Becoming a successful professional photographer takes a lot more than being good with a camera; you need to have a lot of business sense and a keen understanding of how a career as a creative differs from that of a traditional 9-to-5 job. That latter point often trips up aspiring professionals. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced commercial photographer sharing one such mindset mistake and what you can do to avoid falling prey to it.
Coming to you from Scott Choucino of Tin House Studio, this great video tutorial discusses why treating career advancement in professional photography like that of a more traditional job can lead to stagnation. It is natural to think of advancing in a creative career as a roughly linear progression, much like that of more traditionally structured jobs, but as Choucino notes, there is rarely much of a "middle" in many genres. This means you often need to have the confidence in your abilities to go after the bigger jobs instead of waiting for them to come to you. Knowing your worth and how to advocate for yourself is one of the most important characteristics of a successful professional. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino.
If you would like to learn more about the business of photography, check out "Making Real Money: The Business of Commercial Photography With Monte Isom!"
