What age did you start

[eeden]

I'm 22 years old and I just started a half a year ago with photography. I'm shooting with a 40D.

Before my twenties I never thought of photography. Now that I tried it I love it and totally hooked on it!
I'm seriously concidering going to a photography school next year.
My only concern is my age. Maybe it sounds weird but I speak alot of people of my age that have so many years of experience already!
Is it possible for me to catch up, and become really good?

Please tell me when you started

[bakerbranded]

I'm 22 years old and I just started a half a year ago with photography. I'm shooting with a 40D.

Before my twenties I never thought of photography. Now that I tried it I love it and totally hooked on it!
I'm seriously concidering going to a photography school next year.
My only concern is my age. Maybe it sounds weird but I speak alot of people of my age that have so many years of experience already!
Is it possible for me to catch up, and become really good?

Please tell me when you started
If it makes you feel any better, I'm 16, so your chances of someone willing to hire or help you is greater then mine.
Oh and welcome to POTN! :D

[highbarger]

It's more about talent and willingness to learn than age. Don't even give it a second thought, just shoot and enjoy yourself.

[bsmotril]

My first camera for me came from saving coupons on cereal boxes. I was about 8 years old and it was a Kodak brownie camera. It escalated from there..... But, I don't think age has anything to do with being a good photographer. What counts is keeping an open mind and being a sponge for knowledge. Learn all you can from wherever or whomever you can. These forums are a great place to start.

[jcav]

my first photography class was senior year in college...and yes, I got hooked, but I never considered it for a profession until last year...so you are well on your way. I agree, it's all about talent and your vision. (and not everyone will like it & that's ok...)

good luck to you!

[Scott McLoud]

I started when i was around 20 and then went through college and such, and finally turned pro when i was 30.... feels long time ago :( lol

[Tumeg]

I am only 15...
I started working as an intern, and soon after a paid assistant, at 14 :eek:

[ssim]

I was interested in photography at an early age and I "borrowed" my dad's 35mm camera at the age of about 13 and decided to take it apart to see how it worked. We didn't have alot of money in those days so I couldn't do alot of shooting. Needless to say the camera didn't exactly go back together the way it was when I took it.

When I got out on my own one of the first things I bought was a camera, albeit it was a pretty basic film. I quickly graduated to a much better camera, a Canon of course and followed that up with a move to medium format.

While my dad did allow me some use of the camera I had screwed up after he had it fixed, I really didn't have the opportunity to get a really good start at it until I was 18.

[totalphoto]

38 now, started when I was 35. Wish I would have found this 20 years ago!

[photoguy6405]

38 now, started when I was 35. Wish I would have found this 20 years ago!

Word.

I bought my first "serious" camera at 18, but didn't get seriously hooked until I was 35/36. I wish I had gotten hooked at least 20 years earlier.

[Microcosm]

Interested for years, but maybe around 15 I got really into it and then at 16 I got my first DSLR. Funny because when I was little I would take terrible photos with various disposable cameras, my mom would yell at me for wasting film, and now I'm always the one with the camera. I'm 17 now.

[Vascilli]

14. One year later I'm semipro.

[CubsAngel]

Guess i'm a late bloomer, lol. didn't really get interested in photography til I was about 20... didn't really get serious about it until 3 or so years ago, when I started with the a70, then the a530, and just this year, the XTi. So it's only been about 8 years for me... and i feel like i'm starting all over again with this camera, so different, lol

[alabama1980]

Started taking it seriously around 25, im 28 now...Im making efforts at making some money with it, but its a slow go. I do envy those that are younger and doing it, but as has been said, i dont believe its an age thing. Age may make it a little harder to play "catch up", but who knows. I tried a ton of creative outlets throughout childhood, but the minute I got a decent camera in my hand, I havent looked back. Stick your nose to the grindstone, read the forums, ask "stupid" questions, read books, but more importantly SHOOT!!

[Nielsen277]

IMO one of the best things about photography is that it's available to all. You don't have to start shooting at 5 to be "good." It's not like any sport where you reach a "peak" age and then you're useless... You can do it until your 90 years old...

you won't blow out your index finger from clicking the shutter button too much and you won't be hampered by not picking it up at an early age. Anyone can catch on and learn if they put the hours in.

Twenty-two is still pretty early to pick up on something.

I'm actually sick of all of the kids with their bragging...

"Oh yea, well I'm 11 and I've already got BLAH BLAH BLAH. I started at 7 and now I'm a 'pro' shooter."

[totalphoto]

Well one thing is good about being a little older, I have a good job, which allows me to buy what-ever I want, I could not have done that when I was younger.
And good gear makes MY pictures better......

