June 2023 Q&A
Earlier this week you have asked a bunch of questions over on IG and in this blog I will be answering them. First of all thank you for all the questions and please understand that I can’t answer them all due to the sheer volume. Also I will be prioritising questions which I feel will benefit others and have come up multiple times. I have also split the questions into categories Without further to do, here are the answers.
Travel
Any plans to visit “insert country name”?
Yes, I am hoping to visit most places eventually. I am travelling at a slow pace and although I might increase that pace going forward, it will still take a while to get round to every spot.
Potential destinations for 2024?
Japan for sure. Possibly Australia too. Closer to home I would like to do Croatia and a train journey across Portugal.
Priority on flights: less/ no layover or direct/ shorter but more expensive?
For sure direct. It is much less hassle and takes way less time. Also there is less risk involved. There have been a couple times where I nearly missed my connecting flight due to the first flight being late. Thankfully I only travel carry on. If not, my checked bag would have not made it. It is definitely more expensive but I’d rather spend an extra £300 than lose time, get stressed, ruin the start of a trip and still end up spending just as much to fix everything.
How reasonable is it for people who like to travel to also get photo gigs to help offset costs?
The most common way is to get a travel related brand to sponsor a trip in exchange for social media exposure. The notion of travelling in exchange for photos is long gone. The only currency still remaining is reach and attention. I personally don’t like these trips as I prefer to pay my own way and move at my own pace. My suggestion is make your money elsewhere and enjoy your travels and photography for yourself at your own pace.
Photography
What do you look for when taking photos? I get overwhelmed and lost.
Start with light. Focus on finding good light then heading towards it. Then look at creating minimal compositions using the environment. If you want subjects in your shots then find a nice light, see if there is a composition you like and wait for someone to come into it.
If landscape and travel photography died overnight, would you ever consider doing weddings?
No. I don’t enjoy them. I have done one and it was enough. I also don’t like having my calendar booked a year in advance. What if I want to move countries? What if an amazing once in a lifetime trip opportunity comes up? Also I don’t want to be dealing with wedding clients.
Opinion on photographers that create 'content' vs those who do it as more of as an artistic passion?
I don’t judge and each to their own. Although now and then I will crack a joke at their expense. The only thing I would say is whatever you do, make sure you do it because you love it and not for clout, social media growth or money. Again nothing wrong with that, but it just won’t last. I speak from experience because I know I am on limited time with YouTube. I love photography and writing. I don’t actually care much for video. At the moment I need to make videos to make a living. However I know that has a shelf life before I have enough… so I am thinking what my next move after will be.
What has been your favorite place to travel to so far and what is a bucket list destination?
For photography Istanbul for sure. For relaxing, hiking and just being on “holiday” it is Ljubljana. Bucket list destinations include Japan, New Zealand, Iceland, Greenland and Namibia.
Percentages of importance in a photo? (Ex: 30% light, 25 % background, 20% editing)
Light 40%, Composition 30%, Subject 20%, Editing 10%.
What, if anything, do you look to shoot when the light is none existent/completely flat?
I try to find contrast. Perhaps shooting out of a tunnel or a walkway. Perhaps going inside and shooting into the window. Find a way to shoot from a dark space into a bright space.
How much time out of the week do you typically spend shooting?
It varies a lot but I try to dedicated at least 1-2 days a week where I am just shooting for myself. Not for a video and not for a project.
How do you deal with lack of inspiration? Do you feel like inspiration comes in waves?
For sure it comes in waves. It’s impossible to always feel inspired. Generally when I don’t feel inspired or I don’t want to shoot, it is a sign that I need a break. As we speak I haven’t touched a camera in over two weeks. Currently I am focusing in exercise, reading and resting.
Do you do any online or in person workshops for street photography / editing?
I used to but I paused due to my travel schedule. Once I am more settled then I will start looking at this again. However if I am based in one location for an extended period of time, I might do the odd workshop here and there. Will announce these on socials and newsletter.
Gear
Which focal length do you recommend for documenting family life? (At home)?
In full frame terms either a 28mm or a 35mm. If you have a higher megapixel camera (30 and above) I suggest getting a 28 and cropping in.
Do you recommend to use lens filters?
I personally don’t use them however I would suggest a CPL filter. It will allow you to cut reflections in shiny surfaces. So if you shoot water, products, cars etc then it is a must.
I want to shot at night, what is better: OIS or IBIS? (especially at longer focal lengths)
I would say IBIS simply because it means you can stabilise any lens. Some of the fastest primes don’t have OIS. OIS is usually reserved for zooms and telephoto lenses.
Your export settings for Instagram?
Full size full quality out of Lightroom. Nothing fancy.
Have you tried Sony a7 or other full frame? Will you ever venture in that direction?
I briefly played around with them but never used them properly. I personally don’t need full frame for what I do. I have a system that works and generally don’t care for other brands. Always looking at other brands is a waste of time that could be better spent elsewhere. If I really was pushed towards a full frame camera it would probably be a Leica of some sort. For the simple reason that I like how they look and I like that they are not yet another generic full frame camera.
Recently got a Fuji XT3 and f1.4 35mm lens for street photography, what should my next lens be?
Get a good zoom. I suggest the new sigma 18-50 f2.8. Between these two, you have all the gear you need for general photography.
