The Photography Industry

I like to say that photography is in my blood.  Growing up I was heavily influenced by my grandfather, an All-American Basketball player, who parlayed his love of sports into a freelance journalism career for Sports Illustrated.  I started studying photography in high school and minored in it in college, knowing that I too wanted to be in the middle of the action, recording plays and touchdowns.

And I did.  After college, I dove into my career, working as a freelance extreme sports photographer, focusing on skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking and fly-fishing. Then I moved into photojournalism, where I covered professional and collegiate sporting events for newspapers.  While I liked the action and excitement of the games, I really wanted to pursue photography in a more creative and personal ways.

So, in 2004 I made the transition to wedding and portrait photography.  Which for me, has been an excellent move.  I get to use the skills I picked up during my years as a sports photographer (quick reactions, ability to anticipate where the action will be going next, extreme preparation so I’m ready for anything…) for what’s often the most important day in people’s lives.

And wedding photography is a great fit.  I get to work with clients who really value the photography assignment and the person they’ve hired for the job.  I like the creativity of wedding photography which lets me push the boundaries of photography and come up with unique ways to represent heartfelt moments.  I really enjoy getting to know couples and their friends and family and determining what defines each couple and their wedding.  And most of all I appreciate my clients who invite me to capture their most personal moments on film and trust me to deliver true-to-the-moment images.

While it’s not exactly my grandfather’s career, I think he’d be pretty honored by it.

I was  sitting on the steps of a condominium at the base of Park City Utah ski area.  Day after day, we found ourselves gettting pounded by strong Pacific weather fronts which delivered large amounts of snow. The Winter had been very good to all the skiers & snowboarders, and the level of excitement was contagious. Beers in hand, the party was on that evening.

I had been studying Communications and Photography at the University of Utah over the last two years. And it was time to decide what direction I was going with regard to my photography career. At the time, the University photography program was quite small and in need of attention and funding. Not exactly an inspiring setting,  like what you might find at Western Kentucky or Brooks Institute of Photography. The truth be told, students  weren’t exactly  seeking out the University of Utah for the photography program. I was there though, and my heart and head were telling me something.

As I sat on the stairs observing  the ongoing party, I thought to myself. “I see many images within this room that tell a story.”  I wanted to record the images, and looked forward to sharing the memories with friends at a later time.  I was convinced that I had the skills to create images that would evoke a feeling. Deep inside my brain and soul, I felt the need to hold a camera and seek out moments that spoke to me. Little did I know that this burning desire  to view life from behind a lens, and make a career out of it, would be the toughest thing I would ever attempt to do.

Looking back to when I was that 20 year old kid sitting on the steps at the party. I didn’t know shit, or what I was getting myself into when I made the decision to pursue a career in Freelance photography. And now, here I am 15 years later thinking back to the beginning. Wow! What have I done since that evening on the steps?? The first thing I did was to find a job in the industry and surround myself with people that cared about photography. My approach was going to be heavy on the real world scene of photography. I wanted to see for myself how this industry operated.

For me, this place would be the Jackson Hole Custom Color Lab. It was the best and only Professional photography lab in the area. All of the top photographers found there way through the front door. Names you may know;  Rich Clarkson, Thomas Mangelson, Wade Mckoy, Henry Holdsworth, Jonathan Selkowitz, and Garth Dowling to name a few.

We did it all, and there was no other option in the area unless you were going to do it yourself. Color and Black & White custom printing and film processing, E-6 chrome film processing, pushes and pulls, dodging and burning, copy room, slide mounting, and eventually digital processing and output. And I almost forgot, the 4X6 and 5×7 machine prints, and re-print orders. Boring, but you could always count on seeing something new. I won’t even go there. LOL!

It was at this time and location in my budding photography career that I made sure to do one thing. Keep my eyes & ears VERY open and alert. And for the most part, keep my mouth shut. I asked questions when I thought the timing was right. Most people really enjoy sharing their personal professional knowledge, especially when one shows a genuine desire to learn and care for the presented information.  It was time to  learn as much as I could about the world of  photography. I had a great opportunity, and the last thing I wanted to do was come across like I was a “know it all.”

It has been this approach that has helped me to stay aware and take one step at a time through an industry, that will literally “eat you alive.” Calling yourself a Professional photographer means a whole lot more than just being able to create quality images. And it does not just happen overnight. It means knowing how to conduct yourself in the world of the business, so that you can propel your own business and name. This is a very challenging section of the path, and one will discover many obstacles, including your fellow photographers. More about that at a later time and day.

The point I am trying to make here, is that world of photography is hard, very hard. If you decide to accept the challenge of working as a Freelancer, I wish you good luck. You are taking an even more complex route. If there is one thing you will need, it is courage. And the second would be determination.  The criticism is constant, and necessary to get better.

If you think you have what it takes,  your character will be challenged consistently as you develop your skills. And if you have the staying power, there is a good chance you will see yourself actually making a living  in an industry that is known for “breaking your bank.” How fast it will all happen, is not that easy to predict.So,  stay the course and keep your head high.

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions or comments.  This post was inspired by the many amateur photographers who have asked my opinion of the industry, and what it takes to get established. Good luck my friends!