While =PhotoLust as a project is about bringing more exposure to talented artists, it's also about inspiring people and helping them to advance with their photography. For this news article, I've gathered together a selection of very talented professional photographers from dA who work in a variety of fields and made the move from amateur to professional in different ways. If you haven't heard of these artists, check them out and visit their own off-dA websites too to see more of their photography and find out about how they work.

The purpose of this article is to give photographers some useful information and advice about making the move from amateur to professional, to demonstrate the ways in which this can be done and to give a glimpse into the many fields in which a pro photographer can build their career.

Thanks to `contains-mild-peril, ~WakenTheDead and =gdphotography for taking the time to be involved with the creation of this article.

Enjoy!




INTERVIEW WITH ADAM GASSON, AKA `contains-mild-peril

How long have you been getting paid for your photography?
My first paid commission was in August 2005, so since then really.

What sort of work do you usually do?
Press, PR, Editorial, Portrait, Modelling, product shots, interior shots, advertising...
A lot really! Being freelance means you can't turn down work. It also means you can work in a lot of areas and not get tied down to one field.

Is photography your only job?
No I work as a freelance web designer as well and also do some writing on photography.

Have you ever had work published?
Yes, I've been published in magazines, national and local newspapers, websites. There maybe more as my work is licenced through agencies.

Have you ever had an exhibition and what was it's purpose?
It was a bit of both really. The sales covered all the costs and I made some good contacts through it.



Have you ever won any awards for your photography?
No I'm awardless Although my flatmates voted me the best photographer in the house in 2006...

What is your business status?
Freelancer.

Are you a member of any professional organisations and if yes, do you feel that this has benefited you?
I'm a member of the BPPA (British Press Photographers Association) and EPUK (Editorial Photographers UK). It's definitely benefited me. The first commission I had from the BPPA website more than paid for the membership. Also being a member of professional organisations gives you backup and shows a level of professionalism.

What were the major steps in moving from amateur to professional?
Stopping accepting jobs where I wasn't getting paid!
I didn't go to college or university to study photography so I've had to learn off my own back. Between that and getting work placements with press agencies and portrait companies I managed to pick up enough experience.



How do you advertise?
I have an ad in local mag, listings with an industry book. That's about it, I tend to get work through word of mouth and web searches.

Did you have financial assistance in your move to being a pro? (eg a grant from a government agency, a bank loan etc)
I have a bank loan, a nice big overdraft and credit cards...photography isn't cheap!

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to be a professional photographer?
Erm...don't!
Yes it's rewarding but I work 14 hours a day, 7 days a week. I never stop because photography is pretty much my life. It's cost me relationships and friendships. But it's so competitive that's what you've got to do to succeed. There's an idealistic view that you can study or put together a portfolio and then go and get work. Unfortunately it's not as easy as that and it's getting a lot more competitive as well. I used to go to a gig and be the only photographer there, now you turn up and there's 6 people with DSLRs who all think they can do your job.

I think the best piece of advice though is to realise that being a professional photographer is a lot more than taking photos. It's tax returns, accounts, marketing... If you want to work in press you need to know about captioning and law. You need to know about licensing and copyright. There's a lot to take in!

But you feel like being a loner who works non-stop then photography's definitely the career path for you!






INTERVIEW WITH ~WakenTheDead

How long have you been getting paid for your photography?
My first ever paid job was the first time I picked up a camera. I was taking pictures at a wedding. I'd never shot anything in my life before and had just bought a canon dslr for something to do. That was in August 2006.

What sort of work do you usually do?
My main passion is portraiture, I like looking into peoples souls through the lens of a camera and this has also been the most lucrative field for me commercially. I also shoot a range of landscapes and seascapes and for something different I go out on a lot of hunts and shoot the working dogs in action.

Is photography your only job?
Absolutely. I used to be a commercial marketing manager for a large company doing the 9-5 daily grind but nothing compares to being your own boss. Your business is your sole responsibility and it will fail on succeed on your passion and your strength alone. It's a 24x7x365 a year commitment to make it work, it's hard going and you miss out on a lot of your social life - but I love what I do and the pro's far outweigh the cons.

Have you ever had work published?
I'm currently working on my own book which should be published next year. I've had landscape work published in calendars for 2008 and some work taken for use on postcards, diaries and greetings cards.

