What to do?

[revonda]

<p >I have been a shooting as a serious hobby for about four years. I have had fun, won cameras, camera gear etc. I mostly shoot wildlife since that is what I enjoy the most. Being a professional at this is something that I have thought about but figured I had a long way to go before this may or may not happen. Anyway this past week another image of mine was selected in National Geographic’s daily dozen. Out of the seven pics I have sent to them two have been picked and one published. Maybe I am better at this hobby than I think I am. Anyway I don’t know what to do if anything or where to begin to maybe try and do wildlife photography as a profession. Any advice?</p>

[prudhomme]

<p>Being a professional I guess you mean being paid when your photos are published ? </p>

[revonda]

<p>Hi Richard, yes being paid. I hope thats not laughter I hear in the background:)</p>

[stevecolemanaus]

<p>Hi Revonda.... here's some very general notes below I posted on my blog and on Facebook. You might find some ideas to help you. But it all gets down to what do you want to do with your life? Then you need to build a plan around your objectives.<br>

I also write for RESOLVE. You might find some extra help here: http://blog.livebooks.com/category/contributors/steve-coleman<br>

Anyway here's my notes; .... Photography is a people business, so if you're a good people person it will help, if not, you'll need work on that. Be either highly specialized or very wide ranging in the work you do. Edit your work so you only show your best.... get help from people who know how to do that. Work very hard to build up a portfolio... then work even harder to re build it to make it better. Network, network, network... facebook, blogs, twitter, web sites, write, contribute, do free work for charities around your speciality. Make yourself your first client and experiment and take creative risks... no one is going to see your failures, so go for it. Look at other people's work, find photographers whom you like and admire and use them to set a benchmark for your own work.... when you catch up, then find new photographers. Be proud of your work, but allow yourself to be dissatisfied... it will push you forward. Always reach for the stars.... as they say you may not reach them but at least you'll be in the heavens. Open your eyes & mind to world around you. Always look, feel, watch, What do you see? Understand that your camera does not take pictures. You do.... Never give your camera the responsibility for making pictures, that's your job. Take the responsibility. Enjoy life & what you are doing.... it will show in your work and relationships with clients & subjects. You don't need the most expensive camera, you need great ideas. Seek out and discover what you are good at, it will make the journey more successful. Expect the journey to be lonely and difficult at times.... so build a support network. Remember that moving forward is often just one step at a time. Work on having small wins while working towards the big wins. Be kind to yourself. Don't beat yourself up when things go wrong, because they will. Produce quality.... because there are always clients who will pay for quality. You dont want to get into the low fee end of the market... those clients won't respect you or your work and will not pay well. Give clients a bit more than they are paying for, the right clients will appreciate it and come back. Respect your clients but show them that you expect equal respect, but do so in a professional and very friendly way. Don't be a creative prima donna or difficult to work with. Be honest with your clients. Don't be afraid of them. Tell them what you think and what they need to know and do. The right clients will respect you for it. Get your camera in front of interesting subject matter, you won't build a portfolio or reputation sitting at home. Stop watching TV. Get up at 4 am and see what the world looks like when most people are asleep. It's the best time to shoot. Around sunrise is called the "Golden Hour" for good reason. In finding new locations or subjects occasionally be unplanned, the unexpected can lead to new discoveries.... go looking for them in places you have never been before. Ask yourself, what do I like to shoot?, try that first. Learn how to sell and pick up the phone.... its not as hard as it sounds. And remember you dont need to sell people, you just need to find people who do need photography and then see if you're a fit with their needs or not. If not, thats ok... move on. Take advice from people who HAVE succeeded. Dont expect people , even those close to you, to help or encourage you. People can be strange. This is your journey, only you can drive it. Build a good quality mail list... send people examples of your work. Help others and share with people. I hope this helps. All the very best and let me know how your journey's going..... Cheers... Steve PS.... and remember Life is short... dont waste it. If you have a dream, go for it.</p>

[revonda]

<p>Hi Steve thanks for the response and actually I have done most of what you suggest. Except for facebook, I refuse to do that one! lol I do not know any professional wildlife and nature shooters and of course those would be folks to ask as well.</p>

[prudhomme]

<p>Wildlife photography isn't the easiest of photo field to break into. To start you need to stick with one subject, and specialise in that one subject, whether it be birds, amphebians, trees, or whatever.<br>

I would suggest you do a Goolge search to find web sites of professional wildlife and nature shooters. You won't become a full time pro overnight. Photography is an ongoing learning process, so is turning pro. Keep shooting, see what's out there and what publications are using and fine tune your shooting techniques to match what photo editors need.<br>

It's a lot of work, but if you enjoy photography it becomes a lot of fun.</p>

[revonda]

<p>Hi Richard how does one know what photo editors need?</p>

[alfredo orihuela]

<p> By observing and emulating what they offer. If just as exercise, this is always beneficial, it expand our boundaries of capture and editing. Look look look, then copy that. Again this is an exercise, something that may not define nor change your stile but will certainly help you to see your own work from their perspective. Good luck!</p>

[revonda]

<p>Hi Alfredo ok say one is emulating (not talking about me) what they offer, then what?</p>

[alfredo orihuela]

<p>I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long... and thank you for taking interest. <br>

Continue with your doing. You are in the right track. <br>

...Oh dear, I know what you mean... It's hard to cut trough the boundaries that separate's from the pros...<br>

One thing is to keep calm as we are active. Letting the world know your exist is a slow process even with today's facilities because we still(luckily) rely in others to talk about us and spread the word. So be patient and keep moving.<br>

Go to your local council find out who would allow you to come to events with the porpoise of shooting, tell your local newspaper about NG publication of your photo... <br>

Continue and hope to improve your relationship with NG, see if you can get a name. Is always far more effective having someone one can call and talk personally. Even... anybody. <br>

Get better at your shooting(one can always improve if just confidence). One thing that I do frequently is get out and shoot with no play back imaging at all, when I get back I suffer or enjoy the results as it may be and study, mostly what i did right. Knowing what and how to deal with it(For real) helps my confidence for the real thing.<br>

Then what?... I know... then what...? its hard it has been and it will continue to be. But another thing do not try to hard ok? this like many other things in life are very karmic things by nature(if you may) you need to let the world get used to the idea of you. You need to be relaxed, and let yourself be part of it as for it being part of you. That only comes by attending oneself assiduously to it. but remain calm, relaxed... So much to it is in the way we cary our-self's about it. <br>

Do not rely on support from anyone but be open to receive it if is there. Do not expect to become anything, be it.<br>

Act professional, talk professional and so on... just be it. What you are. And excellent one I can tell you.<br>

Very spiritual I know but that is the way of all things. The practicality of it is just the logistics and those are also necessary so pay attention to those too. <br>

I'm very exited to see the making of "what next" with you, whatever the outcome, ether or. So please keep in touch.</p>