4 Pieces of advice from professional photographer
Rachell Smith
We caught up with portrait and fashion photographer Rachell Smith ahead of her live interview on Visual Education to find out more about her career, how it all started and what advice she has for aspiring photographers.
© Rachell Smith
Rachell’s interest in photography developed from an early age, and was actively encouraged by her parents.
“When I was a kid my parents encouraged my sister and I to find a career that we were passionate about and loved,” she said, adding that the best piece of advice she ever received came from them.
They advised her to always keep an open mind and to think outside the box — something that Rachell still adheres to today.
The British photographer has worked as a professional photographer for more than a decade now, having started out assisting some of the biggest names in the industry. She’s also shot for leading publications around the world, including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Allure and Women’s Health. With her extensive experience and evident passion for what she does, we asked Rachell what her top advice would be for aspiring photographers.
© Rachell Smith
© Rachell Smith
Portrait photography tips
1. Find your own style
Finding your own style shouldn’t be stressful, Rachell said. She encouraged photographers to take their time with it and keep in mind that that style is something that develops over time and doesn’t necessarily have to be fixed.
© Rachell Smith
2. Select the right clients
“Have you ever turned clients down?” Is a question that many of our members ask. Here, Rachell advised to “only contact new clients that are right for you and your work.” This is something that product photographer Jonathan Knowles also discussed in his live talk show.
3. Be open to criticism
It’s never easy having your work criticised, but it’s not something that is always necessarily bad. Rachell advised to always be open to criticism and remember that, as an artist, not everyone is going to love what you do. Instead, use the feedback constructively to see how you can improve.
4. Hard work pays off
This final piece of advice is something many professional photographers will tell you, and it couldn’t be more true. If you’re not willing to put in the hard work, you’ll never reap the rewards.
“Don’t panic about making it as a photographer. Just keep true to yourself and keep shooting,” Rachell said.
© Rachell Smith
© Rachell Smith
For more great advice from Rachell, make sure to join us live for her guest interview, where she and Karl will be discussing everything portrait photography related, as well as taking your questions live.
You can also learn more about portrait photography in our wide range of classes, which cover everything from studio lighting theory to creative one light portrait setups and even business headshots. View our full range of classes here.
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