Making photography a career

[Joel]

I want photography to be my future full time job. My goal is to work for a motorsport or car mag.
I am currently 15 and have been interested in photoraphy for years now just havent been able to make the money. Now i do have a job and bought myself a DSLR 4 months ago.
What do i need to do to get to be working for a car mag? Do i need a year 12 education? Im going to try to get into Tafe next year.

What do i need to do? And judging by my photos am i heading in the right direction?

Thanks and sorry if this is in the wrong section.

[JohnnyUK]

Joel

Lets see some shots and we can comment.

Education is always a good foundation. However I suspect a good photography education will allow you to make much better use of your desire to be a classy photographer.

Great to have a goal to focus on, capturing that energy can take you a long way.

[Joel]

Thanks Johnny. I wasnt sure to post photos but ill put them up now. The motorsport ones since thats what i want. These are te ones i have done in PS.
What i was thinking is leaving in year 10 and focusing on photography.

[JohnnyUK]

Joel

These are good shots, but how do they compare to the pro shots in the media?

Have you looked into what is required for a photography qualification in your area? Still feel it would be a good idea to secure a good qualification to back up your desire.

[KerryG]

You need to get through high school, take some photography classes and journalism classes, preferably get at least an AA degree. Find a job working as an assistant for a photographer to learn more about the business end. When your own shots look as good as what you see in the magazines, then go to events and submit pictures and complete stories (few magazine photographers only shoot, most have to write the stories too) to the magazines and try to pick up a few bucks by having your work published. That will lead to a job at one of them once you have submitted a number of articles and photos that they have published.

[Joel]

Originally Posted by JohnnyUK

Joel

These are good shots, but how do they compare to the pro shots in the media?

Have you looked into what is required for a photography qualification in your area? Still feel it would be a good idea to secure a good qualification to back up your desire.

Thanks again Johnny. Comparing it to the media id sy that they are a little down but these are only my major event in DSLR so im still learning.

Originally Posted by KerryG

You need to get through high school, take some photography classes and journalism classes, preferably get at least an AA degree. Find a job working as an assistant for a photographer to learn more about the business end. When your own shots look as good as what you see in the magazines, then go to events and submit pictures and complete stories (few magazine photographers only shoot, most have to write the stories too) to the magazines and try to pick up a few bucks by having your work published. That will lead to a job at one of them once you have submitted a number of articles and photos that they have published.

Thanks Kerry. I did submit some photos to my local paper at the hillclimb a few weeks ago and a story that the club wrote. Would you recommend doing this more but with me writing at local events? I was also thinking about selling photos to the drivers because no one does that at the moment.
Thanks Guys.

[peterst6906]

Joel,

Firstly congratulations on being so focused on your future at 15. As a Sydney boy myself, I wish I'd be so focused when I was 15 instead of just hanging out with my mates and finding ways to avoid doing homework.

In relation to your question, I think the best thing to might would be to contact the Australian Institute of Professional Photography and see what advice they have.

Additionally, if you look at the photos in the major mags you are looking at, find the photographer credits and look up their websites. From the photographers websites there will always be a way to contact them, so you might try cold contacting some of the photographers (if the AIPP can't help with that) and you'll be surprised how happy they will be to give you some advice.

Ultimately, advice from the pros who are actually shooting in your initial target market will be the best advice you can get on how to start in the industry.

Regards,

Peter

[KerryG]

Thanks Kerry. I did submit some photos to my local paper at the hillclimb a few weeks ago and a story that the club wrote. Would you recommend doing this more but with me writing at local events? I was also thinking about selling photos to the drivers because no one does that at the moment.

Here are my three things for you:

1. Shoot shoot shoot - read everything you can about technique. You need to brush up on composition and learn how to capture the excitement, study the mags you want to work for and copy those styles.

2. Write your own stories to go along with the pictures and submit them to the local paper and to the magazines

3. If the drivers will buy them, then sell em!

Finally, do not get discouraged, it takes most photographers 3-5 years to develop their "eye" and their style. You are starting at a perfect age, By the time you finish high school and take some photography and art classes you will have all the skills and talent you need to be successful. Don't expect to "go pro" over the summer. Expect it to be a journey over the next 5-7 years and when you have a good long term goal like that, with all the proper education, like business classes to help manage your photographty business, then there is nothing to stop you.

[Keith_Indy]

Shot are getting there. A bit better focus, and showing more drama (like vehicles passing each other,) and I could see you getting picked up for a newspaper or magazine.

Try to get in good with drivers at the events you go to.
Trying to get pit shots are a good way to introduce yourself.
Talk to the event organizers to see if there's a press press you can get. That might get you closer to the action.
If you get in good with a team, that might be a way to get noticed by a magazine.
If your school has a paper, join it as a photographer.

Don't sign away the rights to your pictures. Make sure you get good compensation for them. A business class, and the AIPP should point you in the right direction with that.

Definitely try for as much education in photography as possible.

