35 Magnum Photographers Give Their Advice to Aspiring Photographers →

Some advice that every photographer should read regardless of skill level.

I really liked these ones:

Alec Soth

Try everything. Photojournalism, fashion, portraiture, nudes, whatever. You won’t know what kind of photographer you are until you try it.

Alex Webb

Photograph because you love doing it, because you absolutely have to do it, because the chief reward is going to be the process of doing it. Other rewards — recognition, financial remuneration — come to so few and are so fleeting. And even if you are somewhat successful, there will almost inevitably be stretches of time when you will be ignored, have little income, or — often — both. Certainly there are many other easier ways to make a living in this society. Take photography on as a passion, not a career.

Carl De Keyzer

Give it all you got for at least 5 years and then decide if you got what it takes. Too many great talents give up at the very beginning; the great black hole looming after the comfortable academy or university years is the number one killer of future talent.

Christopher Anderson

Forget about the profession of being a photographer. First be a photographer and maybe the profession will come after. Don’t be in a rush to make pay your rent with your camera. Jimi Hendrix didn’t decide on the career of professional musician before he learned to play guitar. No, he loved music and and created something beautiful and that THEN became a profession.

Chris Steele-Perkins

1) Never think photography is easy. It’s like poetry in that it’s easy enough to make a few rhymes, but that’s not a good poem.
2) Study photography, see what people have achieved, but learn from it, don’t try photographically to be one of those people
3) Photograph things you really care about, things that really interest you, not things you feel you ought to do.
4) Photograph them in the way you feel is right, not they way you think you ought to
5) Be open to criticism, it can be really helpful, but stick to you core values
6) Study and theory is useful but you learn most by doing. Take photographs, lots of them, be depressed by them, take more, hone your skills and get out there in the world and interact.

Okay enough. You can read it yourself but the take home message is enjoy photography and fuck being obsessed about making money. It will never work nor will you be successful. I’ve seen so many people take up photography and were professionals 3 months later. Guess what? They’re back in their shitty day job. Enjoy photography. If you’re lucky financial success will come your way, and if it doesn’t at least you’re wasting time doing something you enjoy.

4 months ago  /  6 notes