PHLEARN Magazine

The fresh new batch of college photography students are now staring blankly at me. All those faces looking to me for hope in creating a photography career.

After mulling over how to make money as a photographer, I dug deep into my experience to see how I could use some of the strengths acquired over my past career to build a business now.

In this issue we share stories of motivation and heart to keep you true to your initial idea. With time, and hard work, you can get through the Long Middle. And we hope these articles serve you along the way.

Now could a better, more experienced photographer captured all of this in one photo, in just one attempt? Sure, I have no doubt. But that’s part of the photography journey. You do the absolute best that you can with what you have.

If you’re stuck on a project, or are about to jump into a project that you know could get you stuck, whether one step or a whole, here are some tips to help you finish no matter what.

You don’t come with a manual. It would be beautiful if you did and life would be so much easier, but you’re unique. So, you have to write your own manual.

Looking back the hundreds of shoots I’ve done, this one is still one of my all-time favorites, and it never would have happened if I had not reached out to a total stranger.

The challenge I had set myself was to make a wind turbine look like a dandelion seed head! An organic, fuzzy looking, ‘turbo dandelion’ set against a turbulent sky (should I drink less coffee?)

It is difficult to step away and know when a work is finally done. Here are five different considerations to you enjoy the fruits of your labor and give you the freedom to start the next great idea.

It’s challenging and stressful to be a full-time mom and a freelance working illustrator. But, on the other hand, it really isn’t. I get to work bit by bit.