Monthly Archives: October 2014

APPLE SHOWCASES THE NEW RETINA IMAC WITH SURFING IMAGE

10.17.14

It is always an honor to work with Apple. They are one of the most prestigious companies anywhere on Earth and they drive trends in a way few companies can. They have used a few of my images in the past, but to have my image used to promote the latest Retina 5K displays on...

Advice for those looking to start a career in Photography

10.10.14

Updated September 5, 2017: Some of the links I originally posted in this blog have disappeared so I removed one link and revised a few others. I get on average three to six emails a week asking basically the same question: “I want to be a pro photographer and travel the world shooting adventurous assignments. How...

Show Hide 11 comments

Jay GoodrichOctober 14, 2014 - 3:48 pm
Thanks for linking into my post Michael! Totally appreciate it!
Susan CrittendenOctober 14, 2014 - 11:28 pm
Great info to share with all.
Dan JacksonNovember 6, 2014 - 6:05 pm
Wow, what a great “standard” drafted response that you use to promote other people’s books. So tired of people selling information that should be free. Hopefully these people contacting you aren’t gullible enough to pay for that advice easily found elsewhere.
Michael ClarkNovember 6, 2014 - 7:51 pm
Dan – Not sure what you are getting at. I won’t make anything by offering up these books or even any money from sales of my own book. I am just giving out some hard won advice and I am not sure if you read the first part of the blog post but half the info shared here is free on the internet. I myself bought a dozen books or more when I was starting out and they were worth every penny so I do not hesitate to recommend solid information.
Barry SchwartzNovember 8, 2014 - 12:17 am
Really nice. I teach a business class for photographers at a local college, and everything you’ve written echoes what I try to communicate for my students. It takes a lot of hard work and time – and first-rate people-skills to make for a sustained career.

I would suggest another book: The ASMP Guide To New Markets In Photography, Edited by Susan Carr, which gives a broad view of the current changes in media, and the place of the individual creator navigating within that world.
Michael ClarkNovember 8, 2014 - 9:26 am
Barry – Awesome, thank you for the new book recommendation. I’ll have to check that one out. Susan was an amazing educator! If you have any other recommendations please feel free to list them here as a resource for all.
Summer Reading List - asmpMarch 31, 2016 - 1:50 pm
[…] For more links to stellar reading material relating to the business of photography check out my recent blog post entitled, Advice for Those Looking to Start a Career in Photography. […]
Luck is Not a Factor - asmpMarch 31, 2016 - 3:49 pm
[…] this industry. While you are at it, check out this article I wrote on my blog last year, entitled Advice for those looking to start a career in Photography. It offers up a bit of advice and also links to quite a few excellent articles and […]
Mike BennetAugust 4, 2016 - 5:28 am
Thanks for this great resource!

This info is essential:

“It usually takes 3 to 5 years to go full time, then 10 years to gain 90% of your skills and start making decent money and 15 years to really make it big.”
Narin ChauhanJune 5, 2017 - 3:44 am
Great post for beginners like me.. if it doesn’t drive you, Take a step back.. one need to be passionate enough to consider photography as a career as it takes time and lots of patience to make a mark.
Advice to Aspiring Professional Photographers: Part 2 » Michael Clark PhotographyNovember 27, 2017 - 12:09 pm
[…] back in October of 2014, I posted a blog entitled, “Advice for those looking to start a career in Photography.” I have sent a link out to that blog post quite often and I have had quite a few aspiring […]