1 answer
Bailey
Student
Minneapolis, Minnesota
1
Question
Asked
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What should I keep in mind when networking as an independent photographer?
Are there any tips or tricks I should keep in mind when making industry connections?
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1 answer
Yasmin Mohamed Alamin
Clinical Nutrition Student
63
Answers
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Updated
Yasmin’s Answer
Hi Bailey 👋🏻...
When you’re networking as an independent photographer, think of it less like “pitching yourself” and more like building a circle of people who enjoy your eye and trust your work. A few things really help:
1. Follow your curiosity. Talk to people whose work you genuinely like, not just the ones you think can “give you opportunities”. Those connections last longer.
2. Show your process, not just your portfolio. Photographers who share how they think, what inspires them, or even behind-the-scenes moments become more memorable.
3. Be someone people want to work with. Reliability, kindness, and clear communication make just as much impact as talent. Lots of collaborations happen because someone remembers, “They were really easy to work with.”
4. Stay visible in gentle ways. Comment thoughtfully on photographers’ posts, show up to small local events, join online photography communities, and keep your online presence clean and updated.
Don’t make it transactional. Good networking feels like friendship that happens to live in your industry.
The creative world is small. Every honest connection you build now tends to echo back later in surprising ways.
When you’re networking as an independent photographer, think of it less like “pitching yourself” and more like building a circle of people who enjoy your eye and trust your work. A few things really help:
1. Follow your curiosity. Talk to people whose work you genuinely like, not just the ones you think can “give you opportunities”. Those connections last longer.
2. Show your process, not just your portfolio. Photographers who share how they think, what inspires them, or even behind-the-scenes moments become more memorable.
3. Be someone people want to work with. Reliability, kindness, and clear communication make just as much impact as talent. Lots of collaborations happen because someone remembers, “They were really easy to work with.”
4. Stay visible in gentle ways. Comment thoughtfully on photographers’ posts, show up to small local events, join online photography communities, and keep your online presence clean and updated.
Don’t make it transactional. Good networking feels like friendship that happens to live in your industry.
The creative world is small. Every honest connection you build now tends to echo back later in surprising ways.
I think Yasmin's answer is right on the money!
David Wuerth