Feature photo by Fujifilm photographer Alison Conklin
As creatives, most of us come to a place in our artistic journey where we need the kind of expert help you can’t get on YouTube. Maybe it’s mastering a skill, finding your voice, defining your brand, or breaking into a new market. Maybe you just need someone to challenge you and hold you accountable to yourself and your goals. That’s where photography mentorship comes in.
A successful relationship with a mentor can make all the difference, whether you’ve been a photographer for 10 years or 10 days. That’s why we’ve embarked on a special project with Fujifilm to highlight how every creative can benefit from a photography mentorship.
1. Personalized feedback can strengthen your art.
That’s why most people opt for a photography mentorship instead of or along with taking classes and joining forums. Individual attention and feedback from a creative you admire is a powerful stimulus for artistic and technical growth. Together, you can work out your specific goals, then build a curriculum to achieve them.
Documentary photographer Amy Dangerfield says, “Mentorship is the way to go for me. I thrive on having a one-on-one focus and tailored goals to work on; I learn fastest when I get personalized feedback.”
2. A great mentor will inspire you.
Even if you feel totally confident in your skills, style and voice, there often comes a time when you need a creative push. We all go through ruts, periods of feeling uninspired, even times when we feel like we never want to touch our cameras again.
A photography mentorship can help you find your spark again, perhaps through recommending a personal photography project. Their feedback on your work can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, empowering you to lean into your own voice once more.
“When I was learning photography, I signed up for a workshop that asked us to bring a full-frame camera and a 50mm prime lens. I had to Google what a prime lens was. Turned out the workshop wasn’t my thing, but I met a woman who became an amazing mentor to me. I began assisting her at photo sessions, and she let me into her photography world. Because she believed in me and was the voice that told me to value myself — even just starting out — my first sale was nearly $1,000. That set me on a path where I wouldn’t encounter burn out. Twelve years later, I look back knowing I would have quit photography if not for her mentorship.” — D’Ann Boal, Click Community mentor, workshop instructor & pro photographer
3. A mentorship can help you find and define your voice.
Do you ever look at your photos and think, “It’s good, but it’s not as good as I know it can be.” Isn’t it irritating to know you have the skills, the vision and the talent, but still can feel that something is missing — even though you can’t put your finger on what it is?
A mentor can help you discover the answers you’re seeking. He or she can appraise your body of work and ask the right questions to help you dig deeper. They can help talk you through your work, be a dedicated sounding board, and provide suggestions to help you refine your style.
Landscape photographer Krista Taylor participated in a small group mentorship and shared these two images (below) with us. The first is from where she began, the second where she is now.
4. A photography mentorship can allow you to focus on one skill.
Whether it’s finding light, composition, post-production, marketing or business, focusing on just one definable aspect at a time can clear the clamor in your head.
“Having an experienced mentor at the beginning of one’s photography path is — and I don’t say this lightly — life changing.” — D’Ann Boal, Click Community Mentor
5 Mentorship myths, busted
- Mentorships are long-term. Not always. Sometimes a one-hour video chat or in-depth portfolio review can offer all the insight you need.
- Mentorships are expensive. Depends. Some mentors do charge a premium for their services, but there are so many price points and arrangements out there (like assisting a more seasoned shooter) that you can likely find one within your budget.
- Mentorships are time consuming. Can be, but the amount of time you put in depends on you.
- Mentorships are one on one. Mentorships vary. Sometimes they’re done in small groups, yet still with personalized consulting.
- Mentorships are in person. Mentorships happen via video chat, phone and email, as well
5. An experienced mentor can improve your business.
You may be a multi-degreed, consummate photographer, but operating a profitable business? You probably didn’t sign up for that, and when you try to study, you fall asleep over the textbooks. A mentor can walk you through the business, step by step, using your own real-world variables. They’ll understand your specific challenges and needs, your market, and your clients to help you build the right plan.
At the heart of it, a photography mentorship is not only good for your art, it’s good for your soul. Finding a great photography mentor who can light a spark in you, and who can help challenge you to dig deeper into your creativity and voice is completely game changing.
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Created in partnership with Fujifilm. A version of this article first appeared in the Winter 2023 issue of Click.
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Spread inspiration like glitter: how to become a mentor to the next wave of artists
How to find a photography mentor that will give you what you need
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