Newbie Looking For Guidance

[Dru]

Well i would like to say hi to everyone, i just joined the forum as i am looking into a career for photography. I have a question to ask and hope someone can help me ;)

I am looking at working full time, doing some night photography courses [3 i wanna do] and building a portfolio up on weekends. I was wondering would this be a suitable way to help get myself into a magazine industry where i am the camera man for a living. I know that the portfolio must contain only my best shots with a huge variety!

Is this what the magazine industry look for? or are they more towards highly recognised courses.

All help is appreciated.

Andrew

[Dru]

No one has any advice what-so-ever?

[tim]

I can't help, but have you tried asking the teacher in your classes? That job's a dream job for many people, I suspect you have to be very very good to get it.

[Andy_T]

Dru,

welcome to the forum :D

My gut feeling is that 'they' wouldn't give a f*** about the courses you've taken if your pictures are good. Same if they suck :confused:

You might ask that question in the 'cornering the pros' forum but maybe better concentrate on one of the different aspects of the question posed here (e.g. which courses to visit, what kind of photos to put into the portfolio).

And good luck with your venture!

Best regards,
Andy

[Dru]

Thanks for the help, I would love to aim at getting into a magazine becoming a photography but i dont wanna spend hundreds of hours taking photos and then realise i took the wrong approach!

Thanks anyways :D

[froman98]

Well a few questions first off. What kind of magazine are you looking to get into? You could become a renaissance man of photography but depending on what sort of magazine you're looking at. What are things you like to photograph now? Are you looking to be a photographer for a fashion magazine? Import/Automotive? Electronic/Computer? Product placement/Advertising? Expecting Mothers? Weddings? A general idea as to what your interests are would be a good starter.

Also, you may spend THOUSANDS of hours taking photos before you figure out a new/easier approach. You must understand that it may take years of very hard and dedicated work to break into the industry. On the flip side, you might become lucky and fall right into it by knowing someone who knew someone.

Do you like to shoot on film or digital? Have you ever shot on film? It seems more so nowadays that people haven't even touched a film camera. I guess never handling a film camera won't disqualify you from being a photographer however it's always fun to mess with film from time to time. Just curious anyhow. :)

Do you/Have you worked on a portfolio for yourself? Where abouts do you live?

Sorry to bombard you with a million questions. I was just wanting to see what direction of photography you wanted to head toward and see if I could offer my two cents. A post a few months ago had someone asking "I want to become a fashion photographer" and the reply (i forget who replied) was quite witty by saying that wanting to become a fashion photographer was like saying "I want to be a rock star". There's a relatively small niche for certain photography markets. Not because there is not a huge demand or what not, but because there is always someone better. I don't mean for that to sound discouraging but to become a professional photographer, as I'm sure quite a few people would agree, just take so many pictures that you're camera is begging you to stop. You can read a thousand books but the only way you can learn to take good photos is to get out there and take them. Good luck. :)

Regards,
Andy

[Dru]

Well a few questions first off. What kind of magazine are you looking to get into? You could become a renaissance man of photography but depending on what sort of magazine you're looking at. What are things you like to photograph now? Are you looking to be a photographer for a fashion magazine? Import/Automotive? Electronic/Computer? Product placement/Advertising? Expecting Mothers? Weddings? A general idea as to what your interests are would be a good starter.

Also, you may spend THOUSANDS of hours taking photos before you figure out a new/easier approach. You must understand that it may take years of very hard and dedicated work to break into the industry. On the flip side, you might become lucky and fall right into it by knowing someone who knew someone.

Do you like to shoot on film or digital? Have you ever shot on film? It seems more so nowadays that people haven't even touched a film camera. I guess never handling a film camera won't disqualify you from being a photographer however it's always fun to mess with film from time to time. Just curious anyhow. :)

Do you/Have you worked on a portfolio for yourself? Where abouts do you live?

Sorry to bombard you with a million questions. I was just wanting to see what direction of photography you wanted to head toward and see if I could offer my two cents. A post a few months ago had someone asking "I want to become a fashion photographer" and the reply (i forget who replied) was quite witty by saying that wanting to become a fashion photographer was like saying "I want to be a rock star". There's a relatively small niche for certain photography markets. Not because there is not a huge demand or what not, but because there is always someone better. I don't mean for that to sound discouraging but to become a professional photographer, as I'm sure quite a few people would agree, just take so many pictures that you're camera is begging you to stop. You can read a thousand books but the only way you can learn to take good photos is to get out there and take them. Good luck. :)

Regards,
Andy

Ok firstly i would like to get into the automotive/imports magazines. I have a huge passion for cars, so much so that i was going to become a spray painter or mechanic just to work with them but then decided i would be working with everyday cars and that fun would wear away quickly. I can spend hours on end taking photo's of my car which mind you is un-modified, spending my life taking photo's for magazines of modified cars as a career just seems so perfect!

