I recently received a request from a student studying photography and arts in wonderful North Queensland. Like many photography students starting out the burning question is "is there enough room in this world for another photographer and if so how to stand out from the crowd".
I like to think I am a positive person so for me the answer is "yes". There is always space for great talent and reliability to back it up.
Here is a quick summary of some of the ways you can stand out:
Passion
I read somewhere on twitter recently that you need to have more passion for photography than for life itself!! Whooh that's saying a lot.. But your passion is your greatest ally, it will drag you through the tough times and drive you on when others lacking passion would have given up.
Shoot from the Heart
Take the photos you love. It's important to love what you do everyday. If you take the photos you love you will never work a day in your life. This will help you define your style because it is coming directly from your heart and no-one else has this advantage. I remember asking a friend to dress up and be my model (see above) whilst I was still at photography school. I didn't know what I was doing but it was the kind of photo I wanted to take. I have been shooting women for the best part of 11 years..
Your Vision
Don't be influenced by everyone around you. This can be very distracting. Take inspiration from others but always believe in your own vision. This will allow you to stand out one day. From the very beginning I took photos of movement, people running, jumping, laughing or let a little camera shake happen - without realising at the time it became part of my style..Back then I just loved it!
Do what you Promise.
Don't promise what you can't deliver. Learning to say no is one of the greatest lessons in life. If you promise something early on in your career and don't follow through you will have lost a potential client for life. If you always deliver what you promise you will be ahead of the rest..
Know your stuff
It's important to know your equipment backwards and to have in your kit what will assist in shooting your style of photos.. There is nothing more embarassing than being on a shoot and something isn't working and you don't know how to fix it or you are missing a vital component. Read the manual!!
Persistence
Edison should have been a photographer! It was the great man himself that wrote "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration". Put the work in and it will come back to you.
Finish Things
This simple piece of advice was given to me just as I was starting my photography career. I thought it was a little strange at the time. Many artists struggle to finish things and though we work in an artistic field we still need to be reliable. Magazines/publishers/clients will not give you a second commission if you do not bring the job in on time or finish it as promised.
I like to think I am a positive person so for me the answer is "yes". There is always space for great talent and reliability to back it up.
Here is a quick summary of some of the ways you can stand out:
Copyright Carla Coulson Chasing a Dream
Passion
I read somewhere on twitter recently that you need to have more passion for photography than for life itself!! Whooh that's saying a lot.. But your passion is your greatest ally, it will drag you through the tough times and drive you on when others lacking passion would have given up.
Copyright Carla Coulson Chasing a Dream
Shoot from the Heart
Take the photos you love. It's important to love what you do everyday. If you take the photos you love you will never work a day in your life. This will help you define your style because it is coming directly from your heart and no-one else has this advantage. I remember asking a friend to dress up and be my model (see above) whilst I was still at photography school. I didn't know what I was doing but it was the kind of photo I wanted to take. I have been shooting women for the best part of 11 years..
Copyright Carla Coulson Moulin Rouge
Your Vision
Don't be influenced by everyone around you. This can be very distracting. Take inspiration from others but always believe in your own vision. This will allow you to stand out one day. From the very beginning I took photos of movement, people running, jumping, laughing or let a little camera shake happen - without realising at the time it became part of my style..Back then I just loved it!
Copyright Carla Coulson Chasing a Dream
Do what you Promise.
Don't promise what you can't deliver. Learning to say no is one of the greatest lessons in life. If you promise something early on in your career and don't follow through you will have lost a potential client for life. If you always deliver what you promise you will be ahead of the rest..
Copyright Carla Coulson
Know your stuff
It's important to know your equipment backwards and to have in your kit what will assist in shooting your style of photos.. There is nothing more embarassing than being on a shoot and something isn't working and you don't know how to fix it or you are missing a vital component. Read the manual!!
Copyright Carla Coulson
Persistence
Edison should have been a photographer! It was the great man himself that wrote "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration". Put the work in and it will come back to you.
Copyright Carla Coulson
Finish Things
This simple piece of advice was given to me just as I was starting my photography career. I thought it was a little strange at the time. Many artists struggle to finish things and though we work in an artistic field we still need to be reliable. Magazines/publishers/clients will not give you a second commission if you do not bring the job in on time or finish it as promised.
Copyright Carla Coulson Chasing a Dream
Your Look
There are so many wonderful ways to manipulate a photo. When I was using film I loved the cross processsed look and also rich strong black and whites. These were always the images I took for myself. When I had my first interview with a fashion magazine for a job they loved the contrasty colours and the black and whites. I was only ever asked to shoot fashion this way! With digital it is even easier to replicate polaroid, cross processing, black and whites and everything in between with the help of plugins.. Experiment to create your own look..
I hope this little list helps any of you out there who dream of being a photographer. I started my career at 35 and I am living proof all is possible!
Dreams = Hard work + Vision
Carla xx
Your collection of advice is wonderful. I guess it applies to everything else in life. :) I like the one on finishing things. So true indeed!
ReplyDeleteWonderful Carla! You are so right!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting read, with some very valid points; not to mention some good photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips. I only do photography as a hobby, not even that really, just to take snaps of pretty interior things or landscapes but these tips are still helpful! P.S. You only started at 35? Impressive - go you! x
ReplyDeleteDear Carla! I think you have just given us the best tips ever. I truly believe that good photos always come directly from our heart and it’s so important to believe in our own vision. Thank you so much for this post!
ReplyDeleteOttimi suggerimenti e bella serie di scatti,come sempre.
