how hard is it to become a well known photographer

Manuel Madeira · Jul 21, 2021

Hi guys, I am asking today how hard is it to become a famous photographer or at least a "recognizable" member on the comunity. I ask this because I have the same ambition that we all have, I want people to know my work and to look at it with interest. I know it is a silly question, but i ask this to mainly get tips, some story about one of you, ways for someone to show the world my work or even some good path choices. I think it will be a great discussion

Nicholas Lindan · Jul 21, 2021

Well, if you have to ask that's a bit of a disqualification.

How hard is it - about the same as becoming a famous writer, a famous painter, a famous composer ...

Your work needs to be transcendent. So far above the work of the common hoi poloi that none would make the comparison.

Getting a show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York is a good start. You don't call them, they call you.

It helps if you are dead. Galleries like to promote artists who are safely dead and therefore allow the prices to escalate. Imagine Van Gogh is still alive and he proclaims "What, pay $1,000,000 for a Starry Night? That's ridiculous. Why, I'll paint you a much better one for $500."

If you want to be recognized when you are still alive you will need a good promoter.

Oh, and you need to be exceptionally lucky on top of all that.

And don't forget the competition, all out to tear you a new one.

BrianShaw · Jul 22, 2021

A tough hide is good to have… there are a lot of critics and criticism, deserved or not, along that path.

jamesaz · Jul 22, 2021

In the film “Crumb”, the cartoonist R.Crumb tells his son “ it isn’t about getting rich and famous, it’s about learning how to draw.” That goes for photography too and pretty much everything else.

prado333 · Jul 22, 2021

I suppose you have to show a excellent portfolio , have galleries wanted to show your work, at least a book published and things like that.

hoffy · Jul 22, 2021

You need to be at least competent.

The rest is obsessive and relentless self promotion, with a fair slice of ego

removed account4 · Jul 22, 2021

watch the movie "art school confidential".
one thing I've realized over the years is often times being famous and well known / recognizable has nothing to do with skill; its all connections. .
best thing to do is not worry about being well known or famous
just find yourself, and make meaningful photographs.

people sometimes think winning the lottery is a great thing but usually what happens is it ruins their life ...
last thing I would ever want to be is famous, causes nothing but trouble...

faberryman · Jul 22, 2021

Probably better to be infamous. Those guys seem to get more notice than the merely famous. I guess I would suggest working on a portfolio of the most outrageous stuff you can imagine, shock the conscience stuff. Remember the artist last week who sold an invisible statue for $18,000. It was all over the news. How about submitting a photograph of an invisible model to Vogue for next month’s cover?

guangong · Jul 22, 2021

The question is a little too vague. What kind of photography? Fine art? News? Sporting events? Portrait? Wildlife? Etc? Generally speaking, you just have to be better than the competition. Also helps to have access to plenty of money, for life support, equipment and supplies, and, under some circumstances, being able to move among the influential.
until career takes off. Isamu Noguchi told me that being successful (altering Edison) was 10% inspiration and 90% socializing.

MartinCrabtree · Jul 22, 2021

Have to agree with John. Talent doesn't hurt but getting those that matter to see it matters more.

Nicholas Lindan · Jul 22, 2021

Talent lasts through the centuries. Connections fade with the next fad.

Alex Benjamin · Jul 22, 2021

In an era the boundless circulation of images the Internet provides and the ease at which this can be done instantaneously anywhere in world, an era of phones that take better pictures than some of the most expensive cameras, and era of the endless possibilities of digital manipulation where just about anybody can take a picture of something they like and transform it into something they like even better, there are no longer famous photographers. There are only famous images.

Remember the picture of the young Syrian refugee found dead on the beach? Everybody saw that. Nobody know the name of the photographer. He ain't famous (was Nilüfer Demir). Ask anybody in the street who Steve McCurry is, they won't know. Show them the pic of Sharbat Gula, they'll recognize her.

On Instagram and elsewhere on the Web, you'll find hundreds of fantastic - I mean, really fantastic - pictures by photojournalists, and I dare you to find more than a couple that are "famous" or "well-known". But they all have two things in common: they care immensely about what they are photographing, and they know their trade inside out.

I mentioned photojournalists because their work have the widest distribution, but same logic applies to portrait, wedding, landscape, street, fine art or documentary photographers: know your trade, photograph stuff you care about, in a way that speaks to you. These - not talent, not originality, which either one has or doesn't - are the only two things you can control.

If by "being well-known" you mean "ensuring you have a job", these basic elements should take you there, although there are no guarantee.

Now if "famous" is what you want to be, do like others who are "famous" have done: open a YouTube channel or become an Instagram "influencer", make "how to" and "here's my review of the latest Canon blah blah blah" videos, document every step you make in the wilderness, get a gazillion followers.

Now I'm not saying this is either good or bad. No moral judgement here. Some stuff on YouTube or Instagram is pretty fantastic. But the stuff that is is usually done by photographers who know their trades and photograph things they care about, and have done so for quite a while.

.

BradS · Jul 22, 2021

Hard work, persistence, connections, and relentless self promotion.

removedacct1 · Jul 22, 2021

Manuel Madeira said:
Hi guys, I am asking today how hard is it to become a famous photographer or at least a "recognizable" member on the comunity. I ask this because I have the same ambition that we all have, I want people to know my work and to look at it with interest.

