It would be nice if finding financial success as a photographer was as easy as taking great pictures and being paid for them, but it involves so much more than what you do behind the camera and often requires you to do things you might not really enjoy. This excellent video essay features an experienced professional discussing why you have to "play the game" if you want to make photography a career.
Coming to you from Scott Choucino of Tin House Studio, this important video essay discusses the importance of "playing the game" as a professional photographer, namely embracing things like social media, network, up-to-date SEO practices, and more, even if they make us uncomfortable. The truth is that no matter what you do for a living, no matter how much it is based in a craft you love, there are going to be associated tasks that simply are not as enjoyable, and very few have the luxury of ignoring those tasks and still finding success. It can be easy to have an overly idealistic view of the life of a professional creative, but it is important to understand what the day-to-day nitty-gritty is really like before you take the plunge, lest you find yourself disenchanted with the career. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino.
I have to say, this is exactly the reason I don’t make a big go at breaking into pro. I don’t want to faff with all this rubbish, and most certainly I don’t want to make photos at someone else’s direction. 🤷♂️
Exactly why I don't make more of my livelihood at photography, either. And why the portion of my living that comes from photography is almost entirely derived by royalties from images I have with stock agencies. That way I do the parts of photography that I like and avoid all the things I don't like. I'm kinda lazy and undisciplined and pretty much only do what I feel like doing at any given time, so a hard-core career in any field is not for me.