it.
And 4 years, I broke even in year three and in year four I made a profit of about £3,000! I celebrated by drinking champagne in my bedroom office with my parents and buying myself a piece of jewellery I had wanted for ages.
That is really important. Celebrate the wins, congratulate yourself and try if you can to pat yourself on the back because no one else is going to do it for you.
Be brave and make those leaps, but be proud of yourself for making them.
Where do I start? Who do I contact?
There really is no short answer to this apart from you start at the beginning.
Where do you want to work and who with? What is your ideal job? What rescources have you got around you, not just locations or kit or the practical things but what about networks of contacts or potential clients?
How do they receive information and how can you get in front of them? Who are their customers?
What have you got that makes you different from other photographers - what is your spark? How can you make them remember you? Can you get assisting work? What about picking up the phone and giving them a call, dropping round some small printed postcards or writing an email?
Follow up, always follow up!
One of my favourite sayings here is "The squeaky wheel gets the oil."
It's something my mum said and I have to remind myself of now and then. Squeak.
This is actually a super interesting question and a fab way to explore how you can move forward, but it does take time, thought and planning.
It is also a super long and unique question I find so if it's something you'd like help with then this is the perfect opportunity to do that - give me an email or dm and let's chat about it!
Hopefully the above has been at least a little useful if not a bit quick - but honestly if you want to chat then get in touch and i'm still offering hour long skype / zoom sessions to just answer any questions you have or help you get in contact with that potential client or agency. Just offering tips and hints based on my experience which hopefully may go on to be useful for you, and then others from there.
Let's share - it's time we all pulled together.
Get in touch if I can help - carli@carliadby.co.uk