Comments on: Vancouver WTF Event, Do Me a Favour?

By: sharon

sharon — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:53:08 +0000

I am worried that I won’t make enough money to live on. I am not looking to make six figures, but I need to support my family. I am also concerned about selling myself. I have never been good at that. Will I have what it takes to market my photography?

By: Matt Powell

Matt Powell — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:30:34 +0000

Hi David!
This can’t be said enough to aspiring professional photographers, and if anyone can find a way to make it stick- I bet it’s you….
If you want to get paid to shoot what you love, or at least in a style that excites you creatively. You first have to DO IT, with excellence, then you have to SHOW IT, to the right people. You can’t show just anything to a prospective client simply because you have it, you must show the type of work you want to get. You preach this same thing often, but it is the single most important thing I’ve learned.
Matt Powell

By: Grey Trilby

Grey Trilby — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:50:15 +0000

another +1 – “Am I good enough”

I look at sites like this, strobist, lighting essentials etc. and the answer is almost always ‘no’ – but then I get one of my portraits in the national press, or I look at some stuff my friends are taking and I think “hell, maybe I can do this!”

By: Toni Johnson

Toni Johnson — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:01:27 +0000

Thing 1: Am I good enough?

Thing 1: If the answer to the above is yes, then who would want what I love to shoot?

By: JL

JL — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:42:11 +0000

My question I ask myself over and over?

How do I make the transition? Is it enough to ease in, or do I have to jump in with both feet?

Well, there’s two.

How do I spend the time to make myself better and make a go of it without compromising on my family time? I want to be great at what I do, and do what I love. But I also want to be a great father.

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:09:28 +0000

If I can swing it, I’d like to try to make the book launch.

By: Gordon Cahill

Gordon Cahill — Sun, 24 May 2009 09:35:24 +0000

Two words.. Business Plan. Without one you’re more likely to fail than succeed and with one you’re more likely to succeed than fail.The most succcessful photographers I know of are not in the same group as the best photographers I have seen. That’s far from a criticism.

Many creative peope see “running a business” as the exact opposite of what they want to be. Rather understanding how to run a business well is what lets you be creative. Having the “business stuff” under control lets you go and be free to dream, creat excel.

If you want to get into this game and succeed your next course should be a business course.

Gordon

By: sabrina

sabrina — Sun, 24 May 2009 06:36:55 +0000

Hi David, please throw my name into the hat for the Vancouver WTF. Perhaps I could bring my sister and her husband too if they’re in town.

My burning questions are rather fundamental compared to what everyone has already contributed. What are the key ingredients to make this a vocation? What do I absolutely need to have or know before I can cross that threshold and what can I learn or acquire along the way? Very few photographers are the complete package. What strengths will make the difference and what weaknesses are non-fatal?

Thanks!
S.

By: Kaylea

Kaylea — Sun, 24 May 2009 04:02:20 +0000

Hi David, Af and Steve have asked 2 questions I would love to have answered. The other is: How do you make sure that you still take time to be creative and love photography when you are shooting commercially? How do you make the separation between work and pleasure? I have spoken to a few photographers who say that they only shoot for work now and when they pick up their camera at the weekend, it feels like work.

I will be buying your book. From the questions you have asked, I think the next one is going to be great too!

By: tanya

tanya — Sun, 24 May 2009 02:28:52 +0000

love the hat shot! wish i could make it to the grande ol book launch…i’ll be with ya in spirit!