Can we be of any assistance?
Image © Kumi Oguro, Belgium, Young Photographers United.
Who wants to be a photography student? Now is possibly the worst time to try to break into an industry that offers no safety net to aspiring graduates, which is why two organisations are trying to help
Author: Olivier Laurent
26 Jul 2010 Tags: Photographers' organisationsBusiness
“The Young Photographers’ Alliance is a non-profit, educational foundation dedicated to rallying the resources of the creative community and general public in support of young talent,” says Deborah Free, one of the founders. It was launched last April after Free and her friend, Jerry Tavin, realised the challenges facing young photographers. “We felt it was essential to nurture young talent to support the future of the industry.
“Our mission is to rally the resources of the creative community in support of young talent, and to inspire and empower the next generation of image-makers by offering the real-world knowledge, insight, and experience they need to build sustainable careers as photography professionals.” To this end, YPA organises mentoring programs, educational outreach, networking opportunities and events, as well as scholarships and bursaries.
Last October, YPA presented three scholarship awards – worth up to $3000 – to three young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scholarships are aimed at helping them “realise their artistic dreams and give back to their communities”, and to grant them, YPA relies on support from contributors such as Photolibrary, Image Source and Alamy, which has been one of the earliest sponsors.
The American Society of Media Photographers is the latest organisation to weigh in, with a $50,000 donation. The money will fund two scholarships this coming October, and help develop two mentoring and internship programmes. In return for such support, these companies “gain access to the next generation of emerging talent”, says Free.
First launched in the US, YPA is coming to the UK soon, where Free hopes it will provide the internships and scholarships, currently limited to US photographers. The organisation also plans to arrange folio reviews that will “help emerging photographers make vital connections with picture editors, art buyers, and picture library editors,” says Free. Furthermore, YPA wants to become an educational resource for young photographers, providing them with “guidelines to help them understand the industry, how to deal with model releases and property releases, what to expect from stock libraries, information on copyright, templates for quotes, how to approach buyers and commissioners, and so on”.
To help establish the organisation in the UK, Chris Coe, a landscape photographer and founder of the Travel Photographer of the Year competition, is putting some of his resources in play. “We’re at an early stage right now,” he tells BJP. “But we want to mentor a small number of young photographers.” To find these potential emerging artists, Coe has changed the rules and categories of his Travel Photographer of the Year competition, introducing a New Talent category that will call on photographers aged 15 to 18 to participate – photographers under 14 will still be able to enter the competition in their own category. Judges looking through the New Talent and under-14 categories will then select the Young Travel Photographer of the Year, as well as other potential runners-up, which will become candidates for the mentorship programme YPA is launching in the UK. “The objectives are to support people that are thinking about going into photography or are just entering university,” says Coe.
Young photographers don’t need to pay to apply for YPA support – they can submit their proposals for a scholarship opportunity directly from the organisation’s site – but to receive advance notification of any YPA event, they must pay $50 and become members.
United front
Young Photographers United takes a different approach. The nine-year-old organisation, which doesn’t charge photographers to join, has a rolling roster of 150 members. “Each year, we select 50 photographers, who stay with us for three years. It means that we have, at all times, 150 photographers represented by YPU,” says Wendy Lee, a project manager with the Belgium-based organisation.
YPU was launched in 2001. “We noticed that a lot of photographers fresh out of university still had a lot of questions about the industry,” she says. “A lot of them don’t necessarily know how they can become professional photographers, so we decided to help them.”
It works like a collective, providing expertise, management skills and a wide network of contacts to support photographers through this difficult period. Membership is open to all photographers because YPU defines “young photographers” as shooters new to the industry. Nonetheless, only the most talented are selected. Each year more than 2000 applications are received for the 50 available spots, says Lee. “We work with an international jury of editors, photographers and experts to make our selection.”
Once a member, the young photographers receive a wide range of support from YPU – the organisation has recommended members to Nivea, Fortis and Adidas for ad campaigns, says Lee. She provides the references and, in return, members only have to make themselves available when needed. “Everything is free. We’re a non-profit organisation,” Lee tells BJP. “All we ask is that they try to participate as much as possible.”
It seems to be working. YPU members have been recognised in many awards, including at World Press Photo, Prix de la Photography Paris, Photography.Book.Now, Regeneration and the Getty Images Grants for Editorial Photography. However, YPU acknowledges that its small size imposes limits on its aspirations.
But that’s about to change. This summer it’s launching a social network, dedicated to young photographers. “When someone applies for membership, they will automatically gain access to this new social network. We’ll continue to select the best photographers each year for membership, but all of the others will gain access to some of the resources we offer – how to negotiate a contract, what is copyright, and so on.”
Social network members will also get a free, personalised website and be part of an extended search engine for use by companies looking for photographers. Plus the network will offer online graduate shows and access to photo agencies and galleries. “We want to help as many young photographers as possible,” says Lee.
It might indeed. At a New York Photo Festival seminar last May, three emerging photographers were invited to discuss how they had made it in the professional photography world. Their responses were identical: meeting as many people as possible and applying for scholarships, grants and awards. Organisations such as YPA and YPU could help with that.
www.youngphotographersalliance.org
www.ypu.org
Comments
Both of these organisations help young photographers entering the market. What of those of us who have taken the positive step to go back to full time study mid-life, either post-redundancy or as a free choice? Our challenges are arguably larger - higher overheads, ageism, time, lack of support from educational establishments, councils/govt departments, funding, negative comments from established photographers about career change photographers, etc.
