Photographer Justin Mott delivers more "Reality Therapy" about professional photography in the midst of a sea of YouTube influencer (uninformed) fantasies. Good stuff.
I saw that video. It is interesting that he echoed statements about professional photography that you have been stating for years. Conclusion: making a living as a professional photographer is challenging, and will be more and more challenging with time.
Hi Craig, It's a tough business but up until somewhere around 2008 a really good and well connected photographer could do very well financially. With all the changes in advertising since social media and a flattening of that industry it's harder to do as well. As always it's a matter not of excellence in photography but excellence in marketing and the ability to create good, solid personal relationships with clients. And I have to say that zoom calls and other communications protocols are absolutely no substitute for face-to-face encounters.
I think Justin Mott does a great job explaining reality in a way that someone like Peter McKinnon never approaches.
If you want to do commercial photography long term it's all about nurturing photographer-client relationships. It's almost a wild understatement to say that "gear isn't the important feature."
My new favorite channel. It's not often I get to look over the shoulder of a working photojournalist. (For the record, I hate the way they post-processed his cover image. The closer to capture, the better the image, IMO.)
"Light is only magical for a short period of time"
ReplyDeleteGoing into Burma to photograph wildlife with a M10 (no screen) - that's working without a net.
ReplyDeleteI saw that video. It is interesting that he echoed statements about professional photography that you have been stating for years. Conclusion: making a living as a professional photographer is challenging, and will be more and more challenging with time.
ReplyDeleteHi Craig, It's a tough business but up until somewhere around 2008 a really good and well connected photographer could do very well financially. With all the changes in advertising since social media and a flattening of that industry it's harder to do as well. As always it's a matter not of excellence in photography but excellence in marketing and the ability to create good, solid personal relationships with clients. And I have to say that zoom calls and other communications protocols are absolutely no substitute for face-to-face encounters.
ReplyDeleteI think Justin Mott does a great job explaining reality in a way that someone like Peter McKinnon never approaches.
If you want to do commercial photography long term it's all about nurturing photographer-client relationships. It's almost a wild understatement to say that "gear isn't the important feature."
Time spent: 90% marketing, 10% photography.
ReplyDeleteExactly right Eric!
ReplyDeleteMy new favorite channel. It's not often I get to look over the shoulder of a working photojournalist. (For the record, I hate the way they post-processed his cover image. The closer to capture, the better the image, IMO.)
ReplyDelete