[by Jim Cavanaugh]
I am writing this to you from a perspective of having sat where you are sitting 40 years ago this month. You have completed your formal education and are looking forward to building a career as a professional photographer and image maker. You are full of enthusiasm and optimism as well as uncertainty and fear.
I could tell you that it takes hard work, perseverance, continuing education, business knowledge, brand building and more. (And it does.) But the single most important advice I can give you to help you get established and succeed is to find good mentors and become involved in the professional community. Good mentors and professional involvement will help you every step of the way, answer your questions and keep you from making costly mistakes.
There are two primary ways to accomplish this and both are deeply intertwined. First, join a professional trade association like ASMP. And by joining, I don’t mean just paying your dues. Get involved with the local chapter as well as the national association. Attend all of the local events. Participate on ASMP’s numerous forums and social media outlets. Take advantage of ASMP podcasts, webinars and on-line educational tools. Besides learning a great deal, you will also get to meet and know many well established photographers.
And that leads to the second most important step. Seek out work as a freelance assistant from all of the photographers you have now met with your involvement in ASMP. Established photographers hire who they know. And if they know you through ASMP, the chances are even better.
Freelance assisting will provide income as you work to get established. But it also provides outstanding real world experience on the business and production of still and motion assignments. And as you build these relationships, seek out the photographers who will be your mentors. They are the ones that will share all aspects of the production. They will be the ones who are vested in you and your professional development since you doing a better job helps them do a better job.
You will find many photographers who are happy to share their knowledge and experience with photographers just entering the profession. Because after all, they were once were you are now.
Jim Cavanaugh is an architectural & aerial photographer based in Buffalo, NY. He served as a Director of ASMP for 12 years and as the Society’s President.
