Breaking into the industry as a younger photographer.

Before i start i would like to say that i know there are quite a few threads like this, but because everyone's situation is different i thought this would require a new thread.
Also this is going to be a lengthy post, so i don't blame you if you run now.

First some basic information,
I am a sixteen year old from Australia and my portfolio can be seen here.(Click the here)

Also, my name is Nic for those who want to address me through out the replies. If you do have any suggestions or question but do not want to reply to the thread please feel free to drop me a PM.

Over the years i have come to the belief that photography is my future career, or at least i would like it to be. I have had a passion for photography ever since i used my first film SLR around four years ago.

Being a sixteen year old know what they want to do in the future is often quite frustrating because at this young age it is not easy to make it into the industry.

ok now to the main part....

I am trying to plan a good business model for myself that is not only realistic but possible. I do not expect to make a large income, if any income at all but i do want to get a head start and possibly get my name out there.
The realistic part of the plan is quite important because in today's global economic situation who wants to spend good dollars on a younger and less experienced photographer.

My target: My target is not a broad selection at this stage of the process, these targets are, People are not willing to spend hundreds of dollars yet want photographs (generally younger people) and also junior sporting organizations.
Currently i have one possible client lined up with a baseball club who would like Action photo's during games, although that season doesn't start until September so i have some time to get organized before that.

I did think about becoming a second shooter/assistant but decided that it was not the right time, this year i am focusing on the growing and improving my portfolio through organized shoots with friends who are happy to help out. Also once i get my Drivers permit i will be able to get to places easier allowing for a larger choice of employment placements.

Personally i believe that i am very mature for a person my age, I present myself very well in the way that i dress, introduce myself and general talk. I also have the dedication to succeed in this, as it is my passion and i will continue to work on it until it is 110% complete.

This is the bit where you come in

If you have gone through the business as a young photographer, what advice would you give to an up and coming photographer?

Would purchasing business cards help even at a younger age to at least spread my name around?

What is the best way to keep confidence when establishing a business as a young, experienced photographer?

Would sitting down and talking with established professionals about the industry and my be usefull?

I know that gear shouldnt matter too much, but is there any new gear that i should look into purchasing? (note i am planning on upgrading to a 50D some time later this year)


I relise this was a very very long thread so i thankyou if you have gotten this far.

I look forward to hearing your comments.

Hi Nic,

I cant speak as a young photographer, as I am nearly 40, but also relatively new as a professional in this industry. The beauty is it doesn't really matter what age you are. A passion and initiative are the ingredients to get you going. What you need next is some elbow grease. Get the business cards, its some of the cheapest form of advertising, make some fliers and hand them out to your friends. Try to get into some different networks, rather than your closest group.
Go speak to some pros. When I started in my early career (3D Animation) I just rang some of the studios and asked to talk to the creative director or whoever it was at the time. I told them I wasn't interested in a job, but rather needed advice and how best to move forward in the industry. This put me at ease and they loved to talk without any pressure. Plus you never know, they may just know someone who needs an assistant and give you a referral.
Professional photographers are busy people and may not have time to sit down with you,but I'm sure the phone call technique may work well.

I think the best thing you can do to keep yourself motivated is to get out and shoot. Keep trying new techniques. Learn about the things you need to know in order to do what you want to do best. Then print up some large images of a select few and hang them on your walls. That way you can proudly show them off when friends and family drop by and this will also give you inspiration to try something else.

Keep yourself inspired by going to exhibitions, surfing the web, reading books, its time to be a sponge for all the information out there (and here on this forum). Learn the software - Photoshop, Lightroom, etc and keep playing. Learn about business!

Use the equipment you have until you can sell some prints to pay for more.

I hope it helps a bit and good luck!

Just some thoughts...

On the gear thing: Although you might make beautiful photos with the gear you own right now, for outsiders bigger cameras will always look more serious. Expensive stuff = "wow that guy is a serious one". Just the way it is.

I started freelance writing when I was only 16 or 17 years old and I started doing photography jobs a few years later after I felt confident enough to "take the job" and be sure I could do absolutely fine. One thing I've learned quick enough is not to mention my age. When people don't know, they always think I'm a few years older than I actually am, and if I think I can do something, I most probably can. Quite a few people didn't trust me with the job anymore as soon as I told them my age, so it's simple - I just don't tell them. Even today, of all people I'm working for, I think only one knows my actual age. And I still think people might not trust me with the job as much as they do now if they knew.

Business cards are always a good idea, but make sure to have a decent identity. Bad business cards are worse than no business cards.

Canonymous wrote in post #7989366
Hi Nic

Hello David

Canonymous wrote in post #7989366
I cant speak as a young photographer, as I am nearly 40, but also relatively new as a professional in this industry. The beauty is it doesn't really matter what age you are. A passion and initiative are the ingredients to get you going. What you need next is some elbow grease. Get the business cards, its some of the cheapest form of advertising, make some fliers and hand them out to your friends. Try to get into some different networks, rather than your closest group.