Shouldn't it be for 'emerging' photographers?
As a recent mature photography student, I too agree with the comments about ageism.
All age groups should have their talent encouraged and supported.
I studied as a mature student part time for 6 years keeping a job and a family. My lecturer told me it was easier for me as I had more time to apply to my work. It was in fact much harder for me. I received no help whatsoever in developing a career whilst the young wanabee celebrity obsessed ner do wells got everything. I left disappointed but determined to set up in business. I have struggled to make it but still see the young wanabees strutting around like they are the only photographers on Earth. Put them with real people in the real world and they are useless. I am still struggling and it narks me that there is no help for mature photographers. What kind of messages are we giving out here? I for one would not employ a young graduate photography assistant. They think the World owes them and are usually talentless and bone idle.
I am sad to hear of my fellow "mature" photographers hardship and completely sympathise, being of the same ilk. I'm afraid to say it's not only the photography world that suffering from this. So many examples in so many industries, media, publishing, science, education,all the arts, politics, medicine - where the "bright young things" hired by similar for being mediocre, mouthy and cocky who show complete contempt for experienced, knowledgeable ,trained, talented, original, professional people. The young-uns are now in power and we've let them get there. We've got one for a Prime Minister. Every photography course in the country is churning out the same mediocre formulaic rubbish. Thankfully we have the work of the great "old" photographers of the past to inspire us and keep us sane.Time to strike back I say. Form collectives of superior, thoughtful, original, quality work and show these mediocre young photographers how to do it! Run competitions with older judges capable of judging and sponsors intelligent enough to see a huge untapped market. Good luck!
This subject of "emerging" photographers has been much discussed recently, particularly regards to ageism, and the number of contests weighted towards people in the first years of their career.
Emerging is hard to define, but in many contests it's not defined by age, rather by how many years someone has been seriously making work – but of course that's hard to police.
One reason contests are so skewed towards emerging talent is – if I'm honest – that people like me (who edit photo magazines, and curators and judges and so on) get a kick out of "discovering" people, and being "first" to publish it. And that's a problem.
The other is that society is hyperbolic about youth, and that's reflected in photography.
I have been pondering an article (or even a special issue) about this subject, and looking at the question of when creativity peaks. Is it to do with age, or does creativity trickle away with the number of years you spend doing something?
There's an assumption there that it does, and when I think about it, very few visual artists continue to innovate throughout their carers, and often their earlier work is their best.
But maybe, again, that's wrong thinking, and that innovation, originality and similar sentiments become less important as you get older.
I pose that as a question.
I was thinking of gathering together the work of a number of people who do continue to surprise and innovate, and have a few people in mind – but if anyone has suggestions...
As an example, our next issue features new work by Lee Friedlander, now in his seventies, America by Car. It's a brilliant and provocative return to form.
After twenty plus years as a hobbyist photographer I too changed career 10 years back to be a pro photographer, scrimped and saved till I had a full colour darkroom and was doing quite well working from home. When the time came and I considered quality was up to par I turned digital (2004) since then work has spiralled downhill as the industry has bloated with the new digital photographers who will do any job for fifty quid, weddings included, my 2 years HND I reckon was totally wasted time I should have done the chef course, at least I'd be earning regular income. Throughout I have received absolutely zero to operate or set up the business from any government or funding organizations but if your under 25 there are many avenues of funding freely available.
After twenty plus years as a hobbyist photographer I too changed career 10 years back to be a pro photographer, scrimped and saved till I had a full colour darkroom and was doing quite well working from home. When the time came and I considered quality was up to par I turned digital (2004) since then work has spiralled downhill as the industry has bloated with the new digital photographers who will do any job for fifty quid, weddings included, my 2 years HND I reckon was totally wasted time I should have done the chef course, at least I'd be earning regular income. Throughout I have received absolutely zero to operate or set up the business from any government or funding organizations but if your under 25 there are many avenues of funding freely available.
Another 'mature' student loses out
Likewise, I'm heading for 40 years young next year. I originally studied photography in the late 80's and indeed did some work in the early 90's as a young photographer, but gave up since the world out there was simply not designed for young women in their early 20's to be supported as a photographer.
Now I've been busy working and paying taxes in other industries for the last 20 years and giving it one final shot at the career I have dreamt of, not only am I forced to cough up thousands of pounds to complete my photography degree, again there is no support for us 'oldies'.
I completely agree with the sentiment of others that if you were to put some of the 20-25 age group out there in the big wide world, they wouldn't have a clue how to run a business, let alone have the confidence to actually speak to clients.
I can only hope that my own striving to be the best I can be at what I do is going to stand me in good stead for the future years.
I assume as 'mature' photographers we are simply expected to pay for courses (formal or otherwise) and we are also assumed bright enough to find the outlets we need for support.
A little help here and there wouldn't go a miss!!
As a 31 year old mature student studying full time with a young family, I am surprised at how many 'mature' people seem to be picking fault with a system like the YPA.
One huge benefit we have over any young person should be life skills and years of experience in what ever field we have worked in.
I would have thought that as a mature student/ photographer, you would have risen above this and rather than see the restrictions that life is seemingly offering us and overcome them in the fight to succeed, not giving in at the first hurdle.
Age is just a number.
You get back what you put in!!
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