Why not ask a more optimistic question during this time of uncertainty: "How can I thrive?"
Photojournalists come equipped with a tool belt full of talents ranging from exposing social ills to spotlighting the positive attributes of society. So why, if, through media, we can sway the mood and perspective of entire nations, do we fail to realize all of the other abilities that our tool belts offer us?
Photography can be fun and lucrative if the person behind the camera knows how to market themselves and their very exclusive abilities. The first thing that is required to grow in the world of photography outside of the newsroom is a spark of inspiration. Photography is art, it is a wedding picture, it is a mother's favorite picture of her children. And all of these forms of photography come with a price tag attached.
Steps to Photographic Success:
Step One: Find a niche and develop your abilities within it. Starting as a one-person operation, it's important to remember that you can't be three people at one time. Find what interests you and develop on that. Be creative! Think outside of the newspaper industry. Profit from a hobby by investing time and equipment necessary.
Step Two: Create a brand and a style, and keep it consistent. One of the best ways to help people to remember your name and service is to give them some flair! Design a logo that represents your business and yourself. Choose a typeface accordingly. Coordinate your colors and always use a similar template. Eventually, with consistency, branding will become a reflection of a person.
Step Three: Never Rest. This may sound over the top, but the truth is, that when you aren't making opportunities for yourself, you're only wasting time. Because no-one is going to make them for you. You have to be a constant advocate for yourself and your talents.
Step Four: Immerse yourself. Although internships are difficult to come these days, they certainly do exist. Unfortunately, many of the best internships are so competitive that they do not offer payment to their participants. Sometimes, doing what you love requires sacrifice. Losing money to do a summer internship with your a professional that inspires you may seem like a setback, but in the long run the valuable experience that internships and assistantships offer will be far more lucrative than costly. If an internship is not a possibility, then try applying for workshops.
Step Five: Enter competitions and apply for grants. Since Photography is such a competitive business, people are always looking for ways to compare themselves with other photographers. One of the best ways to do this is by entering a competition. An extra advantage to entering contests is that they often involve high recognition and sometimes cash rewards! Grants, on the other hand, are all about money which is to be used for a purpose. All you have to do is submit a proposal for how the money from the grant will be used, and if your proposal is relevant and well thought out, there is a good chance that you could be getting paid to do what you love to do!
Below are links to photography grants, internships, and competitions.
http://www.hearst.com/
http://www.pulitzer.org/
http://www.cpoy.org/?s=Home
http://www.poyi.org/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/about_internships.html
http://www.alexiafoundation.org/
http://socialdocumentary.net/competition.php
http://www.lightstalkers.org
http://www.anthropographia.org
-Leslye Davis
