Want to be a PRO Landscape Photographer?? WATCH this 

One of the things which people have commented on is workshops and why I didn’t mention them: a valid point though the aim of the video was more focused on the key things I’ve learned rather than it being a ‘how to’ guide to being a pro which there’s a million other subjects which could be discussed. For clarity workshops are a key part of my business (both residential and 1:1) and makes up about 20-25% of my revenue. The topic of workshops is probably a video on its own!

On the button Stuart, great points well made. Here’s to the next 5 years🎉

No wish to go pro, but love the walks and snaps with my tiny Sony a6000 - many from Crummock Water and the rest of the World. Congrats on the five year, love the vlogs!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and honesty Stuart. There are very few professional photographers that are willing to impart on their skills. I’ve just started following you and I still have long road to travel, but I look forward to hearing more about your workshops and the tricks of the trade. You have a beautiful gallery!

Good honest advice there Stuart. What I enjoy about your videos is the work you produce and your honesty about the business and you can see you don’t try to please anyone other than just saying it as it is. I see you framed that haw frost print. Best image I’ve seen anywhere for a long time. Don’t worry about not posting videos so often. It’s always a pleasure to see a video from you when it pops up.

I'm glad, in a sense, that I waited until retirement from my regular job to get seriously into photography and start a RU-vid channel. On the one hand, I'm older now and I'm not sure how long I can actually travel, lug a bunch of gear around, etc. On the other hand, I have a secure income and (barring family obligations) I can shoot what I want, when I want within my budget. I have no regrets. As for your print sales at your gallery: do you get mostly locals or tourists?

Just spent a week in Keswick and drove past your shop a few times, due to limited mobility it was not practical to walk back from the nearest parking point. I regret not being able to walk any distance from the car. Got a few shots around Ulswater looking forward to my next visit and hopefully get a chance to visit your Gallery.

sensible and practical and very useful advice, and very honest, love it thanks

This was a much needed video, there are to many pro’s out there that sugar coat their lifestyle which can be quite misleading to new/amateur photographers. It’s nice to have a video that has some cracking photography and some real-world advice, nice work!

Hi Stuart. Really appreciate the honesty you've shown here. As someone who went full time around the same time as you, I've often felt that the hard graft is almost treated as a taboo subject on RU-vid. Selling prints is definitely not the way to make a fortune and as I don't post on RU-vid, I rely on other social media channels to get my work out there. Workshops have been my biggest earner, but I've never been a networker or prioritised marketing, so word of mouth is very important to me. Having my own website has helped enormously but I'm not planning on retiring to the South of France anytime soon ! Keep up the good work and I'll definitely visit your gallery next time I'm in Keswick. Thanks for sharing.

Great advice Stuart….doesn’t concern me as I have never had any intention of doing landscape photography for a living.Hopefully you continue to make a living from it…there are far to many fakes out there.All the best.

"there's a lot of bad advice here" you're a master of understatement, mate!! 😂👍

Spot on point man!! Marketing is this day and age is a necessary evil so best to market something that is at least good for sure !! It helps also to have good subjects to photograph !! The light you got in this was sublime and the shots too !! Well done for making this vid and congrats on 5 years !!

Straight to the point and down to Earth without sugar coating anything. That was really helpful. Thanks

Just relieved I’m a hobbyist … man, the pressures. But keep at your quality.

It's refreshing to see this video. I've been doing this since 2007 and feel bad for other photographers who want a business and have the drive we do. Thanks for helping them understand that if you want a business you must have the passion to connect to your ideal clients.

Such an honest, open, and insightful message you are sharing here Stuart. In these times I am so grateful for my muggle job and being able to enjoy my photography without the financial pressure of photographic financial success. I do really enjoy the moment when a sale comes my way though, not going to lie!

To be totally frank, just wanting to be a pro landscape photographer is not enough as many on RU-vid and elsewhere have discovered. Good one Stuart, wish you continued success 👏😀👍

I'm nowhere near thinking about becoming a professional photographer, perhaps I never will be....but I just wanted to say that the images in this video are stunning (even if you think they are twee, Stuart 😜)

Great video with helpful and practical advice from someone who clearly gone through this first hand. Good for you Stuart and great to see you have succeeded in building a career in photography

Stuart another thoughtful video. Toy should visit Sussex in May for bliebells - they are superb.

Very wise words and the wren in the background agrees 😊 I also happen to really like the Crummock pano. Cheers 🍻

It's a Gallery, not a shop lol. Loved the light.

Nice to see someone not sugar coating the lifestyle. Thank you. 👍

Spot on advice. I've been full time since the end of 2019. Your points are exactly what I've seen and experienced. Thank you for a great video!

That pano of Crummock is stunning!

Hi Stuart, well that's fitting for our Tuesday topic. You bring it well to the point. What I have at times completely lost sight of with my little RU-vid channel is the necessary quality of the photos. What you really want to do as a landscape photographer: extraordinary photos. Not extraordinary videos for RU-vid. Thank you for this wonderful video! Best regards from Germany, Holger

Congratulations on the 5 year landmark Stuart

Solid and well informed advice, Stuart which is just what I'd expect from you. It was nice to see Crummock water from a different position which was new to me too. So thanks again and here's to your next 5!

