Photographer's Origins

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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on December 1, 2009 at 8:50am

My first advice, as always, is get an education. You won't live long enough to make all the mistakes! Then find a photographer whose work you like and begin to do what they do. I have wanted to make photographs since I was a small child. I became aware of the photographs of Ansel Adams, Eliot Porter and others and set about to meet them and work with them. You'll be surprised to learn that most art people, who are very good, are very willing to share information and techniques. My big moment came in 1992 when I met and photographed with Bruce Barnbaum, Don Kirby, Jay Dusard and others. Although I already had a masters degree in photography (commercial type work) their knowledge completely dwarfed what I knew. By comparison I was a rank amateur beside those men. Work hard, play hard, stay focused on your end game, never be afraid or intimidated to ask a question and go to workshops offered by the people who are doing what you want to do.

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Permalink Reply by nathan mccreery on December 1, 2009 at 2:55pm

PS. Be very careful in the advice and responses you get from people who are proud of the fact that they've never had any formal training. Often their work looks like it

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Permalink Reply by Tyrone on December 1, 2009 at 10:56am

I watched my mom taking pics of us when I was small and the camera fascinated me from that moment. I've never taken a course in all my life. Not even a seminar, I got thown into the mix by first reading everything I could get my hands on and became a big Dean Collins follower. I've been shooting fashion/glamor since 84, commerical since 92, weddings like forever got into digital late (big film/zone system fananic!) brought the Nikon D90 and never looked back...
Most pros say that a good start is a business background along w/ a education in the arts. After all if you want to make a living in photography you have to have a basic background in all aspects of business, marketing, promotion, etc.
Although, I have no such background, I stay horribly busy and now only accept sessions by (appointment only!).
I get to shoot what I want and am subject to my own imagination, it's kinda wild so I'm left to my own devices. A lot of people burn out when it becomes (work) so do what makes you happy.
Also, unless you are really passionate, consider what you really want out of it. Visit me at www.redbubble.com/people/matsumoto

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Permalink Reply by Sandra Oquendo on December 6, 2009 at 11:44am

nice! well i know about photography bc of my dad, he used to be a professional wedding photographer back in the days, and i used to be his assistant, but i didnt had the knowledge i have now. After taking a class as part of my curriculum at the uni i got hooked, and my professor was a photojournalist, so imagine he was on us all the time looking for the "moment" etc.

been taking pictures for a yer and a half now, but just practice, next year though and on December i have some events coming up and i'm happy by that but i feel that i still have much to learn and of course i need money to invest on equipment cause i dont have any im just saving money :P

i need a new camera! but i already made a porfolio. check it out

http://www.wix.com/subversivepixels/pixels

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Permalink Reply by Sean on December 6, 2009 at 3:25pm

Find the photographer whose images and style you most admire and ask them how they got there. If is their success you are looking for do the same thing....always ask the farmer with the fruit on the trees how they farm.

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