XtremeCamera

In the years when I was trying to become a professional photographer I had read, and reread, numerous books on how to make it as a pro. All those books that attempted to teach one how to become that successful photographer always had some common sense rules about business in general but more often than not turned out to be vehicles for authors to sell books to people with a desire to make photographs and be paid for doing it. In other words, a general waste of money.

But I bought them, I read them, and I tried to do what they said to do. Truth is, the most important books back then were the yearly editions of “Photographers Market”. I must have sold more than 10,000 photographs and landed more than 200 magazine assignments through those books alone.

I became a professional photographer not by reading books but by having a healthy ego that gave me the chutzpah to approach photo buyers that were way out of my league, show them my portfolio, and beg them to give me a chance. It worked less than half the time, still, it allowed me to put “professional” on my business card and not lie about it. I certainly wouldn’t recommend this method to any young photographer today. People have a tendency to listen to themselves more than listening to someone that might have some experience anyway. Raise a couple of kids and you know exactly what I mean. I think I became a working professional in spite of my actions, not because of them. Boy, I wish I had this book back then…

Books can be the most important investment you can make…

The other day I received a book in the mail that I was asked to read and, if I thought it was worth a review, publish a review. If I didn’t think it was worth spending the time writing up a review that was fine, toss it, give it away, and leave it on the bookshelf. Whatever. Considering this impending Great Depression I still believe is on the way publishing a book on becoming a professional photographer in 2009 is risky to say the least, and trying to become a professional photographer in this environment is riskier still. But I gave it a read through anyway. Seeing as how I seem to be writing a review you can guess what I ultimately came to think about this new book.

The Photographer’s Survival Guide – Suzanne Sease and Amanda Sosa Stone – 2009

Now, its true that I have read many many books about this subject, but it has been at least a decade or so since I last picked one up. As I began reading it occurred to me that this was no ordinary book on how to make it as a professional photographer. This was way different.

It is written in a way that is honest, sincere, and most of all, realistic. Funny too, which was surprising to me for some reason.

You know how some “self help” or some other kind of book that promises to make you into someone else, or change you somehow often spout generalizations in the same way you daily horoscope is written, in that it is so vague it could be taken any way you want to take it? Well, most books I’ve read on becoming a professional photographer are written just a vague. Filled with obvious offerings like “show your portfolio, keep accurate records, get a model release”, this is stuff you only need to hear once and chances are you already know it. However, this book, this Photographers Survival Guide, is different. It’s real, its written by two authors that you just know are photographers that have really become professional photographers because of the things that have written in this book. These two writers are not general self-help authors that research a topic and write about it, these two are real photographers offering real advice and methods on how to get you there, working as a pro. If nothing else, what a refreshing way to write a “How To” book.

The book starts off with a terrific monologue about how photography is associated, to some degree, with the other “arts” that call up images of poor and impoverished artists suffering for their art, but at the same time photography is the most viable of all the arts, you can use your talent and your tools to create not just your art, but also sellable products others can use to sell their products, or sell themselves. The books authors are honest enough to admit that we professionals can make money with our talents because we can produce mainstream product when we need to. They also admit that making money and not starving for your art isn’t such a bad thing.

Portfolios and Web Portfolios

The book delves into how to present your work in a portfolio as well as developing your own unique website to show your work on a mass scale. It talks about designing your site, how to integrate your own style into the design, and how best to present your work online. Reading this section of the book I wanted more than anything to shave off about 35 years of my age and have the opportunity to begin anew, using the Internet in the ways they suggest. With talent and skill, along with a vehicle like the World Wide Web, the sky is indeed the limit. Note* Anyone that is serious about their photography should have a web site to display their work. Period.

As we move through the book we learn that while some things never change, such as good business habits like record keeping and self promotion, we also learn how to best present your own unique vision, your own personal style, and your own passions to even the most conservative of clients.

This incredibly important book (important for those that want to become working pros) could not have been written a few years ago. For not only do the authors offer timeless insights into building a good business, they discuss digital photography, a good digital workflow, and a great section on postproduction. In fact, their insights into the Stock Photo trade as well as their postproduction make the purchase of this book worth it.

Look, I’m not going to blow smoke up anyone’s rear end, I simply don’t have time to do that anymore. Being completely honest, with absolutely nothing to gain here, I can say with conviction that after reading this book, every chapter, every word, it can be the best investment you can make if your career choice is to become a working professional photographer. With one caveat: without the talent and the skill (and it does take both talent and skill) no book is going to make you successful. But if you have the talent, (even if its just a little talent) and a tremendous desire to continually improve your skills as a photographer, then this book will be invaluable to you.

If I were looking to become a working pro I’d snatch this book up in a second and read it cover to cover, absorb everything these authors say, and put them into practice. It’s an amazing achievement in today’s world to come up with smart new ways to achieve the goals you want to achieve in photography. As a bonus the book includes a CD of essential business forms every good photographer should have. (And you will need them, trust me here.)

Now, about this current economic reality; If you are looking to become a working photographer, if it is the passion of your life, if nothing else will make you happy, than regardless of the current economic conditions you should do so, with all your heart, and never look back. Make sure you know what to do by absorbing the contents of this book, make sure you understand how tough its going to be and how much you’re going to have to put into it. Most all of, buy this book before you make the decision, or before you leave you current job anyway, and study it. If you go by what these two authors have laid out for you in an easy to read, easy to understand way, chances are if you have the talent, skill, and the will you’re going to make it.

Pop over to Amazon, type in The Photographer’s Survival Guide by Suzanne Sease and Amanda Sosa Stone and click the Buy Now button. You won’t regret it. In fact, I’m betting it will be the best decision you’ll make as you begin the journey of living your life as a professional photographer.

Here, let me make it easy for you, click this link and it will take you straight to Amazon’s page for the book. From there, it’s up to you.

John Manzione