[ChrisRabior]

Sophomore year in high school sparked my interest, but I was 23 when I got my Rebel XT and kit. Promised myself I wouldn't spend any money on gear unless it came FROM the gear, and have built up to what I have now with that through stock, assignments here and there, and anything I could get to build experience and pad the wallet. Before you think about photo school, get something to fall back on. Nothing you could learn in a photo school that you couldn't learn from digging around on the forums.. and a degree in something else will land you a job that will help fund the photography until you're on your feet enough to go full time with it.

[Microcosm]

IMO one of the best things about photography is that it's available to all. You don't have to start shooting at 5 to be "good." It's not like any sport where you reach a "peak" age and then you're useless... You can do it until your 90 years old...

you won't blow out your index finger from clicking the shutter button too much and you won't be hampered by not picking it up at an early age. Anyone can catch on and learn if they put the hours in.

Twenty-two is still pretty early to pick up on something.

I'm actually sick of all of the kids with their bragging...

"Oh yea, well I'm 11 and I've already got BLAH BLAH BLAH. I started at 7 and now I'm a 'pro' shooter."
Hahaha, word dude. I laughed at some of those 'pro' comments. I'm 17 and I would not even be able to say anything like that. Don't you have.. school to go to? Maybe it's only me.

[pr0digal]

Oh man...i've been interested in photography for sometime, probably since I was 14-15 (i'm 19 now). I started with a Kodak 2mp P&S, upgraded to a S2IS, then up to an XTi about two and a half years ago. Over the summer, I grabbed a EOS Elan 7n and I want to take Photo 1 now! (never taken a photo class before) Now I want to upgrade to a 5D classic and some L glass

I've only recently begun "marketing" myself, doing a few horse shows, music photography and now senior portraits.

[eeden]

Sophomore year in high school sparked my interest, but I was 23 when I got my Rebel XT and kit. Promised myself I wouldn't spend any money on gear unless it came FROM the gear, and have built up to what I have now with that through stock, assignments here and there, and anything I could get to build experience and pad the wallet. Before you think about photo school, get something to fall back on. Nothing you could learn in a photo school that you couldn't learn from digging around on the forums.. and a degree in something else will land you a job that will help fund the photography until you're on your feet enough to go full time with it.

Thank you all for your reactions. Next year I will have a master degree in business administration. It's a study that is an interesting combination with any profession. But it is maybe because of this study that i'm looking at something else. Something more creative...

[PhotosGuy]

About age 11. Mom said to keep the sun behind me, so tiny people in the center of the frame, squinting at me. :D

See post #31: She fell in Love with Canon (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=569237)

If you have that talent, the rest will come easy!

[guppiegale]

I was 13 when bought and paid for my first camera with babysitting money, I ordered it through Finger Hut and made payments until it was paid off. It was only a Kodak 126 but came with a bag and extra film and I remember being so happy!

[musicmaster]

15.

Freshman year in HS. Originally had a huge 2MP camera, replaced it with a POS sony. It couldnt take sports shots, so I sold it and got a Canon A510 (still have it).

Used that for a year, saved up money and got a Nikon D50 with help from my parents for christmas.

Used that for two years and decided to go over to Canon (cheaper body's (the 40D compared to the D300)) Started selling photos this year.

Got a job at my college's paper.

I guess I'm pro now?

[Sledhed]

I was 13 when I got my first camera which was a Canon AV-1. I'm now 42 and my 11 year old daughter has her own 10D.

[Beatles]

I was about 12.

[_aravena]

Um...11 or 12 when I was in Italy. All I had though was a disposable at the time and for the next 4 years. I was 17 when I got my first SLR. I got my first DSLR when I turned 19.

[michaelanthony]

It's more about talent and willingness to learn than age. Don't even give it a second thought, just shoot and enjoy yourself.

x2...

i went pro at the age of 32... prior to that, i was a financial analyst...

i gave up the big salary to live on top ramen, but within 2 years, i landed a full time head photographer position for a clothing retailer and have been sitting pretty for the past 4 years...

i get to shoot everyday, collect a regular paycheck with quite a bit of overtime, full medical/dental benefits for myself and family, 401k, vacation/sick time, and weekends off to shoot my freelance stuff...

its never too late to jump into the game and make a career of it...

[Khristian Snyder]

I started when I was about 8 when i had a small 110 film camera...since then ive been hooked and lately (im 18 ) ive been doing very well so hopefull I can keep the momentum going with my landscapes and fine art stuff...doing other photo work on the side to support it.