Really solid advice and truth there Stuart, and as you say it’s not often spoken but really needs to be. Not a single point I’d argue on there at all. Keep doing what you’re doing and here’s to the next 5 years. Ps great images too !

Great insights and appreciate some hounesty and realism 👌👍🙂

Here’s to your next 5 bud. Good, honest and sound advice 👍🏻

Amazing clear cut advice buddy, great to see you back to 👍🏻

Excellent breakdown, knowing what sells is key for sure. Great video.

Brilliant mate great milestone, very well deserved

Very interessting video and beautiful shots! Love this little Island! 😊

A very interesting and clearly sincere perspective. Wise words indeed and thanks for sharing.

Excellent vid, Stuart. Ace conditions you've had - envious. Five years!! Good, God!! Congratulations on the consistency. I remember you packing in work and going full time; seems like yesterday. I'm due a visit up there with Pete Rowbottom in the next few weeks, so we'll grab a pie and pint in The Wainwright at lunchtime if you're up for that. 👍

Such sound and honest advice for potential professional photographers. It was good to meet you in your gallery earlier in the week.

Enjoyed this one stuart! Some very valid points made too!

That was sound advice Stuart I hope there are plenty of RU-vidrs watching this channel and what you have to say! I am so glad I am long retired and work is just a nasty word now! Your pictures that you showed us were just wonderful but I would say that about most landscape picture's I see on here! there are some lovely pictures about, I wish you well. Thank you that was a interesting chat!

Hi bud, great video. Thinking of diving into this mysterious world myself and appreciate the open honesty about it

Frank as ever Stuart and glad I only do this as a hobby ! Great advice in the film tho and the honesty was nothing less than I’d expect from you 😂 Enjoy Dorset and look forward to seeing the next video. All the best.

Great honest vid....all power to you Stuart

Wow - how timely was this vlog?! I’m not ever going to consider going pro, probably haven’t got enough years left in me to forge out a career anyway to be honest 😁 I am, however, on the verge of finishing my web site in the hope that I’ll manage to sell a few prints here and there to help fund the hobby. Please don’t let Mrs G-J know it may not quite work out how I suggested, as she nearly had kittens when I told her how much it was going to cost! Your honesty is refreshing and to the point. Not trying to put people off, but making sure they approach things in an informed manner. All being well, circumstances will allow me to take (slightly) early retirement before long. As and when that happens, as someone else has also commented, I shall be looking to book a 1-2-1 session with you, as I feel I shall learn stuff that will improve my work and help me enjoy my photography, and not just end up taking shots of moody clouds, or Herdwick sheep. Loved the photos as always, cheers Stuart.

Well spoken,it’s obviously a hard field to make a living in your field of work. IMHO you are brave to participate in this competitive commercial work. Good luck to you and just keep on and enjoy it as I really enjoy your videos and photos as no doubt many others do.

Insightful & honest, cheers for that. it's clear, on RU-vid especially, that there is a photography for entertainment element & that's cool & eventually you filter through it all, via links & suggestions etc to find the photography & photographers you admire.

Some great images, Stuart, and a lot to take from a very honest video, even though I have no plans at all to go professional! Many landscape images only get a broader appeal if the place is meaningful to a lot of people, or if there is something about the image which takes it beyond a record of a place in time. I think that your image of the frosted tree a few months back is a great example, along with that 9 image pano shot in this video and many others in your gallery. I look forward to your next video. Thanks, Stuart.

In retirement I’ve tried to generate revenue from my photography. It’s been hit or miss at best. Lots of fun…but sparse revenue. Thanks for your insights and thanks for taking me along!

Just wanted to say that I genuinely admire your honesty and guidance in this video. I also totally admire your photography, which I try to emulate but I don't live in The Lakes so I am rarely there at the right time with the right light and the right approach. I subscribed to your channel some time ago, so know a bit about your career background and your son. I have you say that you are a inspiration - highly skilled but down to earth. Hopefully the ducks didn't ruin your shot!

Great video Stuart with stunning images mate 👌

Thanks for information and photos. It's so good not to have minutes of video of driving van at dawn to location, having coffee or dogs running around. Straightforward talk and good landscape photos is good for me. Please keep up the good work. Regarding income streams is not running workshops a solid source of income with RU-vid etc providing an intro. to the workshops/tours ?

Pretty sterling advice Stuart and I think your points are well founded and can transfer across to other genres too. For me social media presents the risk of ending up chasing the algorithm so that’s why I try and prioritise quality over quantity. Lovely images too, especially loved the pano

Great advice and very accurate.

I think the thing these days is everyone thinks they're a pro photographer based on a few likes here n there and the gear they're using. Totally not the case. To do it full time is a massive risk, so don't be chucking your job in and think you're going to make hundreds a week, not happening I'm afraid. I dont think peoole realise you can go out all day and draw a blank or come back with only one shot, not going to break the bank. Really enjoy your vlogs, always honest and down to earth.

