What is a successful photographer?

Q: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE A SUCCESSFUL PHOTOGRAPHER? TALENT, SKILL, INCOME, FAME?

A: That’s a tough one. I will say that “fame” is never part of the equation of “success” for me.

I know some really talented photographers who don’t have two dimes to rub together. I know some mediocre photographers who have very successful businesses.

Part of me says that success is feeding your kids and paying your bills with a camera, regardless of skill and talent. If you can do that then I think that’s pretty successful. When talent, skill, and sustainable income can happen, then that is truly successful. If you look at a photographer and you love their work, the person they are, and their ability to pay all of their bills doing what they love—that’s a successful person, I think. There are many people in that situation who most of us have never heard of. They are still as much of a success as Richard Avedon, Mary Ellen Mark, or Gordon Parks.