Question for the Pro's

[monkey_wrench]

I am really into photography and some day i WILL be professional i want to start young im 18 now and am about to start a 3 year degree in Photography at MMU and would like to ask when approaching newspapers/magazine and all the companies that use photography in everyday life how do u do it?? do you walk into these places and ask?? email? phone call? barge in a board meeting holding your camera and a few wedding shots??

[KennyG]

Firstly, you have to decide what sort of photography. For the press you can't be all things to all men. For example, sports photographers are usually the worlds worst formal photogs and the reverse. You are probably at the wrong stage to approach any of the majors as you have not identified what you want to do. Saying you simply want to be a photographer is like saying you want to be an olympic athlete without defining the discipline. What exactly do you want to do? What are you best at?

You must develop a portfolio and it has to be good, very good. The competition out there is tough and not a lot of work to go around, so you need to prove you are up to the job. You then need to sell yourself and be very professional about it. For starters, throw away the sneakers and buy a suit. Unless they buy you they will never buy your work. You need a business head to go with a photographic eye.

Also realise that working for the press as a photog is one of the worst paying professions and you would be better off tossing burgers on the grill at Mac D's. Come down to earth, press photography is not a glorious business where you will drive around in your Z4 picking up the birds. More likely prowling Mosside in a five year old Hyundai.

Magazines are a better touch, but which? Home and gardens, glamour, womens style, etc. You have to make a choice and have the portfolio to suit. You can't just knock on the photo editor's door and say "hey buddy, I know how to use a camera", it does not work like that. You approach them with examples of your work in their marketplace and style, and until you can do that anything else may mark you down for the future.

You should really aim for small local rags, where you will learn how to turn out work for print, all about deadlines and just how hard a job it is. Your ambition may be up there somewhere, but there are no free lunches and you have to prove you can do the job.

[monkey_wrench]

Firstly, you have to decide what sort of photography. For the press you can't be all things to all men. For example, sports photographers are usually the worlds worst formal photogs and the reverse. You are probably at the wrong stage to approach any of the majors as you have not identified what you want to do. Saying you simply want to be a photographer is like saying you want to be an olympic athlete without defining the discipline. What exactly do you want to do? What are you best at?

You must develop a portfolio and it has to be good, very good. The competition out there is tough and not a lot of work to go around, so you need to prove you are up to the job. You then need to sell yourself and be very professional about it. For starters, throw away the sneakers and buy a suit. Unless they buy you they will never buy your work. You need a business head to go with a photographic eye.

Also realise that working for the press as a photog is one of the worst paying professions and you would be better off tossing burgers on the grill at Mac D's. Come down to earth, press photography is not a glorious business where you will drive around in your Z4 picking up the birds. More likely prowling Mosside in a five year old Hyundai.

Magazines are a better touch, but which? Home and gardens, glamour, womens style, etc. You have to make a choice and have the portfolio to suit. You can't just knock on the photo editor's door and say "hey buddy, I know how to use a camera", it does not work like that. You approach them with examples of your work in their marketplace and style, and until you can do that anything else may mark you down for the future.

You should really aim for small local rags, where you will learn how to turn out work for print, all about deadlines and just how hard a job it is. Your ambition may be up there somewhere, but there are no free lunches and you have to prove you can do the job.

thanks for that kenny i realise its not going to be easy but i know it sounds big headed but i produce some good work ive already started to build up a portfolio and i have a suit on standby 24/7 for emergency and one thing you said which made me nearly spit my tea out laughing was the Mac D's part because....unfortunately i am a crew member of that slave driving company haha BUT! i have created a new C.V and am going to start applying at places like jessops and maybe small photography places as an asistant and learn that way as well as at Uni :D thanks again you helped alot