Last month I taught two workshops, Creativity and Travel Photography, for the Santa Fe Workshops. I love teaching (and working as a Mentor also), although I don’t have time to teach more than two or three a year. I had two remarkable groups and they inspired me as much as, I hope, I inspired them. You can see their final shows here and here (week 2).
At the end of the first week one of the members of the class handed me a piece of paper with two questions and asked if I would answer them. They were brilliant, although I remember fumbling through the answers. However yesterday, just hours before I was leaving for a flight to Sri Lanka, I found the paper on my desk. Since the luggage was loaded in my car; I decided to think about my answers a bit more coherently. I got most of the way through them, then it was off to the airport. Now I’m on the 15 hour flight from LA to Bangkok, (then to Colombo) and am finishing the post.
What are 10 Things you are glad that you knew when you decided to become a professional travel photographer? So, in no particular order, here they are:
- Because of my experience as a river guide, rock climber and Outward Bound instructor I learned the difference between perceived risk and actual risk. A very valuable distinction to have when one is traveling in foreign countries.
- Also because of my previous experience as a guide and instructor, I knew not to projection my thoughts, feelings, or interpretations on anyone else. I learned that there is no way to really know what someone is thinking, unless you ask or give them space to answer, verbally or non-verbally. Presume nothing; expect everything.
- I knew that I had some great traits for a traveler: I can handle alcohol; I can sleep anywhere; I have an “iron stomach”; I have a bad sense of smell; and I remain very calm in times of stress or uncertainty. All very useful for the solo traveler
- It was very clear that I was “born to roam”. I didn’t care about getting married and having a family; I just wanted to travel. And, I was passionate about photography.
- I knew that there is no such thing as luck. Luck is everywhere; it is just a matter of taking advantage of it.
- I am glad that I had brilliant teachers who taught me to think creativity and write coherently. I am also glad I learned how to type.
- I am glad I began photographing with black and white film and taught myself the fundamentals of working in a darkroom.
- I am also glad I used fixed focal length lenses and was forced to move to fill a frame.
- Although I was not a painter, I admired and studied artists from historic to contemporary. I understood the power of color, and why the color wheel was important in art.
- I knew that it was never going to be an easy field in which to make a living. And, that it was best to keep my overhead very low.
What are 10 Things you wish you had known when you decided to become a professional travel photographer? Again, in no particular order, but notice that most have to do with business:
- That photography is 80% about business, not photography. I really should have hung out with MBA students and not river guides and rock climbers (for potential boyfriends).
- Just about everything that had to do with photography since I am self-taught—which means that the teacher knew very little.
- It took me awhile to figure out that it was useless to try and photograph what I saw, since slide film can only render about four stops of contrast range, while my eyes could see about 16 stops. Really, I was just using reality to express my perception of it.
- That there is a difference between marketing and business and you have to be great at both.
- That many clients do not understand that photographers need to make a decent living also (especially non-profit organizations) and are always asking for free images. And, that it was never a good idea to give into these requests without some kind of compensation.
- That one should buy a house young to build up credit and equity. Invest in yourself but also in other ways.
- Those credit cards are essential, but evil.
- That I should never have carried such heavy cameras bags or pack packs.
- That computers would eventually rule my life (well, maybe it good that I didn’t know that actually)
- That no matter how recognized I would become in photography, the phone would never ring on its own. I would have to hustle and reinvent myself all the time.
And now you ask…
What would I like to know now? How to clone myself since I have to keep hustling!
25 comments
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September 18, 2012 at 7:33 am
Tristan
This is pretty amazing.
Thanks for the insight as it’s made me think about the things I need to do. “The phone will never ring by itself” – That’s an important one for me.
You’ve surely inspired me, thank you!
August 5, 2012 at 1:19 pm
Allen Churchill
Don’t forget: always carry bug spray, cash, asprin and tums! Thanks to all for their posts on art and biz. I am a financial advisor and a frustraited photog/artist – I guess the grass is not always greener. It seems the key thing is to make time for your personal work in the midst of many commitments.
September 10, 2010 at 2:35 am
gaubmague
Hi Iam Prabhu from chennai,joined today in this forum… 🙂
September 8, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Scott Lightner
Awhile back I came to learn and realize:
Most of the photography business is about “business”. The work done on the business side is often similar to other work done in many another businesses.
The photography I enjoy the most, the images I value deeply are almost always images and process done first for myself. Not a client, not to please anyone else, or get attention from others. Those secondary values do provide rewards, but the drive and reason to create is not outside of myself.
I do not need to identify as a photographer, or any other professional title. Doing so is limiting. I’ll always be a creative person. May always create images too. By separating my identity from my profession it allows more freedom, more choices to live.