As they say its who you know not what you know. I realise it would be a very hard task getting into the industry, a matter of popping up to every car magazine available and dropping portfolio's in all over the place. At the moment i do not know anyone in the industry, though this might be because i am only 19 at the moment. Just starting to pursue my career.

I shoot digital, i have had some fun with film but i am more of a computer/technology guy. If you give me a dull photo on a disk, i bet you $100 i can turn it into a great peice of work. Mind you i did teach myself how to use photoshop over the space of 3 years! Thats one thing i am looking at using to my advantage when going for a job, the fact that i am flexible in a sense!

As for the portfolio, i completed my HSC [Australian [NSW] certificate to say i finished school] last year. One of my electives was Design and Technology which we had to build a innovative product and record every little detail in a portfolio. This was the only one i have done and it was huge [130 A3 roughly!]. I was asked by alot of people in the class and including the teacher whether i got the layout done professionally and where, i was stunned that everyone loved my work so much..! I was very happy to reply "I done it at home by myself.."

I know its going to require alot of commitment, so to buy my first digital camera my first car i owned is up for sale to get funds [though i have just aquired another car!]. I thought if i am going to seriously start getting into the industry, i need the right equipment straight up. Thus am looking at a 350D which i think should be more than enough for my need, then theres some goodies on the side!

So thats a little overview and i hope it helps you to answer back!

[sixshot]

I am new to this myself and hope one day to shoot for a magazine, who knows. I also don't have my digital camera yet, its in the damn shop waiting for me!! Anyway, good luck, its tough but hey, so is life, so go and get em.

[jus_me_2005]

Classes are fine to assist you in learning your art, but art is the key word here. Most people want to see your finished product. Spend at least as much time in the field or studio as you spend in the classroom putting your newfound knowledge to work. jus_me_2005

[MattyB]

Ok firstly i would like to get into the automotive/imports magazines. I have a huge passion for cars, so much so that i was going to become a spray painter or mechanic just to work with them but then decided i would be working with everyday cars and that fun would wear away quickly. I can spend hours on end taking photo's of my car which mind you is un-modified, spending my life taking photo's for magazines of modified cars as a career just seems so perfect!

As they say its who you know not what you know. I realise it would be a very hard task getting into the industry, a matter of popping up to every car magazine available and dropping portfolio's in all over the place. At the moment i do not know anyone in the industry, though this might be because i am only 19 at the moment. Just starting to pursue my career.

I shoot digital, i have had some fun with film but i am more of a computer/technology guy. If you give me a dull photo on a disk, i bet you $100 i can turn it into a great peice of work. Mind you i did teach myself how to use photoshop over the space of 3 years! Thats one thing i am looking at using to my advantage when going for a job, the fact that i am flexible in a sense!

As for the portfolio, i completed my HSC [Australian [NSW] certificate to say i finished school] last year. One of my electives was Design and Technology which we had to build a innovative product and record every little detail in a portfolio. This was the only one i have done and it was huge [130 A3 roughly!]. I was asked by alot of people in the class and including the teacher whether i got the layout done professionally and where, i was stunned that everyone loved my work so much..! I was very happy to reply "I done it at home by myself.."

I know its going to require alot of commitment, so to buy my first digital camera my first car i owned is up for sale to get funds [though i have just aquired another car!]. I thought if i am going to seriously start getting into the industry, i need the right equipment straight up. Thus am looking at a 350D which i think should be more than enough for my need, then theres some goodies on the side!

So thats a little overview and i hope it helps you to answer back!

i'm scared, and i'll tell you why.
i love cars, i was a mechanic for 2 years when i relised i hated changing oil and going home tired for peanuts.
i'd love to be a photographer in Street Machine or Street Commodores.
i''ve touched on film but i'm addicted to digital, i too learnt photoshop by myself mainly thru dumping cars, colour changes, but recently i've touched base on most of it's other features and learning a S**T load,
where i vary to Dru here, is that i got expelled from school when i was in year 9
my father is a photographer for the R.A.A.F (air force, i'll show off some of his photos another day),
i'm the photographer for CCC (Commodore Cruise Club), but all i do is take night time photos and save them under 50kb for the net, so no real skill there, apart from shutter and trying to get them steady and light enough. heh.
i have no certificate/paper experience with cameras, and i have no profile yet...

i've got a ****ty camera (well, not good for prime shots) - a canon IXUS 30..

Dru, we should get in touch, seems we have alot in common, we can share tips and follow each others progress in getting into this industry. if you have msn, add VB_SLE@hotmail.com to it.

Does anyone here have any tips or tricks or recommendations for what to do, who to speak to, where to start, what to put in our portfolio, or ANY other info that might be of relevance?

any info would be appreciated by us both i am sure.


thanks.

-matt.

[CappuccinoDavid]

It takes a long time, for you and a billion other photographers are trying to do that. First you have to pay the price. It's not easy, I see some that was going to change the world and in lest than a year they change into a different field of work. Well wish you luck.