5 tips to start a career in photography after college or university

Lucia Griggi
Canon Ambassador Lucia Griggi (left) mentors student Mariam Sholaja (right), helping develop her skills and industry knowledge (Image credit: Canon)

With college and university terms at an end, photography students will be looking to take their next steps into becoming a professional photographer – and as one of the most competitive industries around, it's a transition that even the most talented shooters find difficult.

However, there is more to turning pro than just the quality of your work – indeed, your raw photographic ability alone will only get you so far. Canon Ambassador Lucia Griggi has forged an impressive career that has led her to work with the likes of the BBC, Warner Brothers, Disney, Patagonia, Red Bull, Rip Curl and Billabong – and she has also transitioned into filmmaking, directing trailers for Hollywood blockbusters such as Mad Max.

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James Artaius
Editor

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-Photo: The Nikon MagazineDigital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.