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Garry Black Photography

Question:

Garry...

I graduated from college a couple years ago with a diploma in advanced commercial photography. I then landed a job that focused completely on the digital aspect of imaging, where I worked for a year and a half. This I found to be unfulfilling. I've had a few of my commercial images hang at the ppo and ppoc print competitions. Assisting really isn't for me, and a few of the photographers I've spoken with have said that my skills don't deem assisting to be necessary. I enjoy photographing small products on clean backgrounds, but Garry, where do I go from here?

Looking for direction.

Answer:

Having never seen your work and not really knowing you, it is difficult to be specific as to what your next move should be. Obviously since you have been assisting, you must live in a city that has commercial work available to photographers. Have you tried going to some of the ad agencies with your portfolio? I am not really sure what you are asking. Your answer is in your question. It looks like what you really want to do is to open your own studio for product photography.

What you need to ask yourself then is; do you have enough photographic equipment, is there a space where you can set up a "studio" (my studio is in what was once my garage, I know of many others that use their basements or living rooms). Judging from what the photographers who you know said about your work and that you have had your work at PPO and PPOC, then I wouldn't worry too much about the quality of your images or your ability to produce good work.

As I see it there are two possible careers that you can choose from; either do entirely commercial work or try stock photography. If you choose stock, you can also do commercial work as well. Both have their downsides, with commercial work you will have to spend time and money promoting yourself, this is an ongoing process. While with stock you never have to worry about clients directly, but it takes a long (five years on average) to build up a library of images that you can earn a living from.

Does this give you some guidance?