In an age of "LOOK AT MEEEEE!" personalities all vying for a place in the spotlight, I cannot imagine wanting to pursue "fame" as a photographer. There's far too much "flavor of the minute" meme crap out there you'd have to compete with, and that would be exhausting.

I want the opposite: I don't care if anyone wants to elevate me to "fame" as long as I'm alive. I just want to do work that pleases and challenges me: I want to improve my skill and pursue personal growth through the making of good photographs. I only want to be happy doing the things I love. I wouldn't love "fame", it'd only get in the way of my joy. Let someone find my prints after I'm dead and gone and they can decide if I deserve attention or not.

Jim Jones · Jul 22, 2021

"Relentless self promotion." There are many well-known people in the arts, in commerce, and especially in politics who have little aptitude. However, they do have heartless and relentless self-promotion, or are backed by someone who does.

cramej · Jul 22, 2021

Nicholas Lindan said:
It helps if you are dead.

hoffy said:
You need to be at least competent.

Well, this is debatable...

BradS said:
connections.

Absolutely. Do you know a gallery owner? You'll get some space on the wall. Know a CEO who wants art for their HQ? Again, space on the wall. Are you a socialite with a camera? Now everyone who follows anyone knows you're a 'photog'. Are you a mom or dad? All the other school parents know you carry a big fancy camera. I don't consider myself a well-known photographer, but every single paying job (including my regular 8-5) has been made possible by connections.

jloen · Jul 22, 2021

So I took a week-long course from a "well-known" photographer.
His main characteristic was an enormous ego. He spent days showing us HIS work, with little or no interest in our work, that of other photographers, or teaching skills.
The workshop was a waste of time and a large amount of money, IMO.

gone · Jul 22, 2021

I don't think this is a question with an answer. The people that have made a name for themselves did it by being better than the others in that particular type of photography, and had the right marketing exposure. It's an old, old rule of thumb. No matter how good someone is in any field, if no one knows about it......

Or, let me be a wee more blunt. The people that have made a name for themselves probably never even gave that issue a second's thought. They got where they are with talent, but you also have to be determined, make the right connections, and work harder than anyone else. Talent w/o those two things will get you exactly nothing.

M-88 · Jul 22, 2021

Manuel Madeira said:
I have the same ambition that we all have, I want people to know my work and to look at it with interest.

Not sure about the others, but my "ambitions" are clearly different from yours

You should probably think how to become good, instead of famous. Fame comes with proficiency.

juan · Jul 22, 2021

I learned from Blowup that you take plenty of photos of young, nude models.

Pieter12 · Jul 22, 2021

There is no formula. How many famous photographers can you name? And will others, photographers and non-photographers know who they are? Many are famous within their specialties, few are known to the general public.

Cholentpot · Jul 22, 2021

Manuel Madeira said:
Hi guys, I am asking today how hard is it to become a famous photographer or at least a "recognizable" member on the comunity. I ask this because I have the same ambition that we all have, I want people to know my work and to look at it with interest. I know it is a silly question, but i ask this to mainly get tips, some story about one of you, ways for someone to show the world my work or even some good path choices. I think it will be a great discussion

Go very very niche.

I've gotten the cover of a few magazines without even trying. I'm published weekly in another but no-one knows me or even cares. The magazine is in an insular language that a relative handful of people speak and deals with that groups issues. Even within that very very small circle, and with getting to the pinnacle, I'm unknown.

My work speaks for itself though, I'm proud enough of that.

Bill Burk · Jul 22, 2021

Don’t ask me, my latest video has zero views!

MattKing · Jul 22, 2021

Bill Burk said:
Don’t ask me, my latest video has zero views!

Give us the link - we can help!

Pioneer · Jul 23, 2021

It really is all about connections in the business. Get to know people in the photography world. This includes editors, gallery owners, other photographers whose work you admire. Ask them what they look for. Try to get all of them to look at your work.
If you can afford to do it, try to go to work for a photographer who does the kind of work you want to do. Or maybe a gallery owner. Working for them will begin to teach you what you need to do. They probably may not pay much and, in the beginning, you may even have to volunteer your time.
Start photographing and printing all the time. Do it every day. Buy one camera and one lens and get to know that equipment inside and out so that you can take your pictures without even thinking about the camera at all. Think of what type of photography excites you and go out and try to do it yourself. Once you get enough prints together start showing others.
Teach yourself lighting.
Teach yourself printing or find someone who is a really good printer and get them to do your printing for you.
Always be clean and presentable. Brush your teeth and smell good. This sounds silly but you need to be the person who looks professional, like you know what you are doing. Be prepared to do the work when it is needed. You will always be working for someone else.
Start your own business doing photography. Maybe weddings. Maybe events. Maybe portrait photography.
In the end you will have to eat and drink photography to the point where it is the only thing you think about day in or day out.
Finally, promote your own work constantly. Always have your portfolio with you and be ready to show anyone. You never know who will introduce you to someone that will be important to your career.

Always have your camera, your lens and your portfolio with you. You will never know when you will need them.

You will have to put in the time. Most of us have to put in the hard work. Sometimes people seem to get lucky but if you talk to them you will learn that they were in the right place because they put themselves there. Nobody did it for them.

I don't know if that is hard or not but it will certainly consume your life.

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