Ask a professional photographer why he started photography and you won’t hear the same answer more than once. No two photographers feel the same vocation, but there is always one thing in common: no one did it for money.
Photography is an art. It is defined by passion. And it’s a common misconception that passions don’t make for realistic careers.
On World Photography Day, celebrates our customers, those who took matters into their own hands, dared to dream, and demonstrated how to turn passion into a profession.
Patrícia Devoraes: build your community
“I had conversations with professionals until I really got acquainted and understood that this was what I wanted for my life.”
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Patrícia Devoraes works in scenic photography. Her job is to capture the combined energy of a live show and convey it in a single image.
Each day is dedicated to finding organic moments in prepared routines and having the patience and intuition to capture their essence. However, it wasn’t until after her second term in college that Patrícia actually studied photography.
Inspired by conversations with her friends, Patrícia’s communicative talent led her to a new community of professional artists. Even while she was learning, Patrícia understood that making her art known among that community was the key to her professionalization.
He created and began to create a portfolio. Bundling and sharing event photos hosted on a professional website paid off and Patrícia was soon immersed in a community of like-minded professionals.
Each type of photography comes with its own challenges. Although Patrícia’s scenario changes every day, her guiding virtues are patience and intuition.
“It’s about the vibe of the artist on the day, the vibe and the story they create on stage. Once I have that, I’m always looking for thrills.” Although those situations can change in the blink of an eye, Patrícia has learned to take advantage of her time.
“Be patient because sometimes things go wrong. Sometimes the conditions determine the outcome of the work, but I still know that I did the best I could at the time. I learn from it and plan ahead so that the next time something like this happens, I know how to find a solution.”
Patrick Silveira: invest in your profession
“I wanted to know how to tell stories with images. I started paying more attention to style, consistency, and themes.”
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Patrick Silveira calls his style “Urban Nature”, an umbrella term for travel, street, architecture or documentary photography, linked by the idea of capturing and juxtaposing impressions of lifestyle and what it could mean around the world.
Aside from a few classes as a teenager, Patrick’s eye for photography is mostly self-taught. The turning point for him came when he bought his first DSLR camera: one investment led to another. After taking a few courses to understand the technical aspects of essentials like studio lighting and color editing, it became clear that this was the path for him.
While a level of technical knowledge is imperative to becoming a professional, Patrick continues to find inspiration in the basic principle of paying active attention. Learning to read between the lines and understanding how to evoke those nuances often reveals the core elements of an image that inspires emotion.
It’s one thing to take a camera to an interesting place and watch the interactions, but Patrick is a storyteller. His images embody a dramatic structure and nothing drives the narrative like conflict. Documentary, war, and portrait photography were early inspirations: timeless vignettes eternalized at shutter speed, capable of embodying such complexity in fragments no larger than 4×6 inches.
A good enough storyteller only needs three things: a theme, a medium, and a setting. Patrick’s stories evoke life, and while social media creates volume, it sacrifices deeper interest. “Social networks like Instagram rely heavily on constant attention due to algorithms. Everything is very fast, momentary and designed around low attention. Websites are slower places where you can write and tell stories. Artists who have the attention to put together a website require a different kind of commitment from me. I created my own WordPress website on the plan. The focus is on the image and it is designed to be simple and practical.” In his photograph, it is clear that it is important to pay attention to his own emotions.
That’s why taking the time to ask yourself why something looks curious, feels beautiful, or interesting allows you to act quickly in the moment. Always have a camera handy. Don’t worry so much about getting a technically perfect photo because the most important thing is to record good stories.”
Pedro Francescon: take your chance
“I became a photographer 9 months ago, but I have always seen my eyes as a camera«.
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Pedro Francescon is an inspiration to anyone who has ever wanted to pick up a camera. Take pictures of “everything”.
A chance meeting with a photographer friend led him to buy his first high quality camera and never look back. Without pretending that he is new to the game, Pedro has dedicated himself to studying photography, but more importantly, to constantly practicing.
He feels that even before he began to learn the intricacies of photography, he had always seen the world differently, that he had always noticed things that no one else saw. The game-changing moment was obvious: as soon as he took that camera, his instincts turned into actions, and his actions were impossible to ignore.
Pedro’s path to professionalization is fresh, but his persistence and desire quickly earned him a first paid job photographing a dinner for friends. He starts small. He aims big. Or so the adage goes. However, the dinner with friends turned out to be a surprise wedding, and by chance, a normal student job turned into a professional job.
Clearly, taking a lot more photos means more money (win-win), but as an artist starting out, it’s worth a lot more. Photographing a wedding means a bigger portfolio. It requires more connections and introductions, but it’s the opportunity every freelancer is waiting for.
Yet it’s also an example of the exact serendipity that turns so many creatives away from their calling. Pedro, however, exudes energy and determination. His inspirations range from Bobby Womack, the soul singer, to a fellow, little-known Brazilian photographer.
A shining example of the fact that there is no one true path to achieving your goals, Pedro continues to follow self-study as a guiding principle and often cites 70s and 80s pop music as the central inspiration behind his visual compositions.
That same spirit underpins an unusual quality that is reflected in his photography: the egolessness that is so often built into those behind the camera’s eye. When you have the knowledge, there is a fine line between evoking a feeling on a subject and taking ownership of a characteristic that was never yours.
Pedro’s photography is imbued with empathy, “the most important lesson I learned is that it’s not about me, it’s not about my photography, it’s not about the photo, it’s about the person.” And that’s part of the reason why he currently chooses to promote his work through his, gaining publicity through his website, with an eye to one day expanding his business through partnerships. .
“My website is synonymous with professionalism, respect, seriousness and care for my client… My website was designed by me… and it is one of the ways I sell my work.” Pedro’s lesson is loud and clear: “The most important thing for me is not the light; it’s the person. Photography can be a healing injection, so I want people to feel happy, satisfied with their self-esteem and see that they are experiencing something incredible in that moment.
Thiago Silva: make your talent yours
“I couldn’t call myself a photographer just because I had a camera.”
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Thiago Silva is a photojournalist with a strong background in fashion photography who is always happy to freelance for a professional wedding or event.
Since completing her studies, she has worked professionally with NGOs and non-profit organizations such as Hamburgada do Bem, Mais Amor SP, Bem da Madrugada, Comida Pra Quem Precisa, and more.
His resume speaks for itself, but the fact that he didn’t use a camera until 2018 is enough to sow the seeds of uncertainty. “I photographed everything from rehearsals to free events, but I did it without any interest; it was all just for hobby and knowledge.”
It’s impossible to pretend to know what’s going through another person’s head, but we still know that the feeling of self-doubt is commonplace. Thiago did not find a paid photography job until 2019, a full year of free work to further his passion and broaden his knowledge of a very particular and complex craft.
As an artist, the question is always to find a sustainable way to make money. Thiago knows that his website is valuable, yet affordable and easy to maintain. “I created my website myself”, admits Pablo, “with difficulties, but I managed it”.
“With a website, you have more credibility in the marketplace and can genuinely showcase your portfolio to a global list of clients. Your website is your home, and with analytics, you know who is coming in and why.”
As anyone who has ever been paid for their art will know, the feeling is instantly life-affirming while also promising that it will happen again. Even if you don’t know when it might be, every artist can learn from Thiago’s words.
“Do not compare your work with that of another professional. You should always look for new references, but never think that someone else’s work is better than your own. Otherwise, all you will get is frustration and no evolution.”
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Luis is an eCommerce and website builder professional who loves digital marketing. He is dedicated to helping companies improve their online presence through marketing practices. When he is not sitting in front of the computer, he is surely cooking a meal or training.
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