Nature Photographer
To capture the
essence of trees on multi-media (canvas, film, computers, moving
pictures, bronze, clay, glass, precious metals) and sell to end users
for posters, books, magazines, jewels, clothes, cards, gifts.
A nature photographer is an artist who brings images to life. Whether
trees are the principal focus of the artwork, or part of the
background, the nature photographer must be skilled in multi-media
renditions. Susan Reep has a home-based business in Bakersfield
creating greeting cards. Greg Iger is a professional photographer who
has published two books on the natural wonders of Kern County, and
whose photos frequently grace the lobbies of businesses. And while
Casey Christie, Photo Editor at The Bakersfield Californian, started
out developing his photos in the dark room, he has made the leap to
digital technology.
Except for magazine staff photographers, nature photographers work
mostly free lance, and their creative and economic success is based on
reputation. It helps to have a stock agent to promote your work and
develop a special niche where you can sell clip art to the market at
large and get paid a commission each time your creations are used.
Earnings depend on reputation and range from entry level positions with
a magazine at $500 per week to $60,000 or more annually for well
reputed photographers, who regularly publish in National Geographic and
other prominent magazines.
Barry Tessman combines nature and action to create signature outdoor
adventure shots. He has great physical prowess and takes many risks to
get the action shots that have made him famous. He is in demand world
wide because he is not afraid to travel abroad and to survive in the
wilderness. Tessman's passion is photojournalism - the kind where you
get right up close to somebody and show who they are so the rest of the
world can see.
"Keep your camera with you all the time because you'll never know what
you're going to see" says Casey Christie who recommends taking a
variety of photography classes. "Versatility is important."
"You've got to have the right equipment - very specialized lenses"
Christie continues. Start up costs for a free lancer include $2,000 to
$3,000 for lenses and $1,000 for two camera bodies. Then there's the
cost of film and processing. Being a successful nature photographer
requires people skills, technical knowledge and creativity.
"You need to know the right people to make money in this field" says
Christie, "but if you want to do it, you'll find a way to do it."
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