What advice would you give to someone just starting their photography career?

Focus on proving you can get stuff done—take action and complete projects rather than just planning. However, also spend serious time figuring out exactly where you want to go. If you don’t know your specific destination, no one can tell you how to get there. While it’s important to be flexible and take opportunities as they come (especially early in your career when the field is competitive), having a really specific vision of where you want to be allows you to chart a better route to get there. Being very niche and narrow in your focus allows you to become more of an expert, build a stronger name, and establish yourself as a brand in that specific area. The balance is staying open to opportunities while having clarity on your ultimate goals.

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Asked by someone starting a photography career · Answered by Court Whalen · art-marketing-podcast · 2025-08-14