What comes after, 'What was your minor in school, anyway'?

Contents:

Contests:

Newsletter:

Members:

About Us:

Members log in here with your user name and password to access the your admin page and other special features.

|| SportsShooter.com: News Item: Posted 2003-03-31

What comes after, 'What was your minor in school, anyway'?
By Jim McNay, Brooks Institute of Photography

At some point, some professional somewhere may look at your work and suggest you consider another profession.

It's clear when they say, "You suck! You should get out of the business." You know what they really think.

Sometimes however, the suggestion is the same, though the words are more cloaked. Such as, "Have you ever considered studying plumbing?" Or, "Do you play guitar?" These questions are pointed in the same direction, ("Go sell insurance!") They are just couched in different language.

So many professionals with long track records and major reputations have had something like this said to them, it almost seems to be a rite of passage.

One thing you can count on: If you have enough people critique your work, you will meet someone who hates your pictures.

At this point, there are at least a couple options. One is to empower with infinite wisdom the person who hammers your efforts. This means you buy into the essence of their critique. In this case the following morning the photographer sells his or her gear and takes up hotel management.

Another approach is to realize this is one critique among many the photographer has had, and will have in the course of a career. At this point the photographer can weigh what was said about individual pictures and move on.

This approach also allows the photographer to recognize the "professional" who gave them the rough review may or may not know what they were talking about. It allows for that pro to perhaps have been having a bad day. Or maybe the pro visited the swim-up bar in the hotel pool before heading to the critique session. (It has been known to happen.) Or something.

And if it just happens to be a rite of passage to have someone tell us to get out of the business-that is, if this is something we all will encounter eventually-then perhaps the sooner the better! When it happens photographers can recognize they've reached an important crossroads in their career. This is one item that can be cross off the list of required Life Experiences in Photojournalism. They are ready for the next level.

Bottom line: A tough portfolio review can either be the last portfolio review you ever have, or it can simply be the most recent review. Your call.

Photographers, particularly those in school or seeking to break into the photojournalism, are welcome to send ideas for future columns to Jim McNay at jim.mcnay@brooks.edu.

Questions about getting started in photojournalism that might be answered in future columns are also welcome.

Related Links:

Jim McNay's Member Page

Brooks Institute of Photography

Brooks NPPA Student Chapter

Related Email Addresses:

Jim McNay: jmcnay@brooks.edu