What Type Of Person Thrives In The Photography Industry According To An Independent Media Professional
Willa's perspective on thriving in independent media reveals a nuanced understanding of success, distinguishing between high income and personal fulfillment. While acknowledging that those with "really strict expectations and boundaries" can achieve high earnings in commercial work, Willa prioritizes working with "community-based organizations" and feeling "connected" to the work, even if it means lower financial returns; this reflects a career deeply rooted in values rather than solely financial gain.
Personable, Humble, Resilient, Relationship-Oriented, Community-Focused
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Willa Cutolo
Independent Media
Independent Organization
UCLA
N/A
English, Writing & Education, English
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. People who thrive in this industry have clear expectations and boundaries for their work, especially those focusing on commercial photography where high-paying jobs are common.
2. Strong interpersonal skills are essential for building relationships with clients and communities, which is especially important for photographers working with community-based organizations.
3. A sense of connection to the work and the clients is key for long-term fulfillment, even if it means foregoing higher-paying jobs that don't align with one's values. Prioritizing income over values may lead to short-term success but not necessarily long-term fulfillment
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
Describing people who thrive in this industry can be tricky, as there are different definitions of the word "thrive." If by thrive you mean earning the most income possible, it's people who have very strict expectations and boundaries for what they will and will not do.
I know photographers who primarily work commercially and won't pick up a camera for anything less than $2,000. Granted, that money is paying them, their teams, and any equipment rental or other expenses they might incur. Commercial work, branded content, and branded imagery are big, with substantial budgets. Those individuals thrive because they have solid expectations about who they'll work for and what they need.
Generally, beyond commercial work, photographers who do well are pretty personable. People who are warm, friendly, and quick to foster relationships tend to do well. Anyone can learn to make a nice photo, and some people will pay for that alone.
But if you want to serve community organizations and the people around you, you need humility. You must be okay with making mistakes, showing up, and pushing forward even after those mistakes, handling them gracefully. You still need to be warm, welcoming, and able to develop a relationship, even if it's brief.
Again, it depends on what you mean by thrive. Earning the most income is one thing, and there are ways to do that which don't align with my preferences. For me, I feel like I'm thriving when I'm doing work I feel connected to.
That work typically involves community-based organizations, grassroots groups without the same financial backing. When my work is close to infrastructure, labor, or everyday people who keep the world functioning, that's when I feel I'm thriving. I don't feel like I'm thriving when I'm earning a lot but not feeling connected or proud of the clients.
For example, I don't think I could take a job like an annual gala for BP, the oil company. That's a bit too far for me. Or a community day for Northrop Grumman. I wouldn't be able to do something like that, even if it paid a lot, because that wouldn't be thriving for me.
But if your main priority is earning income and you don't care who you're working for, then yes, that paycheck would likely feel like thriving for a while.