Do I have what it takes....

[aaronseminoff]

Hello all! I am am a 17 year old college student who has been in to photography for 2 years. I am trying to start a career as a photographer, but is seems like my age is a huge barrier to get around. Quite frankly, nobody wants a 17 year old shooting a high budget project! I have website that has some of my photographs on it www.aaronseminoff.com , do you think I should wait it out or give up and try a new career?

[robertwgross]

Age discrimination!

If you think that people know your youthful age and discriminate against you because of it, then don't inform them of your age. Do business via Internet. If you do all of your business over the Internet, people would not know even if you were a dog.

I would say that there is a small percentage of youthful photographers who are really good and who are really responsible. If you can prove where you stand, then you're in.

Figure out what to shoot. Pick something that the old farts won't pick.

---Bob Gross---

[Mark0159]

first off you are only 17, before you decide, wait untill you are about 65 and about to retire.

I am no pro, nor am I am expert of this craft, but I can say this. If you want to become a photographer, then do so.

If this means that you have to get some meanless job to pay the bills, at the end of day, if you have created yourself a career in this craft then that is all that counts.

There only one thing that stand between you and your dreams and that is yourself.

BTW I think your photgraphs are not bad, better than mine

[BOBinsane]

I'm glad to see that you're putting some ideas into thought. But there are many factors you should consider. Here's a short background on myself.

I'm a rather young person as well, only 18 years and 4 months at the moment. I have a lot of big ideas, and I've thought about starting a business doing web design, graphic design, video production, and effects. An all in one suite. Since halfway completing a website for this concept, http://www.99vp.com , I've learned a few things.

1. You have to be twice as good as your so called 'experienced' competitors.
2. If you're planning on starting a business, I would go to your nearest bookstore and sit around and start reading. I read books on business, my fields of interest (web design etc), and books on people who've successfully made a business out of their passions.
3. You have to be open, accept all criticism, and accept the fact that you may fail many times before getting anymore. For example: My first real job was working at an airport working line (refueling planes, towing, marshalling, and light servicing). During the interview the manager didn't believe that someone as young as me could handle a job like that. But since I had such a positive attitude and maintained a professional status, I attained the job and within a month an older guy has a cessna scrape it's tail while towing too fast. That's another thing, time will prove your dependability and all that. Anyways I quit that job to do tech support work on the phone now, which brings on to another thing.
4. You're probably going to work a lot of jobs that you don't want to work. My answer is, get whatever pays the most, don't settle for idiot work when you know you can work harder and make more. And don't blow your money on pointless activities, learn to be frugal and save. Currently I'm saving up for a Canon XL1s broadcast quality video camera so I could get serious about my business and a Roland Fantom X7 for x-mas so that I could work on my music composition skills.
5. When buying the tools you need, get nothing but the very best. People will think it's odd if you show up to shoot a wedding with a small automatic point and shoot camera. Get all the proper tools, not just for the 'image' but because they are required if you want to get the job done right. Be prepared to dump a bit of money into a good tripod, camera, lighting accessories, and more.
6. Advertise, advertise, and make connections. Start talking and making friends with older people. My web design business' first job redesigning a corporate website was attained from talking to an older programmer friend. The more people you know, the more paths and connections you'll have.
7. I'm going to bed, I'm sorry for doing such a crappy job at writing this, but I wish you the best of luck. Just keep on trying hard to be good and educate yourself to the best of your abilites, technically and artistically.

[IndyJeff]

Aaron I understand your dilemma. Let me ask you this tho, what would be a 17 year olds chances of conducting the Boston Symphony? Or how about having a 17 year old in charge of the designing dept at GM. Both have the talent. How about a head coaching job in the NFL? The kid knows football, has some great plays drawn up, so why can't he be the head coach?

Is it age discrimination? No, it is called experience which comes with age. This is something that will be hard to understand but, people who are spending huge amounts of money want to make sure they get the job done and wisdom tells them to go with an experienced person to acheive that. Nobody starts out running with the big dogs, you have to chase the pack for a while first. You have to prove yourself first.

My suggestion would be to take on some smaller budget jobs, the simpler the easier to get and build a reputation as a guy who can get it done. Once you have built up a name for yourself, no one will care how old you are. They will know you have a reputation for getting the job done, on time and right the first time.
Don't give up, hang in there. If you want to do this bad enough everything will fall into place eventually.

