Video summary

If I was starting out in photography from 0, this is what I'd do.

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / lessons conveyed

  • Start with depth, not breadth: Focus on 1–2 photography niches and become exceptionally good at them instead of trying to cover many genres.

  • Equipment strategy (especially when starting):

    • Buy used to get more value.
    • Spend most of your budget on high-quality lenses rather than a top-tier camera body.
    • Keep the kit small and high-quality, and only expand into additional gear when your niche truly requires it (lighting, stands, flashes, etc.).

  • Build a professional presence (portfolio + website):

    • Social media helps visibility, but a website is critical to present your work professionally and beyond thumbnails.
    • A website can also support monetization (online store, email list signups, downloads).

  • Develop editing/processing skill to create a recognizable style:

    • You don’t need to be an expert, but you should be able to apply a consistent look.
    • Your editing/composition becomes part of your brand—people can recognize your work by style.

  • “Get good” through practice over time:

    • Pro-level work requires high proficiency, built by repeated practice, mistakes, and iteration.
    • Growth is gradual: shoot, learn, refine your style, build reputation, and business typically increases slowly.

  • Get known to attract clients:

    • Use social media strategically (choose platforms based on target audience age/demographics).
    • Also do local networking (photo clubs, collaborations, speaking, partnerships).

  • Include video capability (increasingly important for clients):

    • Many clients now want photos + video (tourism, weddings, social media campaigns).
    • You don’t need to be a full expert videographer, but should be able to answer “yes” when asked if you shoot video.

  • Use a portfolio of income streams instead of one overnight breakthrough:

    • Becoming full-time is usually a slow scaling process.
    • Expect multiple revenue sources (examples given include project work, product sales, workshops, social media income, speaking).

  • Be the kind of person clients enjoy working with (reputation matters):

    • People return and refer you based on your attitude and how easy you are to work with.
    • Helping others succeed and staying confident without insecurity supports long-term partnerships and referrals.

Methodology / steps (detailed)

  1. Pick 1–2 niches and commit

    • Choose areas where you can “excel.”
    • Build expertise that makes you the obvious hire for that niche.
    • Avoid spreading effort across 5–6 areas where you’d be “decent.”

  2. Buy gear intelligently (used + lens-first)

    • Buy used when possible to stretch budget.
    • Avoid buying more than you can afford to replace.
    • Prioritize:
      • 1 semi-pro/ok camera body
      • 1–2 excellent lenses
    • Rationale: in most situations, the look comes more from lenses than the camera body.
    • Genre examples:
      • Wildlife: a strong 400–500mm prime + an okay body with decent frame rate and sufficient megapixels.
      • Portrait: a fast 24–70mm f/2.8 (even older) or a fast 50mm/85mm, paired with a used full-frame body from a few years prior.
    • If your genre requires it (e.g., lighting), it’s fine to buy used—but keep the overall kit streamlined.

  3. Create a dedicated place to showcase work

    • Build a website to show professionalism beyond social media thumbnails.
    • Include content that clearly presents your body of work.
    • Monetization options:
      • online store
      • free downloads tied to email list signups

  4. Become proficient at editing to develop a signature style

    • Don’t aim for mastery immediately—aim for enough skill to create a distinct look.
    • Use editing/composition as differentiation.
    • Goal: clients/viewers can recognize your style even before seeing your name.

  5. Practice until your proficiency is business-ready

    • Don’t expect to “go pro” instantly—professionalism requires time and repeated output.
    • Shoot continuously, learn from results, iterate, and mature your craft.

  6. Get exposure deliberately

    • Focus first on:
      • local recognition (near where you live)
      • then expand outward
    • Social media platform focus (as described):
      • TikTok: under 25
      • Instagram: 20–40
      • Facebook: 50+
      • Twitter/X: those using it for media/updates
    • Strategies:
      • post good photos regularly
      • engage with your audience
      • do local networking: photo clubs, industry connections, collaborations

  7. Add video capability to meet client demand

    • Clients increasingly want video alongside photos.
    • Examples mentioned:
      • tourism agencies (including drone footage)
      • weddings (video + photos)
      • social media content for businesses
    • Recommendation: ensure you can credibly say yes, you shoot video with modern cameras that do good video.

  8. Build income through multiple streams (start small, scale up)

    • Assume full-time comes from gradual scaling, not a single leap.
    • Example distribution given (illustrative):
      • ~40% contract/project work
      • ~25% product sales (prints/calendars)
      • ~20% educational workshops
      • ~10% social media revenue
      • ~5% speaking engagements

  9. Prioritize being enjoyable to work with

    • Clients return and refer based on reputation and interpersonal fit.
    • Be confident without insecurity.
    • Help others improve—position yourself as a partner people like dealing with.

Sources / speakers featured

  • Simon Donon (speaker; professional nature and wildlife photographer based in Eastern Canada)
  • Squarespace (video sponsor mentioned: website/domain; promo/discount referenced)

Original video