[JohnnyUK]

Joel

It seems as if there is a wealth of information for you on the post, all with good advice.

I for one am happy to see that you have been given good advice. Why don't you use this forum to do a couple of shoots and put a story to it to see how it is taken and get suggestions on how to improve your skills.

This would also augment the advice above, this forum seem very happy to give good advice and guidance.

[Joel]

Originally Posted by peterst6906

Joel,

Firstly congratulations on being so focused on your future at 15. As a Sydney boy myself, I wish I'd be so focused when I was 15 instead of just hanging out with my mates and finding ways to avoid doing homework.

In relation to your question, I think the best thing to might would be to contact the Australian Institute of Professional Photography and see what advice they have.

Additionally, if you look at the photos in the major mags you are looking at, find the photographer credits and look up their websites. From the photographers websites there will always be a way to contact them, so you might try cold contacting some of the photographers (if the AIPP can't help with that) and you'll be surprised how happy they will be to give you some advice.

Ultimately, advice from the pros who are actually shooting in your initial target market will be the best advice you can get on how to start in the industry.

Regards,

Peter

Thanks Peter. I was thing about contacting the photographers and asking them but wasnt sure so thanks ill do it now. Thanks for the links to.

Originally Posted by KerryG

Here are my three things for you:

1. Shoot shoot shoot - read everything you can about technique. You need to brush up on composition and learn how to capture the excitement, study the mags you want to work for and copy those styles.

2. Write your own stories to go along with the pictures and submit them to the local paper and to the magazines

3. If the drivers will buy them, then sell em!

Finally, do not get discouraged, it takes most photographers 3-5 years to develop their "eye" and their style. You are starting at a perfect age, By the time you finish high school and take some photography and art classes you will have all the skills and talent you need to be successful. Don't expect to "go pro" over the summer. Expect it to be a journey over the next 5-7 years and when you have a good long term goal like that, with all the proper education, like business classes to help manage your photographty business, then there is nothing to stop you.

Thanks again Kerry. Much appreciate your responses.

Originally Posted by Keith_Indy

Shot are getting there. A bit better focus, and showing more drama (like vehicles passing each other,) and I could see you getting picked up for a newspaper or magazine.

Try to get in good with drivers at the events you go to.
Trying to get pit shots are a good way to introduce yourself.
Talk to the event organizers to see if there's a press press you can get. That might get you closer to the action.
If you get in good with a team, that might be a way to get noticed by a magazine.
If your school has a paper, join it as a photographer.

Don't sign away the rights to your pictures. Make sure you get good compensation for them. A business class, and the AIPP should point you in the right direction with that.

Definitely try for as much education in photography as possible.

Thanks Keith. Im pretty lucky because my father who takes me to all these events knows and is pretty good freinds with the main guys in the club.

Originally Posted by JohnnyUK

Joel

It seems as if there is a wealth of information for you on the post, all with good advice.

I for one am happy to see that you have been given good advice. Why don't you use this forum to do a couple of shoots and put a story to it to see how it is taken and get suggestions on how to improve your skills.

This would also augment the advice above, this forum seem very happy to give good advice and guidance.

Yeah i am very pleased with the replies and the quality of them on this forum. Big thanks to everyone.
That sounds like a good idea. The next event is in a few weeks aparently with the next round of the Off road championships. Would you say post it in this topic or make another?

Thanks again Everyone. Probably the best response i have had at a forum in the two years i have been using them.
Just learnt what The CamelKarma is and gave some out to you all.

[JohnnyUK]

Why not cover your bets, post here and start another with a snappy title to draw in more readers

That way you get those that replied as well as stand a chance of getting a wider reader response as this thread may be a bit old by then for new readers

[Joel]

Originally Posted by JohnnyUK

Why not cover your bets, post here and start another with a snappy title to draw in more readers

That way you get those that replied as well as stand a chance of getting a wider reader response as this thread may be a bit old by then for new readers

Alright thanks.

I have been missing alot not using Manual mode.

[mort]

One point I would like to make. whilst you should get plenty of practice taking photos and lisening to advice, as you learn the trade, do however do not give up on your general education. you need to make sure that you have a good level of formal education behind you. if photography does not turn out to be the job that you want to do, or you cannot get yourself established, you need something to fall back on.

on a lighter note best of luck and hope you achieve what you are setting out to do.

[Keith_Indy]

I'm pretty certain the previous post meant to say, DO NOT give up on your general education.

I think it's great you have such focus already on what you love to do. That's an important thing to know. And if you can make a career out of it, all the better.

[Joel]

Thanks guys at the moment general education is the main thing im focusing on because i cant start photography classes till next year.

[Rogue]

This may be of no help but I just had a thought, here in the states we have a weekly motorcycle magazine ( Cycle News Online ) that covers every race that is written up and sent to them.

IF there is a similar magazine for 4 wheel racing in Australia you could try covering small club events where you are the only "journalist" there to get some practice/experience.