[malcolm027]

15, now 17. Bought the rebel xt. I want a 40d now, and the sigma 10-20. I keep saving up for new gear, but never buy any. I`m always changing my mind:p

[photography by trish]

x2...

i went pro at the age of 32... prior to that, i was a financial analyst...

i gave up the big salary to live on top ramen, but within 2 years, i landed a full time head photographer position for a clothing retailer and have been sitting pretty for the past 4 years...

i get to shoot everyday, collect a regular paycheck with quite a bit of overtime, full medical/dental benefits for myself and family, 401k, vacation/sick time, and weekends off to shoot my freelance stuff...

its never too late to jump into the game and make a career of it...

within two years of picking up a camera, or two years of living on top ramen? how long had you worked with an slr before you landed that torrid spot? :)

[Halliday]

I got my 1st camera, a Pentax K1000, when I was in 7th grade. My homeroom teacher was in charge of the yearbook so it worked out perfectly.

What is funny is my parents bought it for me for Christmas. I can't remember if I asked for the camera or they thought I would like it :)

I'm 34 now.

[Alleh]

I started at 21 and I am 24 now. You don’t need school if you’re passionate and have a real talent. There are plenty of pros with “10 years experience” so they say that can’t shoot worth a dime. I would just spend some money on business classes and photography books. Now that I am starting to enter the commercial world I don’t really see any pros in my city I would consider competition that are younger than 30. There are some young people (18-19) in NY and LA that are making a killing of a special look and style that has become popular but it’s rare.

[bubbawillums]

I bought my first camera in 2004 and it kinda went from there...

[RedHotLama]

I had an Film SLR at 16, so 9 years ago. Stopped taking pics with it in college at 19 when i bought a digital point and shoot. Then at 22 bought a bunch of stuff, 30D plus a bunch of glass and have been shooting since. Haven't earned much money though.

[klynam]

started again today...will start again tomorrow... ;-)

[Collin85]

"Oh yea, well I'm 11 and I've already got BLAH BLAH BLAH. I started at 7 and now I'm a 'pro' shooter."

One thing I never got was how some of the younger shooters like to advertise their age in their sigs. I'm not really sure what the point of that is - showing off that they only just hit puberty or that they just want us to go easy on em'? :lol:

[cheson74]

I really got interested in photography when I was 22. Interest (and many thousands of dollars later) still going strong and now I'm 35.

[wallybud]

Ill be 23 in April. I got my 40D last Sept 18th. Before that I shot briefly with a 30D doing school portraits. Before that just some fooling around in the film world. So yea your not too old by any means nor could you ever be:)

Between shooting/assisting at wedding, this forum, and putting every waking moment into photography sometimes I feel like I crammed 3 years of normal learning into one full year with my 40D ;)

Just read read read, shoot shooot shoooooot. Then come back and review. Repeat a million times haha

[michaelanthony]

within two years of picking up a camera, or two years of living on top ramen? how long had you worked with an slr before you landed that torrid spot? :)

two years of living on the top ramen, although i got so hooked, i STILL devour the stuff...

i started in the days of film, but didnt do anything serious until two years prior to getting picked up...

[Yiskah]

I was 13 when bought and paid for my first camera with babysitting money, I ordered it through Finger Hut and made payments until it was paid off. It was only a Kodak 126 but came with a bag and extra film and I remember being so happy!
Wow! You remember that? What was mine, then....or did I just steal yours when you weren't looking? haha

[Stike]

Well as far back as I can remember I was playin around with my dads 35mm Minoltas . always loved cameras, then in high school took a photography class. thats where the true understanding of photography came into play. 15 now 22

[shinseiromeo]

I was 18 when I took the first photo that got me hooked in photography. I'm 24 now and have been using DSLRs for almost a year now.

[nphsbuckeye]

One thing I never got was how some of the younger shooters like to advertise their age in their sigs. I'm not really sure what the point of that is - showing off that they only just hit puberty or that they just want us to go easy on em'? :lol:
It holds more weight with me for a college student to be buying photography gear than a high school student. Hs'ers don't have to pay for rent/utilities every month.

[Microcosm]

It holds more weight with me for a college student to be buying photography gear than a high school student. Hs'ers don't have to pay for rent/utilities every month.
That's why I'm stocking up now! Next year I'm stuck with what I have.

