What makes a successful photographer?

Answer 1

What makes a successful photography? First, like any other career the key question is why? Why photography? The life of a photographer similar to other positions that aren't 9 to 5 can be challenging if you're the 9 to 5 type.

Albert Watson stated photography is 80% creative and 10% technical but knowing the basics about exposure, lighting and depth of filed must be balanced in the 10% with knowing your equipment. The 80% has creativity and passion mixed with the willingness to explore in order to create your unique voice.

These items only really apply if this is going to be your full time work. If this is a hobby, well know your equipment and know about exposure.

Answer 2

How do you personally define success? Success means different things for a photographer looking to start a career versus a hobbyist or advanced amateur. If you are passionate about photography and derive your fulfillment internally, I view this as successful. If you view photography as a means of expressing your creative personality or telling stories from your own unique vantage point, I view this as successful. 

In the broader sense, being successful requires a willingness to intimately learn the technical so that you can forget about it and focus on what really matters, which are the compositional and storytelling aspects. Being successful means that you’re dedicated to learning how good design and lighting (and the other choices we make at the time of capture) factor into creating a strong and compelling photograph. Lastly, being successful requires a tremendous amount of trial & error and practice so that we can become more intuitive in what we do. Success is not about having the best camera or the sharpest image, nor is it about getting more likes on Instagram. Success will always be inward facing.