What would you say is the hardest part about being a professional photographer, and why? Without a doubt the hardest part about being a self employed professional photographer is finding the work. The work is not there waiting, you have to go and chase it every single day. I have bills to pay, a mortgage, petrol, equipment costs, I have to eat and so do my wife and two kids. Self employment is not for the faint hearted. But saying that, it is by far more rewarding than any job I have ever had. To be your own boss is something that is hard to put into words, it’s incredible. If you want to succeed, you get good, you work hard and you put everything into it and it’s all the sweeter when you know you have gotten to where you are by your own sweat and creativity. I know I work really hard at this. I want to be one of the best. The only way to do that is to keep pushing, keep getting better and to put in hard graft. I am up with my kids at 6 everyday and I get them to school then it’s down to business. My family and my work are my life and I will always work ridiculously hard for both. Sadly I have no rich parents funding my career it’s all by debt and by sweat!!
There are so many upcoming photographers out there, so with this in mind what advice can you give to them, and what do you think it takes to make it in this day and age? Well I guess the first piece of advice I would give is just keep shooting, get out there get experimenting with different techniques, don’t stick your camera on auto and take a zillion pictures and hope one of them comes out ok. Put it in manual mode, read the instructions and know how to work your equipment. If you are confident with your gear, your clients will feel confident that you know what you are doing and they will relax. Then get experimenting with light, natural and reflected, then pick up some cheap flash guns and triggers off eBay. Get that flash off camera! Secondly don’t be afraid to ask, if there is an event or gig you want to shoot get in touch and ask. People aren’t ogres and are usually very willing to help out young photographers. If there is a photographer you admire, drop them an email ask questions, ask to assist. Keep plugging away even when it seems too hard. Every single photographer started out where you are, just remember that! I guess what it takes to succeed is determination, confidence and talent. It’s all about trying to take it to the next level. Keep aiming high. I am nowhere near as good as I want to be. I haven’t even scratched the surface of all the things I want to achieve and so I will keep aiming higher. I hope to one day get to the point where I feel content with my work and my career but there is a lot more work to do and I’m really looking forward to it.
What does 2013 hold for you as a professional photographer? 2013 will see a lot more personal work from me. I usually put my personal work on the back burner but this year I will be making time for it and hopefully if all goes well get a few exhibitions of my work set up. . I will be collaborating with some seriously incredible and talented artists, illustrators and sfx makeup artists as well which I am really looking forward to. There will be more press shots and music videos from me this year so expect to see a lot more of that coming at you. As well as this I have been working on a feature length documentary with a very good friend of mine which will also be released in 2013. I am stoked to be working on this and I’m really looking forward to showing you all. There is a long way to go so I’m not quite ready to spill the beans just yet but as soon as I can Stencil Mag readers will be the first to hear about it