The thing i don't like about fliers so much is that not many of my friends take my photography seriously, they are still stuck in the immature we are kids who will never grow up stage of life and dont see that this is what i want to do as my future, so i find it hard to hand things out as i often get very stupid remarks about them.

Canonymous wrote in post #7989366
Go speak to some pros. When I started in my early career (3D Animation) I just rang some of the studios and asked to talk to the creative director or whoever it was at the time. I told them I wasn't interested in a job, but rather needed advice and how best to move forward in the industry. This put me at ease and they loved to talk without any pressure. Plus you never know, they may just know someone who needs an assistant and give you a referral.
Professional photographers are busy people and may not have time to sit down with you,but I'm sure the phone call technique may work well.

Very good idea here, and one that i will definitely undergo.
I will try give this a shot and hopefully get some good results.

Canonymous wrote in post #7989366
I think the best thing you can do to keep yourself motivated is to get out and shoot. Keep trying new techniques. Learn about the things you need to know in order to do what you want to do best. Then print up some large images of a select few and hang them on your walls. That way you can proudly show them off when friends and family drop by and this will also give you inspiration to try something else.

Not a bad idea here either, i reckon some photo's wouldnt look to bad on my wall

Canonymous wrote in post #7989366
Keep yourself inspired by going to exhibitions, surfing the web, reading books, its time to be a sponge for all the information out there (and here on this forum). Learn the software - Photoshop, Lightroom, etc and keep playing. Learn about business!

I'm constantly on this forum, which is not always a good thing
I do understand what your saying and will definitely do this!

Canonymous wrote in post #7989366
Use the equipment you have until you can sell some prints to pay for more.

I hope it helps a bit and good luck!

Thanks for your reply David.

Nouks wrote in post #7989387
Just some thoughts...

On the gear thing: Although you might make beautiful photos with the gear you own right now, for outsiders bigger cameras will always look more serious. Expensive stuff = "wow that guy is a serious one". Just the way it is.

Unfortunately you have a good point, although alot of people are impressed when i put my 70-200 on my gripped 400D with 580EXII on top
so right now that's not to big a worry, saying that i wouldnt mind a 1DmkIII

Nouks wrote in post #7989387
I started freelance writing when I was only 16 or 17 years old and I started doing photography jobs a few years later after I felt confident enough to "take the job" and be sure I could do absolutely fine. One thing I've learned quick enough is not to mention my age. When people don't know, they always think I'm a few years older than I actually am, and if I think I can do something, I most probably can. Quite a few people didn't trust me with the job anymore as soon as I told them my age, so it's simple - I just don't tell them. Even today, of all people I'm working for, I think only one knows my actual age. And I still think people might not trust me with the job as much as they do now if they knew.

While this may work for some, i don't look 5-10 years older, i do look a bit older but not that much, although what you have said will be very helpful in years to come when my age isn't so evident.

Nouks wrote in post #7989387
Business cards are always a good idea, but make sure to have a decent identity. Bad business cards are worse than no business cards.

You raise a good point about bad business cards, when i do design them, i will make sure i ask for a lot of critique here and from graphic designers that i know.

Thank you for taking your time to reply

Some links:
General Info

How did you become a pro (or semi-pro)?

What advice would you offer a new pro photographer?

If you knew then, what you know now...

Assist.
Write.
Shoot.

Edit:
Read good books.
Kaizen.
Do not give up.
Be professional.
Respect everyone.
Listen to everyone: even boneheads are right sometimes.
Don't be a jerk.
Learn about the world.
Learn about life.
Take your work seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously.
When you screw up, man up. Fix it right away, forgive yourself and do better next time.
Do not give up.
Love life.
Take of the people and things around you.
Do your best to take care of the rest of the world.
Do not give up.

Nic,

Allot of good replies on this thread!! Here is my advice. I am also a young photographer (15) and have started a photography business.

1. Find someone (preferably a professional) who you can ask ANYTHING! That is what I have been and am doing with Michael Kahn (www.michaelkahn.com) my family has know him forever and so when I decided to get into photography I just started asking him questions. He has not taught me how to use a camera or what settings to use but all the little things about the photography business.

2. Take ANY oporotunitty you get, get known as much as possible. Enter photography competitions, go to festivals and display your work. Do ANYTHING to get an edge and get people to notice that they should pick you instead of blow joe down the street!! You asked about business cards...YES! Like I said anything to help you get noticed and known.

3. find the local market for your kind of photos, this is one of the most important things you can do. It is hard, but once you find it stay with it and it will keep growing.

4. Don't get too caught up in the business of photography although it is VERY important, the best thing to do to get better is to shoot, NO way around it!!

5. Have fun and good luck!!

Hope this helps,

GS

I don't want to sound too cheesy but consider reading through this book - Fast Track Photographer by Dane Sanders: http://lanagurevichpho​tography.blogspot.com …t-track-photographer.html
I wrote a little review about it. The main thing I took from that book is BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. Remember that when designing your business cards/website/blog/tal​king to people or potential clients/even driving, etc. You're now a representaion of your business, act accordingly. Perfect your technique, learn new things CONSTANTLY, get your name out there (various ways for that have been mentioned already). Maybe even get a fan page on facebook and invite all your friends to join, they'll spread the word!

