Become a PRO Photographer | Will Malone on High Level with Axel Arzola

In this video, I talk with my photographer friend, Will Malone about how to become a PRO photographer and how to make money with your photos. We spoke about how he got started in photography and the lessons he learned as he progressed from a hobby to a freelancer to a full-time business. 

Will also go through how he comes up with photo ideas and how he manages to commit to making a daily vlog for a year. He discussed how photography keeps him inspired and motivated, as well as how he deals with moments when he doesn't meet his own standards or feels like a failure.

We also discussed about getting validation from people as an artist and generating money by selling images as prints. Additionally, Will shared his favorite camera gear and brands and his ideal project.

WHO IS WILL MALONE?

In order to excel at his craft, Will began doing daily photo challenges called 365 projects where he would shoot and post a photo every single day. There have been 7 or 8 of these, among them was a project where he made a vlog every day (which drove him a little crazy as you’d imagine) and one was where he shot a portrait every day. One of the most grueling projects (due to lack of sleep) was a 24 hour photo project where he had to shoot, edit, and post a photo every hour that encapsulated the last hour.

His current and biggest project? Now he’s driving around documenting and making fine art prints of small towns all around the country for The Small Town Photo Project.

Why?

After going to often-photographed cities like Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Brussels, and more, Will realized there’s still so much of life that doesn’t get photographed at all, and smaller cities that don’t have a photography culture providing images for that particular place. Now, Will sees it as his mission to focus on smaller towns and places not as often photographed in order to provide images and fine art prints for people who are passionate about their small corner of the earth.

Will currently resides and has a studio in the small town of Anderson, SC in order to pursue his mission with his wife, dachshund, and their daughter. Will also spends a lot of time being a total movie nerd.

CHAPTERS

1:15 – A Year of Everyday Vlogs

5:57 – How to Improve Your Photography

8:13 – The Beginnings of “The Small Town Photo Project”

12:32 – Will's Photography Journey and Learnings

17:57 – The Key to Being Consistent and Committed

21:44 – Managing Self-expectations and Failure

24:36 – Dealing with Comparison and Feeling Inadequate

27:50 – Making Money by Selling Prints of Images

29:00 – Favorite Camera Gear and Brands

38:34 – Next Ideal Project

CONNECT WITH WILL MALONE

Website: https://www.willmalone.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willmalone/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willmalone365/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WillMalone365

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@willmalone

RESOURCES

How to Become a Photographer – https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/photographer/

FOLLOW US

High-Level Podcast

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Axel Arzola:

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Red Axe Media

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Get the music I use

Soundstripe: http://soundstripe.grsm.io/AxelArzola

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