ReplyDeleteUn saluto
Francesca
As always, love your tips and pics but especially the Dreams = hard work+ vision. My daughter has just finished 2 yrs of visual arts at TAFE and has applied to uni for Bach of Visual Arts I love the simplicity of your statement (I can use on her) we had a conversation just the other day about how we get to our goals when people around you can even criticise or put you down before you start. She wants to be an art therapist and help those with terminal or mental illnesses through art- It will be a 6yr slog but I am so proud. For me and my photography I just keep going and I am starting to realise how much I want to be me and not someone else eventhough I have my heroes that I adore and I think am influenced by- I am still me luv ya to bits xx Corrina.
ReplyDeleteFabulous words of wisdom. Essentially commitment and follow through will steer you on your right path. I really love the first image, I want to be there, I want to be that girl. Love it.
ReplyDeleteSome fantastic advise here Carla.
ReplyDeleteYou are not only talented, you are also incredibly generous...xo
I agree with every well stated point, although unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your position) it seems that "who you know" plays a part in getting noticed and published. What do you think?
ReplyDeletetrying... trying ..
ReplyDelete( at least the passion is very present ! if I understand you correctly .. that is a good start.. ) unfortunately.. am not 35 anymore..
maybe one more tip : never too old to learn ? :)
Carla, I love that you share your expertise and advice. It's inspiring stuff that's much appreciated and savoured xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful summation for any artist to aspire to.
ReplyDeleteYour work definitely has your thumbprint on it - joyous!
Great tips Carla - I love how you totally changed direction and is now living and doing what you love. WOW. Hope I will be able to do the same someday,
ReplyDeleteA xx
Have a great weekend sweets,
Fantastic advice. Even more fantastic photography.
ReplyDeleteAlright Carla-great wisdom! Thank you for sharing. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteCarla, this is such wonderful advice, and I am going to come back and re-read this again. It's hard as someone who has studied photographers all my adult life, now to decide what my style is--so your point about not comparing and trying to be like others is really important {and difficult}. Also so true about follow through!
ReplyDeletexo Mary Jo
Gentile Emiliana,
ReplyDeleteThank you for so valuable advices, you are very talent woman.
I choose you for the chain of the 7 blog if you don't know see my last post "My 7 link", http://shabbychiclife-silvia.blogspot.com/ .
It will be a big pleasure for me if you would like to partecipate and will have the opportunity to know your blog better.
I love your thoughts on this, Carla. They can be applied to creative sorts in general. Allowing our unique qualities to be made visible through our work is what makes us individual and special. Your photos show this beautifully.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips for photography .........or any endeavour in one’s life. To have a passion and to be bien dans votre peau are vital ingredients for success.
ReplyDeleteI love my photography.........Still have a lot to learn………is it too late to start at 55?
Dreams = Hard work + Vision
ReplyDeleteAn eqation that is so true. Valuable lessons for photography {and life} x
Amazing photography, your style, and inspiring words for an artist. Vision, passion... I think that I need to get out the manual more often!
ReplyDeleteNicely put (and shown!). I find particular inspiration in the fact that you started at 35. I love the idea that we can change what we do and age doesn't have to be a deterrent. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice for what ever you do in life xox
ReplyDeleteHi Carla, this is such an inspirational post - I love all of your tips and truly believe your formula to fulfilling your dream to be right, whatever they may be. Your work is amazing and happy to have discovered your blog! Thank you so much for stopping by mine :) xx
ReplyDeleteHi Carla,
ReplyDeleteAll this make so much sense and has some similarities to teaching and other careers. I've always believed that for me
1. You've got to know your stuff.
2. You've got to love your student (or client)and deliver promises you keep
3. Above all, you have to have the passion.
Great blog, Carla. Best Wishes, Therese
I love it so much that you share these tips...and these especially! I'm going to print these out and keep them in my office! Thank you so much for the stunning work you do. xo
ReplyDeletePriceless advice. You are a gem, Carla.
ReplyDeleteanother question if one was to try and go professional in europe where would be the best place to do it and also as a niche what area of photography would give you the biggest chance of landing a job in the afore mentioned city.??
ReplyDeleteHi Carla,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Dani Padgett and I just wanted to tell you how inspiring you are. I just discovered your blog and I couldn't help but write you and ask you a few questions as well as thank you for the inspiration and tips. I tried to find an email but was not successful so I am just going to leave a comment..I'm from northern California, I'm nearly 22 and I am actually studying in Florence, Italy for a year. I study photography back home but am studying art history here and just trying to work on my photography on the side. I have been trying really hard to network and get my work out there for people to see but I am struggling and was hoping you could help me out with some questions. How do you get started?? I have a blog, a flickr, a personal website- all of these are viewed and generally liked but how do I get paying gigs? I want to be a travel photographer, and shoot for publications as well. I want to earn enough money through commissions so I can do personal more fine art work and have my photos shown in galleries. Your photography career is a dream of mine, pretty much exactly what I would like to do. I also shoot with only film, and am struggling with the digital age. Do you think a photographer in todays technical world could survive with analogue? I really hope to hear back from you, it would be so extremely helpful for me, but if not I'd like to once again tell you how wonderful and inspiring your work is. Heres a link to my website that is more my "fine arts" style www.danipadgett.com and also my flickr that has all my travel photos as well which is http://www.flickr.com/photos/danipadgettphoto/. If you do respond please email danipadgett@gmail.com
Thanks,
Dani Padgett