Good luck!!

Svetlana

PhotosGuy wrote in post #7990741
Some links:
General Info

How did you become a pro (or semi-pro)?

What advice would you offer a new pro photographer?

If you knew then, what you know now...

Thanks for the links Frank, will go through them soon

borealis wrote in post #7990884
Assist.
Write.
Shoot.

Edit:
Read good books.
Kaizen.
Do not give up.
Be professional.
Respect everyone.
Listen to everyone: even boneheads are right sometimes.
Don't be a jerk.
Learn about the world.
Learn about life.
Take your work seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously.
When you screw up, man up. Fix it right away, forgive yourself and do better next time.
Do not give up.
Love life.
Take of the people and things around you.
Do your best to take care of the rest of the world.
Do not give up.

Very good responses here borealis, you make some very good points, the two that i have highlighted i think are very true.

thanks for your reply.

greatshot wrote in post #7991407
Nic,

Allot of good replies on this thread!! Here is my advice. I am also a young photographer (15) and have started a photography business.

1. Find someone (preferably a professional) who you can ask ANYTHING! That is what I have been and am doing with Michael Kahn (www.michaelkahn.com) my family has know him forever and so when I decided to get into photography I just started asking him questions. He has not taught me how to use a camera or what settings to use but all the little things about the photography business.

2. Take ANY oporotunitty you get, get known as much as possible. Enter photography competitions, go to festivals and display your work. Do ANYTHING to get an edge and get people to notice that they should pick you instead of blow joe down the street!! You asked about business cards...YES! Like I said anything to help you get noticed and known.

3. find the local market for your kind of photos, this is one of the most important things you can do. It is hard, but once you find it stay with it and it will keep growing.

4. Don't get too caught up in the business of photography although it is VERY important, the best thing to do to get better is to shoot, NO way around it!!

5. Have fun and good luck!!

Hope this helps,

GS

Thanks Jake, sounds like your lucky enough to have a pro. photog. at your disposal, i should try and get one like that

thanks for your replies and also i wish you the best in your venture.

Svetlana wrote in post #7991937
I don't want to sound too cheesy but consider reading through this book - Fast Track Photographer by Dane Sanders: http://lanagurevichpho​tography.blogspot.com …t-track-photographer.html
I wrote a little review about it. The main thing I took from that book is BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. Remember that when designing your business cards/website/blog/tal​king to people or potential clients/even driving, etc. You're now a representaion of your business, act accordingly. Perfect your technique, learn new things CONSTANTLY, get your name out there (various ways for that have been mentioned already). Maybe even get a fan page on facebook and invite all your friends to join, they'll spread the word!

Good luck!!

Svetlana

Svetlana, thanks for the book recommendation, i will try and get my hands on it soon.

Thankyou for your other comments aswell, i've got alot to think about now


Thankyou everyone, keep them coming

NicD wrote in post #7992862
Thanks Jake, sounds like your lucky enough to have a pro. photog. at your disposal, i should try and get one like that

i just want to add to this. im on the young side as well, and i have thought about the many questions you have brought up. i can related because i think that people will not trust me to do my job. im not that great, still on the amateur level but in order to learn i need to shoot more. its hard to get my friends to take time and sit down with me so i can practice shooting. so i am going another route, i was randomly searching on craigslist as i usually do for good deals on equipment. when i came across an amazing photographer who was looking for an intern.

he called me today to schedule some type of interview but i was in school, i guess we will see what happened.

good luck nic.

Good thread Nic, getting lots of useful stuff in here!

I agree with Nouks about the age part, just don't disclose it. We live in Australia dude, no discrimination based on age or ethnicity here and if you're asked, you can always just give a general age bracket (i.e. under 25).

Don't worry about being young, just present yourself as you would and don't try too hard. Be forward, objective and polite and the gold follows.

LoveLee wrote in post #7994952
i just want to add to this. im on the young side as well, and i have thought about the many questions you have brought up. i can related because i think that people will not trust me to do my job. im not that great, still on the amateur level but in order to learn i need to shoot more. its hard to get my friends to take time and sit down with me so i can practice shooting. so i am going another route, i was randomly searching on craigslist as i usually do for good deals on equipment. when i came across an amazing photographer who was looking for an intern.

he called me today to schedule some type of interview but i was in school, i guess we will see what happened.

good luck nic.

wow nice pick up! good luck for the interview and hope all goes well!

tupper wrote in post #7995059
Good thread Nic, getting lots of useful stuff in here!

Thanks Ewan, hope you and many other people get something good out of it.

tangcla wrote in post #7995324
I agree with Nouks about the age part, just don't disclose it. We live in Australia dude, no discrimination based on age or ethnicity here and if you're asked, you can always just give a general age bracket (i.e. under 25).

Very true Clarence, although this is a bit harder for face to face meeting's

Karl Johnston wrote in post #7995542
Don't worry about being young, just present yourself as you would and don't try too hard. Be forward, objective and polite and the gold follows.

Makes sense really, just go about it as i would if i were 5-10 years older.

Thanks Karl