[MagicMaster]

I was about 10 or 11 when my father got me into the world of photography. I started then on an old CMEHA8 {that's SMENA8, its russian, cyrilic} camera, with film, not even reflex. I bought that on a flea market. I learned to develop films and pictures on old KROKUS3 enlarger. After Smena, i bought also russian ZENIT 11 after a while ZENIT 12. i had 58mm and 29 mm lenses for these. These were all used cameras, and i was buying them from older photographers who finally could legally buy Canon Nikon and other cameras from west. There were high customs expences in Yugoslavia for everything that came from the west. Over 80 percent, and it was not free for eveyone to import, only ho has relatives in west, or earned pension working abroad.
When i finally learned enough, my dad let me use his Canon FTb, i still use it even today sometimes. Just to remember my youth. With Metz flash, and 4 lenses, 28 mm Canon, 50 mm Canon, 135 mm Canon, and 35-70 Vivitar zoom. Besides it i use Canon EOS500n , with 28-90 lens. I still dont have digital, but i hope one day i will get enough money to buy it.

This is my first post, sorry for my not-so-good english, {i learned it in "same those years"} best regards from Serbia.

[duntov]

I started in photography when I was around 6 years old. Started off with a camera that used 110 film. Then moved on to a 35 point and shoot camera. Owned a few of those and graduated to a Canon 35MM film camera. From there purchased a Rebel XT when they came out in fall of 04. Just ordered a Canon 40D this week and it will be here on Friday. My son who is almost 2 is using one of my other digital cameras. I have three total right now and the fourth is on the way. The kid isn't the best yet but he loves taking photos. Hopefully I'll get him hooked as well. :)

[martines34]

highbarger and bsmotril hit the nail on the head.

Practice, practice, practice. Learn, learn, learn.

Keep an open mind and do not get stuck in a rut. Look for new trends and many are coming.

Photography is changing very fast so learn to develop a good eye and keep up with the trends.

The advertising industry has more to do with the direction of photography than the average photographer realizes.

Get a good liberal arts education.

Spend money on lenses as the bodies will change about every three years or less.

[friz]

I don't think it matters when you start. I think how much time and effort you devote to it are much more important. I grew up in the business, but put down my camera 20+ years ago due to a freightening alergic reaction to the chemicals. Just picked it back up recently and I'm blown away by the quality of images I've seen here by people with far less time around the business (or hobby) then I have had. I aspire to have the talented eye some of you "noobs" have. My only observation would be that some of you are shooting for quite some time before you have a good understanding of exposure. Too bad there isn't a digital Pentax K1000 with manual focus and exposure. That camera taught a lot of people the basics.

[Jon Foster]

I started when my dad bought me the "new" Canon AL-1 back around 1982ish. I started taking pictures of the girls in school and caught my first panning shot of a Porsche "flying" by the school with a 210mm lens. Of course the picture sucked but I was hooked...

Jon.

[guppiegale]

I can't remember yours but at that age I'm sure I didn't share! lol

[SquareOne]

IMO one of the best things about photography is that it's available to all. You don't have to start shooting at 5 to be "good." It's not like any sport where you reach a "peak" age and then you're useless... You can do it until your 90 years old...
Great point. I'm 28. Started this year. I know I have a long way to go... but the learning curve of a DSLR is MUCH quicker than people who started with film, because of the limitless shooting. Click and learn!

I try to shoot something different each day. I give myself challenges to try to tackle. If I can't figure it out I read up on it til I can get the shot right. Just need to practice and grow with each shot.

[cevad]

I am 41 and was in 5th grade when I "started". My dad set up a dark room for me with an enlarger and all the chemicals!

I loved getting to be the "official" photographer for my Jr. High yearbook!! I had more pictures of the girl I was crushing on than you could ever imagine! I'm glad the negatives were destroyed because I'm sure some of them focused on what my 12 year old mind was thinking of at the time! LOL!!

[Gladiat0R]

started when i was 16 now 18

[MagikTrik]

Was it Jay Maisel that didn't start until he was 30 (or maybe that guy from luminous landscape, i get their faces confused sometimes)? I dunno but some really famous photographer's didn't start until very late, most going to college for something completely different.

[ooo]

Almost a year now since I started, I'm twenty.

[picturecrazy]

started and trained under two pros at 13. Spent those first two years doing barely more than wasting film and darkroom chemicals. But learned very quickly because my trainers were supremely blunt.

Joined the yearbook teams and was a class photo historian for my high school.

Almost 19 years have gone by, and the only thing I've learned is that the more I learn, the less I think I know, the less impressive my photos look to me, and some days I feel like my skill is so poor that I don't deserve to be called a pro. Way back then, it was so exciting to see a great shot you took, but now I feel like I get maybe one great shot a year. :(

It's just becomes harder and harder to produce something that wows yourself. Does anyone else who's been shooting for many years also feel that way? It's really frustrating.