Picture Kentucky 2009 | Life After the Workshop

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Freelance phojo Brett Marshall, left, talks with Herald-Leader writer Amy Wilson at James Still's cabin.

Networking is an important aspect of the workshop. Rubbing elbows with folks in the industry that one may never run into for various reasons. One of the more important things to bring with you to a workshop other than an open mind is a set of business cards. You'll never know when a potential job is lurking around the corner because someone remembers your hard work and actually has a way to get in touch with you. Workshop producer David Stephenson uses a company called Moo.Com for his cards and I most recently had some printed by a company called Zazzle.comWhen I was a senior in college I used an independent study course to intern at the Herald-Leader. After graduation there have been quite a few calls telling me of freelance opportunities outside the editorial scope by the director of photography. Another Herald-Leader alumunus Brett lives in Whitesburg, Ky., now and does some work for the Herald-Leader. His geographic location helps because he lives in a place where there are not many journalists. If you are thinking about becoming a photojournalist you are most likely not going to get a job in New York or Los Angeles. Chances are you will have to go where the work is and rural areas or small towns is where its at. Plus these macro environments lend themselves to better photojournalism in some cases.
To recap the main points of this diatribe.

• Networking may be the key to your financial security, or at least a foot in the door.
• Location, Location, geographic location, where you live right out of college has a great deal to do with how marketable you are. Think about where all the people are and move where they aren't.