[NILOLIGIST]

I agree with everything that has been said thus far and would like to add..Your age can help or hurt you. I wouldn't tell people how old I am I would just show them my work. If it comes up, simply say your age with pride. After looking at your work, you have something very special - talent. People love talented kids. There is a very famous designer can't think of his name, he has been in the fashion design business since he was 12 and he launched his own collection at 19 and they rave that he is a genius. Don't let age bother you otherwise it will bother others. There will be some that won't want to bother with you because you are young and others that will want to because you are young and talented. Make your opportunities don't wait for them. Put together a strong portfolio and get it out there.

You have so many advantages over so many people here...You are young, turn it into a positive. Make up your mind that this is what you want to do and DONT' LET ANYONE GET IN YOUR WAY!!

I have seen your work and I BELIEVE IN YOU....SO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

Learn the business and push your work...It is OUTSTANDING.

NiL,

[DKFSTUDIOS]

Arron,
Stick with it, and keep that desire. Your work is awesome.
It is important to follow your dreams. If you let a little thng like age stand in your way, your going to live a miserable life. Life it to short to be miserable.
It takes time to build up a bissiness and to become known.
most of all, beleave in your self!

[timmyquest]

Originally Posted by robertwgross

Age discrimination!

If you think that people know your youthful age and discriminate against you because of it, then don't inform them of your age. Do business via Internet. If you do all of your business over the Internet, people would not know even if you were a dog.

I would say that there is a small percentage of youthful photographers who are really good and who are really responsible. If you can prove where you stand, then you're in.

Figure out what to shoot. Pick something that the old farts won't pick.

---Bob Gross---

I agree with what he said.

For months i sent my local paper shots. Eventually they used one of my photos and asked me t ocome in to fill out some paper work for future refrence.

There was nothing like seeing their faces do this when i told them who i was.

For what it's worth, i'm 18. And 1 of 2 sports photographres at my local paper. I went about it by showing them my final product before showing them myself.

[Harry Settle]

Let your work speak for itself.

[vwpilot]

What kind of a photographer do you want to be?

As much as you might not like to hear it, I would suggest this. You are only 17, go to college and work toward becoming a photographer.

If you want to do PJ work, then take journalism and PJ classes at school and get a degree.

If you want to own your own business, you will have a huge advantage if you go to school and take your business classes and learn how to manage your photo business.

Being a freelancer is less about being a photographer and more about being a businessman. With college under your belt you will be ready.

Then by the time you get out you will be ready both with your skills and with your age and maturity.

If I knew I wanted to do this for a living while I was still in college I would have done a lot less screwing around and taken the proper classes. As it is I majored in frisbee throwing and eventually dropped out to work in retail. I recently decided to do photo as a living and have been trying to build the business. Had I had PJ classes and education or some basic business classes it would be a lot easier.

Good luck.

[phili1]

Well age can be a deterent but should not be.

First off you have to decide what area of photography you want to get into.
Fashion - Food - Comercial - Portrait/Wedding - Dog - Baby.

Next your web site is niceley done but only appeals to a very small segment of people. It is kind of one demensional. All B&W and all with specialized lighting, and some crazy stuff in it. Not a sales portfolio.

Now no matter what age you are if you present a knock your socks off portfolio, they have to look. they might want you to do a test series, and you might have to do one at cost but you need to get your foot in the door then you can ask the big bucks.

Now in order to get into the area you want do you have the right equiptment. Lights, backgrounds, etc.

Now with just 2 years into this great thing called Photography ( which by the way is the only deterent, not your age but experience) you have to study every photograpers work to give you Ideas. If you take a job and shoot it and get medeoca results then you will kill your efforts, and future.

At your age see if you can apprentice with someone in the field you are looking to go into. He does not have to be great, you want to see what pitfalls there are, so when you go on your own you can anticipate

As far as your photography, your ligthing and composition is good but your photos give a washed out apperaence. you want them jumping off the page and this is subjective, everyone will give you a different opinion. If you add just a little contrast to the shots on your web you will make them so to speak sing. Ansel Adams was the best B&W photographer that lived, study his work it sells prints. I down loaded the Clown and tweeked it in Photoshop and it does sing with a plus contrast.

Lastly how good are you at digital darkroom, because this can make a so so print come alive and be a winner.

Hope this helps. good luck and stay with the dream, I wish I had.