Britain has become a nation on self-starters and entrepreneurs, with a fifth of workers considering a ‘side hustle’ for extra income. While many of us have hobbies and passions, a new generation have harnessed the power of technology to turn their passion into profit. We talked to professional photographers living life through a lens about how they captured their dream jobs.
Professional photography in your back pocket
A new generation of smartphones are all but replacing more expensive cameras. With multiple, high-quality cameras and built-in editing equipment, today’s handsets have made great photography accessible to everyone. No matter your venture, whether for product or profile, high quality pictures are an essential part of building your brand. In New phone, who dis? BBC radio’s Marcus Bronzey and Dev Griffin demonstrated the easily mastered features and effects that could be used to put together a professional portfolio. “It’s really important for your online profile” Dev says. “Modern phones mean that you don’t need a lot of equipment or the hire of a professional photographer.”
But how do we turn this new capability into a profitable venture? We spoke to three Instagrammers who made a side hustle their full-time career.
Keep experimenting
Even the most successful companies keep testing, learning and adapting. Since it can take a while to find what works, it’s important to keep playing around until you find gold. Speaking on photography series O2 Sessions, former advertising man turned low light expert, Bal Bhatla takes to the streets to look for light sources that others might overlook – capturing anything from a shopfront to a reflection in a puddle. The lessons he’s picked up from these late night lab sessions have been directly translated into the work he does for clients including BMW, Lonely Planet and Samsung. This gives him a competitive edge.
Build networks
While shaking hands and exchanging cards is still an important part of establishing your business, the same thing can be achieved online. Former greetings card salesman turned perspective photographer, Neil Andrews found a like-minded community of London photographers on Instagram. He quickly built up his network by posting regularly and becoming a supportive community member: “It was great to talk to other people in my field, be inspired by them, see what they did, find out what apps they used, what was their style of photography and meet people with the same passion as me.”
Find your unique selling point
Vicky Grout started her career as a fan with a camera at underground Grime gigs. Now she’s the go-to photographer for the UK’s Grime scene, with her portraits featured in Time Out and the New York Times. She attributes her success to her genuine passion for what she was photographing. She explains: “If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, it will come through in your work and people will see that. And you’ll get bored of it very, very quickly.” While it’s useful to learn from others, straightforwardly imitating others won’t help you stand out in a crowded market. “Don’t follow trends” advises Bal Bhatla. “Don’t worry about what other people are doing.”
Persevere
Any venture requires hard work and persistence. To build a large social media following, it’s important to post new content on a regular basis. In an environment in which ever more distractions are competing for our attention, consistency is key. “The difference between success and failure is finding your own style and sticking at it” says Bal Bhatla. You’re on your own personal journey that you have to pursue. It’s a long journey and there are no short cuts.”
For more information, go to: https://www.o2.co.uk/inspiration/o2-sessions/huawei-p30-pro-new-phone.
