[by Blake Discher]
I set my sights on becoming a professional photographer at a young age. I wish I had been told right at the outset to assist for as many different photographers as possible. One of my assistants told me how much she had learned by assisting that she wasn’t learning in photo school. If I started over today, these are just three of things that come to mind that I’d like to have known going in:
“Never Let ‘em See You Sweat.” No matter how much the shoot goes south, stay calm and continue to problem solve without making a big deal of whatever the problem is.
“Be a Professional.” I don’t mean earning more than 50-percent of your income from photography. What I do mean is dressing appropriate to the project or job. If you’re shooting a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, you’re not showing up in torn up jeans. Being professional means being reliable, showing up on time, making deadlines, over delivering, and perfecting the ability to multi-task.
And last, “Be Flexible.” Project specifications change suddenly, sometimes even while you’re shooting. Grumbling about it, or trying to persuade your client that you have a better idea is futile and likely won’t get you hired again. Shoot it the to reflect client’s way, reflecting his or her idea, and then, if time and circumstances permit, photograph it to reflect your ideas as well.
Good luck!
Blake Discher is a Detroit-based photographer who shares what he wishes he knew at the start of his career in a Sales and Web Marketing blog, www.groozi.com.