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Breaking Through: Top Tips from the New Pros
Every year, PDN magazine hand picks the top 30 new and emerging photographers to watch, and this past March the School of Visual Arts hosted a sem...
Every year, PDN magazine hand picks the top 30 new and emerging photographers to watch, and this past March the School of Visual Arts hosted a seminar featuring several photographers from the 2012 list, along with other heavy hitters in the industry. I had the chance to attend and listen in as moderator Holly Hughes, editor of PDN, asked three of the list’s emerging photographers about their top tips for “making it” in an increasingly competitive industry. The panel was also joined by associate photo editor of New York Times Magazine Clinton Cargill, and Sony’s Artisan of Imagery Andy Katz.
While these photographers are only on the cusp of their careers, their insights into navigating the photo industry are invaluable no matter how long you’ve been shooting. The number one piece of advice that came from all panelists? Persistence and continuous shooting is the key to getting commissioned work.
Straight from up-and-coming pros, here are their best strategies for building and expanding your photography business:
2007 SVA alumni Ryan Pfluger is a fine art and editorial photographer who has shot for clients such as New York Times Magazine, TIME, and Real Simple. He describes his work as personal and quiet, and he’s a major advocate for the blogging platform, Tumblr. Ryan’s main set of advice is to:
- Be proactive, constantly come up with your own projects, and make it happen.
- Always share your new and personal work with photo editors and all current and previous contacts.
- Keep shooting despite financial setbacks, creative slumps or personal hiccups.
- Build your brand by having a consistent design aesthetic that suits your work.
- Continuously shoot and create work in order to find your voice.
- The personal work you produce can lead to paying jobs in the future.
- Learn to trust yourself and your gut instinct when you’re on assignment, over complicating things can cloud your vision and voice.
- Personalize your messages and target the right publications.
- Treat your relationship to the editors with common sense.
- Be genuine.
- Have a strong, unique, and consistent point of view.
- Give me an idea of how you would approach an assignment.
- A 5-minute meeting with him during the work week is considered a lot of time.
- Portfolio reviews are beneficial for buyers because he can spend a quality amount of time with the work, and give honest, critical feedback.
The most important advice in regards to the craft came from veteran Andy Katz, who reminded the audience, “The images are out there – the light is out there – we just have to go and grab it.”
To see the full list of PDN‘s 30 new and emerging photographers to watch, visit their website.