I'm a contracted photographer for suicide girls.com so I've had work published on their site. With regards to magazines, I've been published in bizarre and in several photography magazines and newsletters and there's currently an interview with me coming up in a fetish magazine. Other than that - it's been posters for clubs, artwork for cd's, and large scale prints for people's homes.

Have you ever had an exhibition and what was it's purpose?
I've only been doing this for 8 or 9 months so no exhibitions yet. I'll only exhibit if it's a well organised event by people who run exhibitions for a living. I'd love to exhibit but right now it's not my main priority.



Have you ever won any awards for your photography?
Not yet, as with anything in life - awards are nice but they don't really count for much. It's nice to receive the recognition but thats not why I do photography.

What is your business status?
I'm a company owner for my own studio and I work freelance for suicide girls, and several design agencies.

Are you a member of any professional organisations and if yes, do you feel that this has benefitted you?
Not yet. It's one of those things I'll get around to - 8 months is a short time and I've not stopped for breath. lol.

What were the major steps in moving from amateur to professional?
I just bought a camera and got to work. I don't see any distinction in the difference between amateur and professional. I've seen professional work which is so shoddy that it should be amateur and amateur work so amazing it should be professional. So I try not to pigeonhole anything. I take photographs, the photographs make money - therefore it's just a business and as to my status - I'm a photographer - nothing else. I've had no training, no help, I've not studied this at college. It's just something I wanted to do and pursued it.



How do you advertise?
I advertise in most of the major music magazines on a regular basis. I have a 5 year marketing plan which I rigidly stick to for pr, advertising, award entries, website and viral marketing etc. Marketing is my background and it's one of the reasons I've managed to get my work out there in such a short space of time. Shortly I'll be running a direct mailing campaign to some target companies as well as increasing the viral marketing I do. I have an advertising and marketing budget which I allocate to various publications, websites and print etc.

Did you have financial assistance in your move to being a pro?
No - I just took what money I had and I started up my business. Within the first 3 months I was in profit and since then the business runs itself. I realise I've been extremely lucky and not everyone makes it so I remember to thank the gods of photography every day. I have no idea how this all came about - it just did and it's all good.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to be a professional photographer?
Just do it. Get a good camera, spend some money on decent lenses and some studio equipment and practise every single day. Push your limitations to breaking point and listen to others when they compliment or criticise your work and learn from their comments. But mostly HAVE FUN! Yes this is business, but it's meant to be fun so approach it with passion.






INTERVIEW WITH GAVIN DOUGAN, AKA =gdphotography

How long have you been getting paid for your photography?
2 years

What sort of work do you usually do?
Concert, Wedding, portraiture

Is photography your only job?
No, I also work part time in a photographic lab.

Have you ever had work published?
Yes, in several newspapers and in the Scots Magazine, for the Forth Road Bridges 40th year.

Have you ever had an exhibition and what was it's purpose?
At college, for final year photography students.



Have you ever won any awards for your photography?
Yes, the 2003 National Tetley Tea photographic competition -
[link] And was the runner up of the Edinburgh Festival photo competition in 2006 - [link]

What is your business status?
Currently a Freelancer

Are you a member of any professional organisations and if yes, do you feel that this has benefitted you?
Yes "The British Institute of Professional Photography" - [link]
It is good for getting recognised as a pro and you gain another qualification with the PQE you get if you are accepted for entry.

What were the major steps in moving from amateur to professional?
Years of practice, 4 years at college



How do you advertise?
Websites, flyers and word of mouth.

Did you have financial assistance in your move to being a pro?
No, only student loans for equipment etc.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to be a professional photographer?
Keep shooting! you'll only get better at it, study photography at degree level.






NEW THINGS HAPPENING AT =PhotoLust

PhotoLust Thumbs
PhotoLust Thumbs is a new part of the project which enables people to submit their own photography to be featured along with a request for critique and assistance from other photographers. For more information, see this journal entry.

The PhotoLust Forum
The forum feature in the PhotoLust journal is being utilised to give people a place to ask for and share advice and information about photography-related topics. You can find more information in this journal entry.

Updated FAQ
The PhotoLust FAQ has been updated to include information about the new features at the project and useful links on dA. You can read it here.