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Whats it take to be a photographer for National Geographic?

S

Shockwave

Banned
Anyone know? Do they make much money, or is it a labor of love? How does one become a photographer for National Geographic?
 
They make ok money, and the NG shoots are normally paid for by the mag.

You have to build a rep as a photographer, and get published lots before you're even considered for NG.
 
it's not a lot of money but it's decent. Colleagues have told me they pay around a 2K stipend/week while on assignment. How does one become able to shoot for them? That's a much more difficult question. The stories are pretty much self-generated. You don't just become a staff member and have stories assigned, you create them and propose the idea to the editors. If they think it's a great story and believe in your ability to show that story through pictures, they'll send you.

Shooting for National Geographic is one of my goals in life.
 
Originally posted by: Lucky
it's not a lot of money but it's decent. Colleagues have told me they pay around a 2K stipend/week while on assignment. How does one become able to shoot for them? That's a much more difficult question. The stories are pretty much self-generated. You don't just become a staff member and have stories assigned, you create them and propose the idea to the editors. If they think it's a great story and believe in your ability to show that story through pictures, they'll send you.

Shooting for National Geographic is one of my goals in life
And another goal would be to be with a female before I die

:evil:.
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by: Lucky
it's not a lot of money but it's decent. Colleagues have told me they pay around a 2K stipend/week while on assignment. How does one become able to shoot for them? That's a much more difficult question. The stories are pretty much self-generated. You don't just become a staff member and have stories assigned, you create them and propose the idea to the editors. If they think it's a great story and believe in your ability to show that story through pictures, they'll send you.

Shooting for National Geographic is one of my goals in life.
Click to expand...

Took a look at your website. I would have to say you are well on your way. Photography is 90% art, 5% technical skill and 5% being in the right place at the right time. Hmm? Actually maybe being in the right place is 90% but skill and art are also 90%. Well you get my drift. Part of the skill and art come from putting yourself in the right place at the right time. I had the "privilege" of studying under Leslie Krims for a few years. I feel I let him down but then again I wasn't his star pupil. My "art" was not up to par with what he liked. My technique was "perfect" but he didn't care for my subject matter.

Anyway as I have come to find out, NG finds you. Keep shooting, I guess.
 
Originally posted by: TMPadmin
Originally posted by: Lucky
it's not a lot of money but it's decent. Colleagues have told me they pay around a 2K stipend/week while on assignment. How does one become able to shoot for them? That's a much more difficult question. The stories are pretty much self-generated. You don't just become a staff member and have stories assigned, you create them and propose the idea to the editors. If they think it's a great story and believe in your ability to show that story through pictures, they'll send you.

Shooting for National Geographic is one of my goals in life.
Click to expand...

Took a look at your website. I would have to say you are well on your way. Photography is 90% art, 5% technical skill and 5% being in the right place at the right time. Hmm? Actually maybe being in the right place is 90% but skill and art are also 90%. Well you get my drift. Part of the skill and art come from putting yourself in the right place at the right time. I had the "privilege" of studying under Leslie Krims for a few years. I feel I let him down but then again I wasn't his star pupil. My "art" was not up to par with what he liked. My technique was "perfect" but he didn't care for my subject matter.

Anyway as I have come to find out, NG finds you. Keep shooting, I guess.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I agree with you. A career can be made of the right timing but it is more than that. The stuff on my professional website is pretty old, haven't updated it in a while. But thanks for the words. It's hard in this industry when you are starting out, you have to put up with a lot of stupid crap. Just have to accept that and keep on going, as I'm learning.
 
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