People often ask how one becomes successful in the competitive market of photography. Everybody is looking for the key to success. The formula for “making it” in an industry where the barriers to entry are very minimal and ever getting smaller. I think I’m not alone when I say, there isn’t one! There’s no secret recipe, no special formula, no kit. But if there’s one thing the past year and half have taught me, is that nothing can help one become successful more than tearing your face away from the computer, getting out in the public, meeting people, and most importantly, always shooting! Forget for a moment about marketing campaigns, business plans, gear, and everything else filling our heads, and let’s just get out there and do it! Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Zack Arias (who I tend to quote a lot…sorry!) said during a training, something along the lines of “quit trying to be the next big story, and just get out there and do your thing.” It will come. It won’t be easy, it won’t be fast. But it will come. For the first several months after quitting my job and diving head first in this career as a photographer, my goal was to shoot at least 3 times a week. If I didn’t have paid gigs, I didn’t care, I’d find anyone that would stand in front of my camera. Two things happened. First, I got better, not a lot, but a little every shoot (I still leave every shoot having learned something I consider significant). Second, people saw my images. My portfolio started growing, with consistently improving work, and people started knowing who I was…not a lot, but people all the same.
One thing I absolutely love about being a photographer is the constant opportunity I have to meet new and talented people. For example, about 8 months ago, I met an incredible fashion designer by the name of Adriana Pavon. I’ve absolutely loved working on several projects with her, and through that relationship have met several people in the fashion industry who have been great to work with as well.
Adriana invited me to attend Fashion in Detroit…
where I met a photographer, Piper Carter, who invited me to an event she was hosting at her studio in Detroit…
where I met a model who was interested in working together, and who later brought with her to a test shoot (images to follow soon) her boyfriend…
who happens to be the very talented rap artist, Kanglosta (you can see more of him at Facebook and Youtube)…
shortly after my shoot with L’Oreal (the a fore mentioned model), I ended up booking a shoot with Kanglosta.
Moral of the story? If you’re not out constantly meeting people, shooting, and making yourself visible, you’ll never know who, or what you might have missed! I had an incredible shoot with Kanglosta, and despite the cold, I think we made some fantastic images. Here’s a short glimpse of our shoot.
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