10 Aug 10 photographers share advice on starting out in documentary photography

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In this article I ask:

For someone wanting to start exploring documentary photography – what one piece of advice would you give them?

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Lewis Bush

Start out just by exploring a subject or world you find interesting, don’t worry about the photography, that’ll come later.

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Cinzia D’Ambrosi

I would tell them to truly follow one’s own passions. Thus, to work on personal projects as a means to find one’s voice. There are many subjects that one can work on. Actually too many! But what really makes a difference is that we work on something that we believe in. In many ways, life is too short (also photographically) and I feel that it is very important that we spend time on something that touches us deeply.

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Jonathan Goldberg

Take more risks!

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Ingrid Guyon

Research your subject matter beforehand, and feel part of it.

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Eduardo Leal

I actually have two – photograph as much as you can, and study the work of masters that inspire you.

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Claudia Leisinger

Follow your interest, fall in love with your subject, and write your thoughts and feelings down along the way.

I found that only by being passionate about the subject, do I develop enough empathy and gain interesting insights about the other person, which I then can choose to share with an audience. Also very importantly this love generates the energy I need to follow the project through to the end.

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Tim Mitchell

Get out of your comfort zone, photograph something meaningful and important that is right on your doorstep and then look hard at how best to tell that story. Remember that people (your audience) are moved by their feelings and by being taken on journeys and experiences. They are not moved by facts alone. Change people’s perceptions and you stand a chance of changing their actions.

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Hannah Mornement

Know your story. Research, prepare and make friends.

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Lucy Piper

Study the greats to become inspired & figure out what type of approach you might want to take. William Eggleston, Stephen Shore, Annie Leibovitz, Cartier-Bresson, Steve McCurry, Sebastiao Salgado. If you look at those at the top of their game first this will make you decide if you want to get involved…and surely you would want to?

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Roberto Zampino

Follow what you like shooting, get involved and do not shoot at the beginning…let the flow come first!

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