Photography

When my photo got published in the local newspaper (was a journalistic shot of a protest, years ago)

I have moments I think I made it, then a few days later I do a shoot, get nothing I really like and question what I'm doing with my life again.

This year I done the album cover for a very well known local rapper and was the Camera Operator for a film that won an award. Two days after coming home after the awards how I went out to do some street photography, then when I got home I realised I had missed the focus for every shot except two 🤦🏾‍♂️

I usually do something that makes me think I've made it and straight after I do something that makes me think I should get a "real job"

I made the top 100 in the International Pet Photography Awards.

I do cycling photography so when a big team shares my work I always consider it a big moment

First time someone paid me for a shoot, and asked me back ever since! Its only a side gig but im glad that my years of learning can finally pay off.

Prob not what you’re looking for but I worked in a retail store selling high end cameras for 8yrs. I could never understand someone who would just walk in, play with. Full frame, like it, and then just decide to buy it without planning for months/years and saving. Fast forward to today, I’ve worked my a** off enough to be in a position where I finally bought one myself (except it def wasn’t an impulse purchase)

Either being featured in a regional magazine last year or being asked to photograph the mayor’s State of the City address.

Someone asked for a high res copy of their mk2 escort I took.

I sent it free but it was the first time I was asked for a copy of one of my pictures

Being able to turn down a client just because I didn't want to work with them. Early on, I had to take on every client I could to stay afloat. Reaching a point where I could say no to a job felt great.

The first time I ever saw my photos published in a magazine. Something I’ll never forget. I was in Kale Me Crazy waiting for a smoothie and was flipping through one of them to pass the time. I remember seeing one of my photos and thinking “that’s looks familiar”. Then I saw my company’s name credited and realized “oh that IS my photo”. I immediately got light headed and grabbed four more copies lol.

I’ve been a professional photographer for over a decade, travelled the world, shot covers for major magazines, international advertising campaigns… Still don’t feel like I’ve made it.

Had a national newspaper use my photos (with credits) a few times.

Easy, enough. The first international magazine cover , and the full center cover pull out. Still have copies of that magazine, somewhere in a box.

My moment was pretty much instantaneous. For a long time, I simple assumed that digital cameras were computerized machines that were programmed to take good photos, and if the photos were bad it was because the camera was bad. After taking a series of important photos that turned out badly, I had the sudden realization that my photos were bad because I was a bad photographer, and that I had to think like an artist to do better.

Years later, I was at a photography exhibit at a major museum: it was an exhibit of photography that was admired by the Impressionists painters. I was with a young lady friend who was struggling to be good at photography, but lacked confidence. As we toured the exhibit, we were commenting on the various photos, figuring out was good, what made them good, and what could be improved, totally being the experts in the room. At one point my friend turned to me with a big smile as she suddenly realized that she had “arrived” and had her moment.

I worked for ESPN yesterday and they said I can use them for references. (I’m a college student graduating in December so applying to Jobs)

Not really "made it" but more "feels good" (disability probably keeps me from really going professional) I covered a college concert for a class that had a four other people also cover it. When they released the photos of the event, over 3/4s of the ones they chose to show on the college website were mine.

A MotoGP rider once liked a photo I posted of him from a race I attended. Certainly not 'I made it' moment but it was very exciting

Biggest turning point was during a consultation with a client (wedding) and the client said they seen 3 other photographers and I was the most expensive. Before I could put a word in they said "and you're worth the premium" and booked me.

I heavily increased my price further next year and actually got more bookings.

I'll let you know when I feel that, lol.

I guess the biggest affirmative moment for me this year was getting some of my photos printed in a magazine. That was a first and definitely helped me feel pretty legitimate in that moment.

I've made my living at least in part through videography and photography for almost 8 years now. I feel like I've primarily worked shitty/lower-end jobs in that time but I've gotten almost universal praise along the way from those places and any other miscellaneous freelance jobs I've had as well, so I guess that's something. I'm starting another job in marketing and video in a week and change so hopefully that feeling will change. I definitely feel like a professional, but I'd be lying if I said I've ever felt like I "made it".

When I shot Mark Meadow’s daughter’s wedding during Covid. He and Trump broke all the laws and I was on the front page of The NY Times. TMZ offered me $$$ for the video and I passed, fearful that I’d get hosed if I shared. At the same time, I was working on a movie and the main star was all over in the news for breaking up his engagement with another famous star. I would go home after working on set and read about it in the news. Finally, about that same time also, I was runner up to be Justin Bieber’s wedding photographer. There was other stuff going on too and it all made me realize that I was working atop three or four photography disciplines at one time and making less money than ever as photography is dying as a profession.

Crazy times indeed.

This year it was the bride telling me that she loved the photos that I shot as a guest of her wedding compared to the paid photographer.

When I learned i was being considered for official photographer for my local car club, I haven't felt that level of happiness in a long time. Finally all this work is starting to be worth its price.

I haven't had it yet. But that's fine

Back in 2013 I was a flight attendant for an international airline. I’d developed a love for travel photography and was getting pretty good.

Wanderlust is a big travel magazine over here in the UK. In the same year I entered their annual Travel Photography Competition.

I was on holiday in Thailand when I discovered I’d won the main portfolio category with a series of images on the New York subway.

That’s when I realised I really might make it as a pro so started making extra effort to make it happen.

I’ve had private photo sessions with A-list athletes, had giant billboard sized images (both commercial and artistic) printed for public display, have been published a few times, have been literally flown around the world to take pictures, and currently work something closely resembling a dream job- but I’m still low income, fighting for every client, fighting to pay the bills, chasing some semblance of stability and sanity..

someday I might “make it” but I don’t think I’m there yet.

Complete amature here. Had a local tourism office use a pic I posted on facebook. I asked for credit and got it. Was in Mexico and got a candid shot with an unknown fisherman. Don’t have the image anymore but that is my made it moment.

Love reading these! So many great stories and moments.

I'm just a hack with a camera, but I love cars and jets, and when I was a little kid, my entire room was plastered with pictures from Road & Track magazine, and all sorts of different aircraft as well. I had many ideas for images that I wanted to make, and just had no idea how to do it.

Now as a big kid, I have the camera gear and knowhow, and I've been hired from many different jet operators and listing agencies to take high quality pictures of their multi million dollar jets (as well as getting to fly in them!) Then when I got hired to shoot a Ferrari for Road & Track magazine, I just imagine some kid cutting my pictures out and putting them on their wall... Certainly one of those moments for me.

I've had some "successes", a couple of covers for cd's, vinyl. Including an album (LP and CD) from a (in certain cirlces) well-known band, that had mostly my work on the cover, and a photobook (and booklet for the CD) with also mostly my work. Also some exhibitions...

I also shot a couple of musicvideos that got some views, got selected in filmfestivals... But in the end none of it amounted to much of anything. I guess I should have worked harder at trying to make it into something more, but then again, I never wanted it to be my job. I do it to express something artistic, something inside me that needs an outlet, if that doesn't sound too pompous.

When one of my best friends asked me out of the blue if he could buy a very large fine-art print of one of my artphotos, I told him he'd only pay the productioncost. To be honest, having my work hang in my friends' house in a spot where he sees it daily and it evokes emotions in him... That, I would say is probably the most meaningful thing I have yet accomplished.

The first time I entered Popular Photography's Photo of the Day? I won. That felt good. Also getting to see my name on the silver screen as the "Stills Photographer" for an indie movie. Just a few more indie movies and I can join that union. lol.

I always wanted to have a nice shot of a Kingfisher and lightning. Got it this and last year. And getting some photos into the local newspaper always lifts me up.