Photographer quotes: How to make it as an artist
Becoming a fine art photographer takes skill discipline, and hard work.
Photography: A 21st Century Practice delves into it all: from the technical skills to make impactful images, to the creative and critical thinking abilities needed to craft thought-provoking concepts. Along the way, the book introduces readers to real working artists who share their experience about their own paths to success.
Here’s a sneak peak of the wisdom shared by the book’s featured artists:
Erik Johansson, photographic artist:
“Trying things out is really the best way to learn. You have to do things to see what works and what doesn’t. It’s important to remember that quantity is required to achieve quality: every artist has to do a lot of work before they can reach the skill level and visual style they’re after.”
Francis Almendárez, interdisciplinary artist:
“The biggest take-away from graduate school for me is to let the work manifest itself in whatever form(s) it needs to be. It’s okay for your ideas and work to change, for things to get messy, not work out and/or fail. What’s important is to try your ideas out, to be open, and allow for the work to lead you.”
Phil Borges, photographer and filmmaker:
“Doing the things that you’re really connected to, those are the things that work. Are you in love with golf? People make a great living shooting golf courses, if that’s their love. Whatever it is, try to build a body of work around that thing that you really love.”
Laura Plageman, photographer and educator:
““My favorite bits of advice for art and life come from a beautiful and witty list titled Some Rules for Students and Teachers, attributed to artists Sister Corita Kent and John Cage (it can be found through an online search). It’s basically principles for living creatively and embracing uncertainty. One rule that sticks with me is, “Don’t try to create and analyze at the same time. They are two different processes.” I need to remind myself of that over and over again, especially when my inner critic creeps in as I’m working in the studio. It boils down to trusting your choices and taking risks.”
Natalie Krick, photographer:
“Rejection happens more often than not! It has always helped me to assume I would get rejected, so that just in case I didn’t, I would be pleasantly surprised. I think of everything I apply to as an opportunity to share my work with people.”
Prince V. Thomas, multimedia artist and art professor:
“Work hard. Get yourself and your work out there into the public. Meet other like-minded artists. Work hard. Invite others into your studio. Work hard. Share your ideas and thoughts. Invite others to share theirs with you. Work hard. Honesty and sincerity go a long way in my experience, and, always, WORK HARD.”
Hungry for more real-world photography career advice? Photography: A 21st Century Practice is the one book that covers it all and will guide you from the start (what button do I press to do that?) through to becoming a full-fledged fine art photographer.
