A photography career is not for everyone, but photography is.

[@williamborges3914]

You're right on, Daniel. You have to save something you love for yourself. During my highly stressful -- yet intellectually and financially rewarding -- professional career I saved photography as a way to creatively manage stress. Why would I ever want to screw that up for a few bucks or "oo's-and-ah's" from others?

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Indeed

[@danbrowning2418]

I love your story about your first major rejection. When I was starting out as a reporter I applied to the Orange County Register, among many other places. I got many rejections. I kept them all, except one. The Register said it had nothing for someone with my skills, and from the look of my work, they never would. I threw away the letter. Ten months later, I was working there and succeeding quite well (for a young reporter).

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Nice

[@JoelNeild]

Mr. Tanner. Fantastic reference. Thanks for all the videos about your thoughts on the business of photography.

[@tvasquez7759]

Thank you. I am into Fine art photography. That's my story.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Awesome

[@keithsandercock1412]

Great reality check for aspiring 'professional' photographers.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thank You!

[@anon6243]

Thanks Daniel, always enjoy your videos. You keep it real, down to earth, and honest perspective from your experience. You inspire me to explore my interest in photography and pretty much anything else in life I may be interested in. I think for now keeping it a pleasant hobby to enjoy, maybe eventually do some moonlighting and see where that goes, if anywhere. I'm in my mid fifties and more about enjoying the journey instead of building another career. Fortunately, I can do that right now. Thanks for adding quality info and media on my path. Cheers, keep doing what works for you.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@Sykosis138]

One of my favorite singers and one of my favorite songs. Amazing how you pulled that into the discussion.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Wise words, Daniel! What you said about looking through the photos that made it, with the guy that rejected you struck a nerve with me. Someone once told me "If you WANT the job, DO the job." (Knowing what the job is, is obviously important...)

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

For sure

[@JimResnikoff]

Spot on details from someone who has been through the grinder.. It's a good thing to paint a clear picture of what to expect and thank you for sharing some of your personal experiences.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@svatostraka]

Amen Daniel. I'd just add - show interest in what you want to photograph. Show that you care. That goes a long way with the people who would consider hiring you. That's how I landed a local ice hockey team that is going (hopefuly) to play in an international ice hockey league this season. Starting by showing an interest in the team, willing to go shoot even prep games, press conferences, ended up with them for the whole season last year as their photographer and eventually got some money out of it.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Awesome

[@RR-bd4bm]

Spot on Daniel, thanks for this vid. I might add, pretty much the same applies if you're trying to do "arts" photography. There too, you must find your audience otherwise you might be the best at your game but no one will see you or buy your book.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

For sure

[@markthomasduggan6515]

Amazing message here. So few people, myself included, realize all that has to happen behind the scenes to move from image making to running a business making images. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thanks for watching

[@frederikboving]

As they say: everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear! Good video, great content, super subject. Sean Tucker has a video where he talks about being a pro photographer and he finds himself being a 9-5 photographer not enjoying what he's doing and doing photography as he likes it in his spare time. So be careful that you passion can stay your passion if you make a living of it!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Indeed, thanks!

[@alexanderpons9246]

Amazing message Daniel Norton, thank you so much! I must say what you did when that agent said "why did you waste my time" shows how open mind you are because you noticed what you were not doing in your photography that needed to be done in order to get to where you got. Many people would have left that office completely crushed. Your spot on making sure that the photography that any of us wants to do must be seen by the right person/client. Its nice to be praised but praised by the right person.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thanks!

[@glarvenz]

No desire to have a photography career for me! I'm doing nothing but having a lot of fun. 😊 I'm still learning and work hard to impress my friends, relatives and members of my local camera club. Friends and relatives are easily impressed. Local camera club? Not as easy lol, but fun trying and once in a while I get lucky and get that perfect score in competition. That's enough.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Cool

[@tedk2814]

Thanks Daniel for another insightful video. I've been watching you Adorama guys, Mark, Gavin and you for about three years and have learned a ton, purchase some gear there also. I retired two years ago from a 42 year in anesthesia, always enjoyed photography but you know the story, grandkids start sports, I start shooting photos, parents ask to purchase some and I start a hobby business. Never having my own business, always worked for a group PA, and wanted to see if I could do it, fortunate I don't have to turn great profit. Now I shoot for the high school sports boosters and donate 20% of profit to the athlete Dept. Full on business , paying taxes and my 6 month old website just helped me get my 3rd real job, shooting for sponsor advertising of popular "piclkleball" instructor. A bit intimidating shooting for someone you don't know, contracts and releases, all new to me. And just got my "press pass" for a local newspaper. You will probably never know how many people you have influenced with encouragement and examples. I love shooting sports! Florida Sports Photography at tedkphotos.com ( if I'm not allowed to print business name, just delete) Thanks much Daniel!!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Awesome!