Business
What is the end goal?
There isn’t one really as I keep my mind open to what life throws my way. Photography and travel will always be a part of my life whether I do them for a living or as a hobby. However if pushed for an answer it would be to focus on growing my online social media business whilst at the same time saving and investing as much as I can. Eventually I would like to be in a place where I can just travel once a month, take photos and write blogs whilst living comfortably but minimally / modestly.
How to get noticed by brands as a street / travel photographer?
I think the most successful photographers in terms of brand deals actively reach out and pitch to brands. This is something I don’t do due to not having time for brand work thus can’t advise on. As for getting noticed, I can only suggest to do what I did and that is to make the best possible work you can and do it consistently. Eventually they will come.
What niche do you think has the best growth opportunity in 2023/24?
Not sure whether this is a niche per se but being able to document the every day life as well as simple moments in a creative and photogenic way can take you far. People relate more with the mundane and everyday than they do with a grand vista in Iceland.
How did you grow your social presence & following
There is no magic bullet or one way of doing it hence why it is difficult. What works for me might not work for you. For example I never had a reel do well… yet we all are told they are the only way to grow. All my organic IG growth is from photos. I would say that finding a niche is key. Don’t be too generic. When I started my niche was London, Street Photography & Fujifilm. Then be consistent and just see what works and what doesn’t. Remove what don’t work and try again.
Tips for someone who wants to do somewhat what you're doing?
Find a niche you’re passionate about and have some knowledge in. Create content that helps others in that niche. Create a product or a service that you can sell that directly adds value to your customers, saves them time or teaches them something new. Figure out how to have at least 3 different streams of income. Reduce your overheads and expenses as much as you can. Save and invest 30-50% of your monthly income.
What's your main source of income throughout the photography? Blog, guides, etc?
How to price services when starting out?
I would start with £250 per day. For a typical shoot it would be one day shooting and one day editing so it’s £500. I would then adjust this depending on the client. If it’s a charity supporting a good cause I can reduce it. If it is a very unique project that can either open doors or offer an otherwise unattainable experience, I would reduce it or even do it for free. If it is a boring profit first corporate client then I would increase it. Finally the price mentioned is for a major city in Western Europe and US. If you’re in a small village in Wales or in India, then of course this would need to be adjusted.
Should I specialise in a style or post all my random pictures when building my instagram?
It depends on why you are sharing and why you want to build your IG. If you want to attract clients and brands, then having a consistent theme and style is essential. The brand / client needs to know what they might expect. If it is to build a page for the sake of it then it is also important so people know what they are subscribing to. If it is just for yourself or you don’t care about optimising for growth, then just post whatever.
How do you create digital products?
I use an app called affinity publisher for all digital products and publication. I also have Affinity Designer and Photo that combine into one powerful tool.
How will I pick up freelance work if YouTube dies?
I don’t think I will go into the freelance world. I have had a brief experience with it and honestly I much prefer a 9-5. Being a freelancer is like having multiple bosses who don’t care about you, no benefits or job security and no sick or holiday pay. It also means you need to be on someone else’s schedule and ultimately sell your time for money. Basically it is all the bad bits of a 9-5 without any of the positives.
Thoughts on moving into photography biz as Al threatens photography jobs?
I see the biggest risk to be associated with product photography. It is easy to feed a CAD model into AI and have it placed in various locations and backgrounds - example rugged hard drive on a wet rock or car driving on a mountain road. However if your photography will include documenting events - example weddings, then AI will never touch that. Also I feel that some companies will still prefer to pay a premium for a human to do the work while others will take a cheaper route and use AI…
Biggest change after moving to travel photo as biz from hobby?
You become much better with money. You no longer rely on a monthly pay check. You count every penny and minimise your spending on what you actually need and what brings real value into your life. You also live way below your means. So in short, money management.
I want to do my first commercial shoot. It's a car servicing garage. Any tips, should I do it for free?
If you already have a portfolio, at least get them to cover travel costs. However if you do not have a portfolio at all then the only bargaining chip you have is free work. I personally believe in free work as long as there is a payback for you. In this case it is portfolio content to use as marketing for future paying clients. My only tip is give it 110% and make the whole process as easy for your client as possible. In many cases people would rather hire someone friendly, punctual and attentive over someone who is talented but is a pain to work with.
What were your first steps to go from taking pics for fun to actually starting a business?
Figure out two things. First of all have a rough idea of what is the end goal. Is it to have a thriving freelance production house or is it to have total time and location freedom. Secondly it is to figure out whether you want to make money from selling your time as a photographer or from building an online audience and creating products around photography that can help others. Making this decision is important as it will influence how you go about building your business.
Do you need a degree, qualification to be a photographer?
Absolutely not. My advice is to do a degree or qualification in a staple occupation such as engineering, medicine, law or similar. This will be your back up plan. Then use your spare time to learn photography online and from other successful photographers. This in my opinion is the most bulletproof method and what I would suggest for everyone who is young and is thinking about further education. If you have no interest in studying anything other than photography, then I suggest saving that money and going full into photography while having an easy part time job to support you initially. A degree in the UK costs around £9000 per year. A 3 year degree plus living costs and you would easy have debt of over £30,000. Imagine if you put that money towards focusing on photography and travel.