Starving for my art is a failure when there are other choices, and there are almost always other choices. Making better choices about how I earn my living allows me more freedom and opportunity to create.
September 8, 2010 at 10:42 pm
nevada wier
Scott: I must stupidly admit, I’m not sure that I understand your point. I think I understand what you are saying… that art is personal and should be enjoyed and savored. And, photographers should have a business side and a personal side? I completely agree if that is what you mean. However, naive photographers (naive, dumb ones like myself) sometimes don’t understand this distinction when they decide to make photography their business. I have no desire to starve for my art; not in the slightest, not ever, not never. However, once one becomes “professional” i.e. making a living as photographer then you must identify yourself as one. I suppose that I am fortunate; my vocation is my avocation since I am not doing much commercial photography. Is that what you mean?
September 9, 2010 at 9:46 am
RustyTheGeek
I’ll chime in here real quick and say I think I understand what Mr. Lightner is saying because I can relate. He doesn’t want to get pigeon-holed into being labeled a photographer if he has many artistic passions. Is this a cop-out? Who knows, that’s up to interpretation. As far as business goes (earning a living)… I’ve known a couple of professional photographers for a long time and they are the first to state that they will never get rich as a professional photographer. In fact, it’s sometimes a hard way to just make an acceptable living. (Ever see a photographer with a 2nd job?) So I sympathize with Mr. Lightner’s point in that he likely prefers to make a living doing something more lucrative and save his passion for photography as a subsidized venture so that it’s always enjoyable and less stressful and mundane. In our capitalistic society, the market determines the monetary value of one’s profession with no regard to its relevance, significance or intrinsic value. This is why artists, teachers, public servants, soldiers and essential laborers make very little compared with hollywood elite and business royalty. Me, I’ve never worked a day in my life. Every job I have had or career choice I have made I have enjoyed. It felt like a bonus to get paid for it. I chose the IT industry to make a living over photography because it pays better. If I didn’t have a talent for IT and my photography skills and talent were good enough, I assume I would ultimately be successful in photography but it would take longer to achieve and probably be less reliable over the long term. With that said, I feel strongly that people should follow their dreams and the money will take care of itself and they will live a much better life. I was just fortunate enough to be able to follow my dreams and have them pay well. That’s my 2 cents, I hope it makes sense.
August 29, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Rohn Engh
Nevada, here’s #11.
To carry a lightweight musical instrument on your backpack (like a mandolin, ukelele, tamborine, 2nd-hand violin) even if you can’t play it (like Jack Benny).
Music opens doors in both rural and urban communities. A great passport and ice-breaker. -Rohn 800-624-0266
August 30, 2010 at 7:19 am
nevada wier
Thanks Ron! I should have thought of that. I can’t sing a note nor play an instrument but it sure would be grand if I could! nv
August 16, 2010 at 3:15 am
Ben Madden
Until a couple weeks ago, I had never heard of you. I have always had a blessedly accurate gut instinct, when first meeting someone, as to whether a person is worth knowing. (perhaps everyone has this ability, though, if so, there are certainly any number of inexplicable relationships out there).
Photography became important to me early in 2008, Since then I have learned that this gut instinct transitions well to learning about other photographers through the internet, though it took a little while to fully develop.
What I am trying to say, Nevads, is that the first time I encountered you, and, more specifically, the first time I read what you had to say about your work (I believe it was Aline Smithson’s /lenscratch/ blog, but not certain of that) I knew that you were someone special.
Having now acquired some sense of what life is like for a professional photographer (not through my own success) I fully appreciate your generosity in actively sharing your experiences with us. Thank you for that.
Should our paths ever cross, I will know I am on the right road.
August 15, 2010 at 6:37 pm
eric erickson
Nevada, great post. I took a course in the spring at sfw from Carlan Tapp, and loved it. Next year I would love to be in one of your classes. You sound so inspiring. Thanks for the post.
August 15, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Paul Sivley
Nevada: the fact that you expanded on the in class answers to my 2 questions is emblematic of your dedication.
I find I spend 80% of my time on mtkg and business, and like you, am better at the former than latter. What I really need to do more of on your list is look at others’ work and continually ask why I like it – or not.
Who would have thought a little yellow scrap of paper would provoke such discourse!
Relish Sri Lanka!
Paul Sivley
August 15, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Ron Castle
Great answers Nevada! Be safe in your travels. From what I’ve seen, Sri Lanka has the potential to produce some wonderful images. Especially for someone as talented as you. Can’t wait to see your work!