[@paulstreeter1655]

Amazing reality check and regrounding.. certainly gives me something to focus and tune into cheers Daniel

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@DavidVelezPhotography]

Thanks Daniel! I just recently found myself unemployed. I've done small jobs here and there, receiving donations for the G.A.S. Now has been a real slow time for those small jobs, as most are hiding in quarantine or are more frugal with their spending. Trying to stay positive and polishing up on the equipment that I haven't used in a while.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

It’s certainly a strange time in the business

[@momchilkarchev5019]

Ive always liked photography, but only had the chance to get into it the last few years (im 32).I usually considered it only as a hobby and i do enjoy every moment i get to do it, im into portrait and product stuff. Last week i learned how much money does one of the top wedding photographers in my city (~2 mill population) make a year. He also told me that one just cant make a comfortable living here if you dont want to shoot alot of weddings. My hopes got crushed, since i also do enjoy my current proffesion alot. I hate that i dont have more time to shoot, yet i REALLY dislike the idea of shooting weddings for a living + potentially earning way less money than i currently do. So all in all what i wanted to say is before you pull the trigger and swap proffesions, go ask (very very politely) some of the more established photographers in your area what do they actually make so you know whats your best case scenario. Anyway thx for the informative video as always Daniel.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

That’s not a bad idea!

[@MaartenLabadie]

Great video Daniel, totally on point and honest!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thanks

[@SalmanAkhtar1]

Great information for someone starting out.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@fabianalata4155]

Wow... that's what I needed to hear! thanx, a lot! I 've been following you a couple years now. I've learned a lot from you and yes it's a hard career to pursue .... but I've gotta keep pushing until I make it!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Excellent

[@SantaridesaKTM]

When I think about Photography Not having to make me money- it kinda makes me want to take More pictures and stories. Excellent Video.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thanks

[@reallynousername]

Best Advice ever!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thank You!

[@edwinkeeton9203]

Great practical wisdom, Daniel. Thank you..

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@djsugarbear6079]

Great advice man!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thanks

[@Falcon012287]

Great insight, please keep going with the videos! - Nelson

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thank You!

[@mohdnorazmil]

It is harder now due to the outbreak. Hopefully those out there trying to make it stay safe and hopefully, things will get better.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Indeed

[@mavfan1]

I love photography but I’ve never been interested in it as a career. I also really enjoy my 9-5 job which pays much better.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Awesome

[@pattymattes7124]

Anything worthwhile requires hard work. I'm still plugging away at what I need to do. I'm thinking of submitting images to David Bergman for his critique. I know he said he would be brutal. I need someone to tell me constructively what I need to work on to get better technically. COVID put me behind a bit but I'm using the time to learn some new software, practice some skills, learn some new ones, scout out possible locations since people may want outside shots instead of studio and getting specific on what to offer. I've been doing temporary work to be able to purchase equipment I need. Well, I'm in it for the long haul. I'll never know if I don't try. I don't want to come to the end of my life regretting that I didn't try. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

You’re doing awesome Patty

[@btownjpl]

Off topic for the content of the video, but excellent t-shirt worth mentioning!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@RamaSivamani]

There's another path as well. If you do it as a hobby and you continue to create and share your work there may come a point where you get good enough that the people start to offer to pay for it. At this point if they are ready to put the money down on the table then it might be time to consider atleast switching from hobby to semi pro especially if the gigs that you would get paid excite you enough to want to work on those. You may not have started your photography journey thinking about making money with it but simply about mastering your craft in your hobby but you reach a level in you craft that people who are willing to pay are starting to notice.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Indeed

[@bardoteachings]

Thank you for sharing your professional opinion and very useful information, Daniel. I have a question that I think might be related to what you discussed in this video. How to deal with aggresive competition? Very often people know places where "coffee and bagels" sells best and they fight over the spot. Is it not a thing in photography business? What's the best way to handle these situations from your point of view? Thank you.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

I don’t think that that is a problem generally for photographers.

