Making the leap into any creative career can feel scary, but it doesn’t have to be.
There’s no one way to become a professional photographer, and everyone’s path looks different. But there are some key steps you can take throughout your career journey towards success.
We spoke with Collarts Photography Program Leader Rikki Bunder who shared his step-by-step guide to kickstarting and maintaining a career in the Australian photography industry.
You may have heard that a creative career isn’t a realistic option, or that there just aren’t jobs in the creative industries. But the truth is, photography offers many diverse career pathways, as covered in our top 10 photography career paths blog.
According to Rikki, there are always job opportunities for photographers.
“Creative thinking, which photographers excel at, is a much-needed future skill.”
And in a world of AI-generated imagery, that human creative perspective matters more than ever. As we explore in our article on whether AI can really replace the photographer’s eye, photography remains deeply rooted in storytelling, intuition and lived experience.
“There will always be stories to be told, and people will always want to consume art. There are also plenty of opportunities to work in more commercial fields, whether that’s in marketing, portraiture, events or more.”
Rikki also describes a recent boom in what he calls “authentic local storytelling”, which in turn leads to new and exciting career opportunities.
“There is a continued demand from tourism bodies, city councils, community organisations and small businesses for photographers who can produce nuanced, place-specific narratives using local knowledge and documentary skills.”
You can’t start a new craft or creative career without learning, and there’s no ‘correct’ way to learn. This is the time to hit the books, dig into what photography really is, and find out what you love it.
Read about photography history, listen to podcasts from industry veterans (like the photography podcast ‘When Harri met Sally’), watch online tutorials or documentaries on photography masters, and seek out work that inspires you.
However you choose to learn, building a strong foundation in both the art and industry of photography is essential. If you’re weighing up formal study as your next step, check out our guide to whether a photography degree is worth it.
Learning how to take a good photograph is important, but it’s also about training your brain to see the world through an artistic lens.
Shoot as much as you can, as often as you can. Consistent practice is the number one way to hone your skills, both technically and artistically.
One of the best ways to keep building your confidence is to get out and explore new locations – whether that’s shooting in the studio or visiting some of Melbourne’s most inspiring spots, like those featured in our guide to the top 10 Instagrammable places in Melbourne every photography student should visit. Consider every photograph, project or job as a chance to play and experiment. Try new techniques and step outside of your comfort zone to discover what works and what doesn’t.
Through this experimentation, you’ll not only expand your skillset, but you’ll have more opportunities to hone your own creative vision and discover what makes you special as a photographer. Branching out is also a smart career move, as more varied work in your folio will help you land a wider range of jobs moving forward.
Practice without feedback can lead to creative stagnation, so finding industry mentors to guide you can be a serious career game changer. Seek out photographers you respect and whose work you love, then put in the hard yards to build relationships with them.
This can take a lot of time and effort, but the benefits are priceless. On top of providing valuable feedback as you practice your craft, positive role models can shape the way you engage with the industry. A good mentor will encourage good professional habits, help you build connections, and keep you motivated throughout your journey.
Mentors can be found in all sorts of places. At Collarts, that mentorship can start in the classroom – with lecturers and academics who’ve done it all and helped shape the photography industry. Your mentor might be a photographer you assist on professional jobs, or just an artist you admire and seek out on your own. However you find your mentors, just remember to be nice, be enthusiastic, and work hard.
Peers can be just as valuable as mentors when it comes to building your career. Connecting with other creatives in your industry will provide priceless opportunities for collaboration and inspiration. So invest time into curating and maintaining your network as early as possible.
Seek out creative organisations in your area, attend exhibitions and events, and take workshops held by photographers and other artists you admire. Wherever you go, be sure to introduce yourself to creatives at every level and start making those valuable connections.
Don’t forget about connecting online either: make a habit of reaching out to potential friends, collaborators and colleagues via LinkedIn and social media.
The ability to network is one of the greatest advantages to studying photography somewhere like Collarts. Mirroring the way real creative industries work, you’ll connect with fellow photographers and collaborate with students across multiple disciplines, like music, film and fashion. Plus you’ll graduate with a well-rounded network that supports your future career.
A great folio won’t help you much if it’s sitting around gathering dust. Sharing your work whenever and wherever you can is the number one way to show people what you can do and land yourself professional job opportunities. But it’s also a chance to receive feedback that will allow you to evolve, grow and improve your craft.
Offering up your art to be critiqued can be a real test of confidence and ego, especially when you’re first starting out. Which is why it’s so important to push through and invite that critique as often as you can. You’ll not only discover ways to improve your work, but you’ll learn to love constructive criticism and reframe the way you think about feedback.
Once you’ve gained the confidence to share your work without fear of criticism or rejection, you’ll open yourself up to a whole new world of creative connection, artistic evolution and career growth.
This last step’s all about being disciplined, persistent and hard to knock down, and that’s something even we can’t really teach you. It’s about nurturing your personal drive so you can keep going even when times get tough or momentum seems slow.
As Rikki says:
“Don’t stop, don’t be discouraged, keep going, and be persistent. And don’t ever forget why you started."