By the time this article was published, Feddo van Gogh had worked as an advertising photographer in Amsterdam for 35 years. He had also taught photography for ten years at the School of Photography (now the Royal Academy) in The Hague and coordinated its internships. In three installments, he discusses the opportunities and limitations involved in starting out as a self-employed photographer.
Photography as a Profession or a Hobby?
You are passionate about photography and would prefer to do nothing else. You would really like to earn your living from it. But is that realistic? It is a major step in any case, and one you need to consider carefully. Many careers have ended just as quickly as they began. So the question is: how will you approach it?
A Wonderful Profession
Photography is a wonderful profession—I want to make that clear above all. Many people agree with me, which means competition is fierce. An industry survey cited at the time by the Dutch Photographers’ Federation even found that more than half of self-employed photographers barely earned the minimum wage. They often derived most of their income from side jobs as well. You could, of course, take that as an endorsement: ‘If they still persevere, it must be an enjoyable profession.’ But if you are looking for a way to make a lot of money, I would recommend something else. Are you still eager to work as a photographer and make a living from it? Then read on.
Examine Your Motivation First
Why do you want to become a photographer?
Does your grandmother tell you that you take such beautiful photographs, while you do not know what other career to choose? Are you dissatisfied with your current work? Does a thrilling world of distant travel and beautiful models appeal to you? Do you want to earn back the cost of that expensive camera? Those are probably the four worst reasons.
I think your best chance of success comes when you feel you can outperform the established professionals, because nobody is waiting for yet another mediocre photographer. Or perhaps you have already completed a few assignments? They went well and gave you a taste for the work? That is a start too. But remember that occasionally taking a beautiful photograph will not be enough. Professional photography means delivering on every assignment. Only then will the client return.
If you have serious plans, first take stock of your wishes and expectations, then consider whether the photography profession can meet them. In this introduction, the first of three installments, I outline the possibilities. By the end of the series, you should have a reasonably complete picture of the profession.
How I Got Started
At the age of nine, I made a decision: I would become a press photographer. Of course, I had no idea what that involved, but my mind was made up, and I repeated it to anyone who would—or would not—listen. My parents thought that was all well and good, but a profession requires professional training, so at sixteen they sent me to the School of Photography in The Hague (now the Royal Academy). Fortunately, everything fell into place there, and I discovered that many other specializations existed beyond press photography. In practice, my talents and ambitions were focused more on advertising photography.
The advice ranged from ‘First go and make a decent portfolio’ to ‘You would be better off baking cookies.’
When I graduated, it was already difficult to find paid work in photography. Most photographers worked on a small scale—as was still the case at the time of publication—with no more than one poorly paid assistant. That offered no future. But to start working for yourself, you first need practical experience, and the school did not yet organize internships. I had plenty of theoretical knowledge, but I knew nothing about the practical side.
For weeks, I repeatedly visited Amsterdam photographers who were hardly eager to hire me. Their advice ranged from ‘First go and make a decent portfolio’ to ‘You would be better off baking cookies.’ Fortunately, some colleagues also gave me tips on finding work as an assistant. I joined an Amsterdam advertising photographer, earned only three hundred guilders a month, but gained the essential practical experience. After two years, I took the plunge and started working for myself. I have never regretted it for a moment.
The Moral of the Story?
If you truly want something, there is always a way. Do not expect too much, and keep going until you succeed. At the time of publication, photography was still a profession that could largely be learned in practice. Almost forty percent of self-employed photographers had never received professional training. The author nevertheless noted that there was little chance of gaining enough practical experience without formal training. Photography programs included internships, giving photographers more than enough applicants to choose from.
It was therefore unlikely that they would settle for someone without training. That is not the only reason to pursue an education, of course; thorough theoretical knowledge of the profession remains the foundation for success. Moreover, in daily practice you learn only what arises in your internship setting. Without an education, you may later struggle to judge where your strengths lie.
Specializations
- advertising photography
- industrial and corporate photography
- fashion and lifestyle photography
- photojournalism
- public and event photography
