Wanna learn from your experiences...

[lusodoll]

So I have literally spent the better part of my work day going through this forum reading as much as I can but there is one thing I'd love to learn, mostly from the professionals, how did you get started? What's your story?

I found bits and pieces as I surfed the forum but thought it would be nice to have them in one place. I really love hearing about how people started on their career paths and I think hearing these stories could be really beneficial for those starting out.


Thanks in advance to those who chose to share.

[Dajuan]

I got started during my college days, shooting events and assisting wedding photographers in the late '90s. It wasn't until ~2006 that I started attending conferences (not just the trade shows) and workshops. That elevated my work exponentially. Studying and doing - wash and repeat. I kept working with other photographers until EOY 2007, and have been primarily a solo shooter since. I continue to invest in learning and my business continues to grow. Studying and doing - wash and repeat.

[lusodoll]

Thanks! As silly as it seems I think it's really interesting to hear how people got started. I think it brushes away an preconceived notions, for some beginners, that there is only one "right" way to get into turning a hobby into something more and that hard work & patience can really pay off.

[Jim Bryant]

Great response from Dajuan. Educating yourself not only in photography, but marketing and business classes.