Ron
August 15, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Heber Vega
Thank you so much Nevada. These are the things/insights that I appreciate from the Pros with experience. That’s what we need to hear from you guys. I hope I can be in one of your workshops one day and I also hope that someone can give you back those long lost trust funds. They’re great assets.
August 15, 2010 at 9:10 am
Paul Sivley
Nevada
Your answers to my question in class were good, but it’s emblematic of your dedication that you took the time to expand and refine them. I’m thankful.
I can see a whole additional blog just on #4 under the “wish you knew” column. I feel like I spend 80% of my time on mktg and bzness and it makes a huge difference. But I need to work on making the time to study other peoples’ art and continually ask why I like it (or not).
Thanks for the detailed answer to my little yellow sheet of scribbles, Nevada, and I look forward to hearing about Sri Lanka.
Paul Sivley
August 14, 2010 at 11:38 pm
RustyTheGeek
BTW, there is one more question you now need to answer! What are 10 Things you want to know (or know better) now that you have been a professional travel photographer? Or put simply, “Where do you go from here?”
August 15, 2010 at 1:02 am
nevada wier
I want to know how to find my long lost trust fund. Someone out there stole it from me! nv
August 14, 2010 at 11:33 pm
RustyTheGeek
Great Questions and Great Answers! Thanks for sharing! I’ll have to write one of these sometime for IT Professionals, LOL. IMHO, Nevada Wier is a wonderful teacher, mentor and sage not because she is well travelled and a great photographer, but because she is approachable, friendly and willing to share her knowledge with others on common ground. Most important, she will never stop learning and that makes it all fun for everyone! Have a great trip Nevada!!
August 14, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Jon Cornforth
I quit working for other people 10 years ago because I did not want to spend the rest of my life indoors on a computer. Guess what? I am home about 60% or the year & on the computer almost the entire time. Computers are evil, but they have also allowed me to reinvent myself several times. I hustle all the time, too.
August 14, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Christine krieg
Thanks for that terrific post Nevada! I met you many years ago at the Book Passage travel writers conference in San Francisco and also a Point Reyes workshop. I remember saying to you that I wanted to do what you are doing and, in looking back now, know that I did not have a clue what it really entailed. I just held this romantic idea in my head that wasn’t connected to anything in reality. Yes, of course I heard you say all these things about being a good biz person in order to survive working full time as a photog, but until I experienced what that meant, it didn’t really sink in.
Fast forward more than a decade: I’ve been working FT as a photog for a number of years, but always struggled financially. Chiefly bc I have not been a good marketer of my work. I have great biz ideas, but often failed w execution. Perhaps that is the difference you elude to btw marketing and business?
I have just embarked on a one year trip by subletting my apt. My goal is to find and document stories that are positive and have an empowering aspect for the people being helped. I am in chiang Mai, Thailand right now and plan to travel around SE Asia before going on to Africa next year. It may be foolhardy to do it this way as I am self financing it all on a tiny budget. However, I feel compelled to at least try to take that leap of faith and pursue this dream of mine of working as a photographer and writer and hopefully make a meaningful contribution to my world community in the process. And I will use every last bit of experience and knowledge I’ve gathered along the way to make my dream a successful reality. Thank you for having been a role model and teacher for me!
August 15, 2010 at 12:59 am
nevada wier
I always say “if you dont’ try then you don’t get; you are 100% sure of nothing”. So go forth. It is all about the tenacity quotient mixed with talent and business acumen. I am pretty good at marketing myself but lousy at making money at it! The execution is another thing all together! Excelsior! Keep me posted. nv
August 16, 2010 at 12:14 am
Christine Krieg
I agree full heartedly and still appreciate your encouragement. I have crafted a personal mission statement for this adventure I’m on, which reminds me of why I’m doing this. It’s particularly helpful when I get off-track, or things are not happening as I wish or expect. It gently brings me back to my core values and keeps me inspired and motivated. I am also learning to trust that everything will flow from that.
Now I just need to get that WordPress blog up and going…
August 15, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Ron Castle
Inspiring post Christine. I wish I had your courage!
Ron
August 16, 2010 at 12:18 am
Christine Krieg
Thanks Ron. Courage actually had very little do with it. It was more of a decision born of one-half desperation and one-half inspiration. At some point I’ll get that blog up and will talk about what brought me to this point.
August 14, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Linda Crowe
In addition to being smart business and marketing, many of your “10 things you wish you’d known” are good general life lessons. Thanks for continuing to inspire me, not only in creative pursuits, but in living my life purpose. You’re a great teacher.
August 14, 2010 at 8:50 pm
nevada wier
Thanks Linda! I’m back in Bangkok! Hope to see you soon. nv