[@washingtonradio]

As an amateur I get an occasional gig because I have a camera and have some idea what I am doing with it. But my interests in photography tend to be in areas that are hard to commercialize and I have no interest in the areas that are more commercial. So I stay an amateur and am happy to do my photography as a hobby. I think a talented amateur will get a pass as an amateur sometimes when the work is not quite professional level because they are much a better photographer than most people. So for those considering being a pro I would suggest getting feedback from pros on what you need to improve. Feedback from non-photographers, while gratifying, does not have the technical depth to be useful.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Indeed

[@Robert-ug5hx]

Your videos are excellent, I live photography but I know it will be just a enthusiast hobby ,I do take paying jobs on occasion to help pay for gear

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Excellent

[@martincseh2856]

Very interesting video. I'm a full time professionel product photographer living in nuremberg (germany). I do not have my own business. I m employed and we (my boss and me) do a lot of toy photographie. The thing you said about you must have a thicker skin is what I can realy relate to. I m working to one day having my own business. And to be consitently good is probably the hardest part. And I also believe it is the key to making it in your own. But it s not the money that drives me but being part of a long line of creative people and seeing the result in toy stores is great. But the pressure of being not good enough is high. And there a many times when you here your work is not good enough (or actual bad) that you ask yourself why are you doing this and you habe a Lot of self doubt. But I can not stop neither....

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Not being able to stop even when you are rejected is a strong sign you will be very successful

[@santiagotoro3388]

I'm a professional photographer, I love photography but I don't consider as a hobby, I earn money with it and I love to provide solutions to my clients because I'm helping them to grow their business. I think being a professional it's really hard, especially in terms of invest in gear because it's a really expensive career and you have to be sure that you're investing in the right tools for the right job, you have to buy a camera, and not a very cheap one but depending on the work you like to do is an expensive one, you have to buy lenses, you have to buy lightning, memory cards, a great computer, backdrops, etc etc. So yeah, it's fucking hard, but I think if you like to go that way like me I think you can make a great career if you know how much you worth. If you see photography as something just for the weekends or just to take photos to gain followers and recognition, it's okay, but think about it very well, because it's not turning back haha

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Indeed

[@anon6243]

BTW, I have a low-end Canon point and shoot SX40 PS I picked up for a trip to Scotland sometime back so I'm using that to get reacquainted with basic photography concepts. But I'm finding myself wanting to learn more about experimenting with speed lights and external flash (after watching some of your videos and being in the age of social media). Any thoughts on whether I should invest on a speedlight for the slr camera I have right now or should I really consider a dslr? I'll figure it out eventually and just thought I'd get your take if you have one. All the the best!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

I think I would focus on working with what you have until you find a point where the gear you have does not do what you want.

[@Kevdogg3517]

👏

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@TomChamberlain]

That reality check that Keith S. just mentioned hit me a long time ago. My friends and even a few pro photographers think I'm good at what I do. It's hard to fight off impostor syndrome. ugh.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Indeed

[@BruceGentile-ICOM]

You should really consider writing a book!

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Thank You!

[@TerrenceHowellJr]

I never feel like I’m good enough to charge money. The more I learn the more I realize I don’t know. On the flip side I look at other local photographers and know I take better pictures than them but they’re the ones getting paid...

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

That is often times a tricky feeling for an artist to get past.

[@timd4524]

Just starting a new story actually.

[@flannelcommander]

Instagram likes don’t pay the bills. If you’re on there to be validated, you’re wrong. People will passively like your pics in hopes that you’ll like theirs, they’ll follow you so you can follow them and later unfollow you, leave comments that actually don’t help you improve, etc. Other than taking amazing pictures in hopes of “making it big,” you have to network, know your demographic and be versatile as a photographer. As much as it sucks to hear, but sometimes it’s not about what you know but WHO YOU KNOW. If you’re they shy introverted person that is socially inept, I have bad news for you. You should know your demographic because if you want to do corporate headshots but you live in some remote town and the nearest big city is 75 miles away, you’ll have a hard time getting gigs. Lastly, you HAVE to be a versatile photographer. Especially during this time. For example, if you were a concert photographer, what are you doing now? All concerts are cancelled this year. Or even a sports photographer. I’m just rambling now.. but thank you for this video. It’s worth it’s weight in gold. One more thing lol... I very rarely do studio work but I own a B1X and some light modifiers. But I knew my demographic, I live in the Silicon Valley and people here are tech people and businessmen/women. Well when this pandemic happened and people were losing jobs and getting furloughed, I took that opportunity to start doing LinkedIn headshots. I knew they would need an updated photo or just a photo in general. So I offered my services and it was business was good. Ok now I’m done

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@batworker]

My wife has just turned her hobby into a business successfully (she gardens) and a bit of me is jealous f this...but I still don’t want to try and make a business out of photographing things 😂

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Congrats to her!

[@vperalta]

I just hope when I put my hat in the ring that I don't end up being a Mr. Tanner.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Yeah, nobody does

[@b991228]

If a handful of your friends say you are great at cooking should you work at Taco Bell so you can call yourself a professional? Are you sure you really have what it takes to be happy earning a living in your passion? When it’s not about earning a living you only have one fan to please.

[@DanielNortonPhotographer]

Great, now I’m craving a 7 layer burrito 😊