So what is the secret to making a living from art photography?

Do you have an MFA? Great.

No? You'll never make it.

>>2884695
Why do you need a degree for art? Isn't your portfolio everything?

a MFA is definitely not a must

i think it just takes a long time to actually make a name for yourself in the art world. your photos dont have to be good. its your name that sells.

I make a full time living as a commercial photographer. I can't complain, considering im 20 years old. It's not all fun and games and working a normal 9 to 5 would probably be less work but it wouldn't give me the freedom I have

>>2884807
Is becoming a big artist more about marketing than creating work that is unique and interesting? Or is it both?

>>2884829
It's probably 90% marketing 10% art. No art is unique. Everything has been done somewhere by someone. You just have to able to sell yourself and make it look "uniquer" than the rest.

>>2884802
not if you want to be a professor a.k.a. the only real "career" that you can have as a fine arts photographer

work exceptionally hard. Put most of it into - networking.

continually update your work online and in person. It helps to work in projects but some artists have "one long project" which they break up into exhibitions.

network relentlessly (especially academics, get friendly with gallery owners etc)

submit for competitions and websites relentlessly. Don't go for low-hanging fruit.

have strong, meaningful work (ie don't be a formalist - most institutions won't care for you) about a place or subject you are serious about (no pansy ass 365 projects)

Work hard in other fields while maintaining your "personal" work - you don't always need to show this work, it's just a money earner.

>>2884851
How exactly does networking work?

>>2884864
I'm going through the academic route

but if you can tolerate the bullshitting, gallery openings are 5% about the art and 95% people talking about themselves

then you've got using submissions to build a rapport, contacting industry folks you want to work with, simple stuff like having a Facebook page (YMMV)

idk other people might know other better ways I dont have as much experience on that front

Porn for semi high end wannabees. I make a reasonable 'extra income' from this racket.