Are you struggling to make it as a photographer and just can’t seem to get there? You’re not getting jobs, people aren’t buying the photos you put online, you say you’ve tried everything, and you don’t know what else to do. Photographer Jared Polin may help put things into perspective for you. There’s no beating around the bush here, the reason you’re not making it as a photographer probably boils down to these five things:
5 Reasons Why You Haven’t Seen Success as a Photographer
1. You’re lazy.
Plain and simple. You make excuses for why you’re not getting jobs, but are you really trying? Get out there and do something to bring people to you.
2. You don’t evolve with the times and grow as a photographer.
If you don’t evolve, you’re going to get left behind. You can’t just stick with film and refuse to shoot digital. You need to expand and learn to do other things in the photo world.
3. You complain that there’s too much competition.
There has always been and will always be competition. If you work hard and prove yourself, you can make it to the top.
4. You’re not using social media the right way.
Stop trying to sell and start telling. The key to social media is to engage and interact; you want to tell stories, not push sales. Create videos and blogs that people will want to share.
5. Your photos just aren’t good enough.
It may sound harsh, but sometimes it’s as simple as that. If the quality just isn’t there, people aren’t going to want what you’re offering.
The good news is that you can improve as a photographer. Practice more, learn more, experiment more. Stop making excuses and find new ways of connecting and interacting with people. Just because you aren’t succeeding yet doesn’t mean that you never will. You just have to change your outlook and strategies!
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I took the first step into fine art landscapes about 15 years ago; first with film and then making the digital jump about 8 years ago.
I have enjoyed moderate success with my work to-date. If I were to pick some things that have contributed to that success is that I am constantly learning and relearning if necessary. Picking up new skill sets never stops.
The other is that,competition does exist and you have learn from it and improve your work and develop your own look. You have to be your own worst critic and not settle for the mediocre. Push for a certain level of quality, hit it and then see how you can improve some more. Some of my work from the beginning, which I thought was real good back then, is 3rd tier today.
Also I feel that photography is NOT a team sport. Don’t be a member of the herd taking photos of the same things and expect your work to hit that sweet spot with buyers. More than anything, that keeps you from exploring on your own and on your own timetable. Even having someone along just for the ride is a distraction because I have to think of their concerns as well and a spur-of-the moment keehonk into the back woods is something they didn’t plan on.