Photography Career Factors

Todd Beltz posted a situation on his Facebook wall. Photographers would you pay $500 to have your portfolio reviewed by some top editors of magazines, ad agencies and galleries from around the world or should something like this not come at a price? Paying this fee doesn't guarantee you a job..just a meeting.

I think the below advises are pretty relevant to me. I just need to twig it according to my own career path.

Photography career factors to consider
by Felix Hug

‎1. Where are you in your career? Its not only to get a job straight away, but some valuable advice from people in the business and the market you are aiming for.

‎2. If its the right organization doing it, its money well spend, because it can open your network as well. Looking back at my first years some of the help i got from editors and senior people in the business was much more worth then 500 dollars.

‎3. Photography in todays market is a long and winding road, unless you are super talented. You need people who mentor you and point your nose in the right direction. Its really not only what you know but who you know as well, given that you have solid work.

‎4. In Sydney I would call ad agencies and try to get meetings with the Creative Directors, just for the sake of getting advice on my folio. It was very hard, because this people are busy a lot and so many photographers know on their doors.... However the meetings i got were very valuable. One of the best advice I got was actually that I'm in the wrong market location wise and the explanations i received made perfect sense. You have to understand that meetings like this are about a lot more then the quality of your images. Its about understanding how the market works in the region you are trying to operate.

‎5. If you do it, make sure you arrive with lots of questions ;-). All the things that keep buzzing around in your head, keeping you from your path.. ask them. Don't wait for them to help you out... make them help you, by asking questions.

‎6. Most importantly: Listen! Learn!.. this is not the time to be proud or arrogant (not that you would be). Its the time to soak it all up and adjust the career path. You want to know what steps to take next. Ask them also, if you do make some adjustments down the road, would they be willing to meet you again (not for money), but for actual job interviews.

Felix Hug was born in Switzerland at the beginning of the carneval (Fasnacht) season in 1964, the 11th day of the 11th month, at almost at 11.11 am to be precise.

How much that indicated, what would become, an unconventional lifestyle is unknown, but heavily influenced by his late father, a painter, he followed his passion for design and the arts.

He has won Best Image Awards in the following competitions:
@ The Asian Geographic Grand Prize, Singapore
@ The International Photography Awards, USA
@ American Photo, Image of the Year, USA
@ Travel Photographer Of The Year, GB
@ The New York Photography Awards, USA

His works can be view here: www.eyesonasia.net