🎯 All good points to consider. Scaffolding in the UK? Shocking! 😜 Carry on! 👍🥂

Great Information..thanks for sharing

I can relate to everything you say as you are in the same boat as me. I have a small gallery in the central highlands of Scotland and rely purely on tourist visitors apart from the occasional exhibition. The struggle is real..!

Your honesty and integrity is why your channel stands out from the crowd for me personally. As for your work Stuart, that speaks for itself as evidenced by the comments that appear after each of your videos. Finally I would just like to offer my thanks and appreciation for the work and time that you put into creating your videos.

Hii l love your videos the world is so pretty and l love your photos 😊😊

Sounds like great advice Stuart although I'll only ever be a hobby photographer. I can remember you move into being a pro photographer from when I used to spend more time on the TP forum. I admire your honesty and, more so, your approach to RU-vid. Thanks for the upload.

Good advice Stu.

Thanks for the video, Stuart. I always enjoy your work and videos. I also agree that some here on RU-vid are better video makers than photographers and some excellent photographers who make less than average videos. It's a tough balance.

I think one of the keys to being a full time photographer is to have several streams of income. If you can develop those, then you could survive. Embrace the suck, and grind it out.

Good advice all around Stuart. Curious to know if your gallery also offers custom matting and framing to walk in customers off the street. That seems to be a big added plus for most galleries.

Your a way better photographer than i am, i been on RU-vid now for 6 years and still at 11K ill never make it as a pro.. but there are some like you say that buy the way up and lean on the right people... My dream is to leave the heavy manufacturing job, and to do photography but thats never going to happen now.. i am way to average hahah

Good honest advice!!! Really enjoyed your images at Crummock Water, my favourite of all the lakes!! Really don't understand why you need to visit Dorset for the bluebells they are absolutely stunning in Lancashire at the mo 👌

It must be hard running a shop and going places to take photos. You are spot on with what you like does not sell well. As for RU-vid I've watched lots of photography videos and I believe many are not actually good, or even, photographers.

Interesting video. Often wondered about print sales, some seem to evangelise making prints to sell. Books and calendars make sense for customers to, more images for your money and a product that is easy to store, and, in terms of a book, long lasting and readily "updateable" with successive volumes. One thing I think would have been worth mentioning is what role workshops play.

Another great, and interesting video. I think there are far too many average photographers out there that get a few followers on RU-vid and think that qualifies them to run workshops etc. The only way to do this is, as you have, is to start off as a professional landscape photographer and then use RU-vid to help promote the business. Due to the easy accessibility of RU-vid far too many people seem to measure the quality of their photography against the work posted by RU-vidrs. I know it's not a popular view but running a RU-vid channel does not make you a professional (in any field). I came across a video from a "pro landscape photographer" the other day. He was obviously far too influenced by other RU-vidrs and one in particular. He was changing his kit, and from what I picked up in the video, this was happening because another big RU-vidr had switched. Far too many landscape photographers on RU-vid became obsessed with medium format and, in particular, the Fuji GFX system. An amazing system but the reality is who wants to carry all that weight out in the landscape. Fine, if you're one of those photographers that never shoots anything more than 10 feet from the car but not practical for anyone serious about the landscape. Anyway, this photographer was switching from the GFX system to full frame, it wasn't a surprise to see that he was switching to the Nikon system as that was the switch a big RU-vidr had made (Thomas Heaton). For most photgraphers any of the modern camera systems will be fine and far too much focus is placed on kit, or more specifically changing kit because someone else is shooting a different system. With all the switching they must have far more money than sense, I switched once (from Canon to Sony) and it cost me a fortune. Anyway, just a few thoughts, keep up the great (reality check) videos :)

Thank you for your honesty, this was a truly interesting video, even if at my age (68) I am way past the point of just imagining what would be for me a new career. But I would have one question for you, that is the "workshop" part of the business. Is this for you an important part of the business? As for the RU-vid part, please do keep it up, as I really appreciate your videos 👍.

Three things. It’s tough as F, you’ve gotta be good at it lol (Better thank good, exceptional) and Graft!! No short cuts Graft for your craft! Good advice Stu and congratulations on 5 years of hard work to keep on keeping on!

I think you put across the harsh realities of being a professional landscape photographer rather well. You can't really sugarcoat it and I've heard plenty of myths on the subject over the years I've been shooting, even though I've never considered ever turning professional because of how difficult it is to make money from it. I agree that commercially, the money is in producing and selling books, writing articles for photography magazines and producing the ubiquitous calendar, though I also hear that securing commercial commissions can be lucrative too, if you can secure a good one. I think the important thing is identify what your core money streams are that will pay the day to day bills and then look for profitable sidelines to boost your income overall. Do you think having a USP as a photographer is as important? Does it give you an edge against your competitors in a crowded market? Is the hardest thing identifying what your USP is or could be? I like the images you put up and I can see why they have a commercial appeal, though I will say that detail work could prove commercial so long as the colour pallette in the image is on trend, as customers do buy artworks to put on there wall as a finishing touch to tie in with their chosen colour scheme for the decor in a room. However, it's both the colour and subject matter that have to be right for it to be truly successful, because it's got to reflect the mood of the room.

That was really informative, thank you! You had mentioned books. If I may ask, where do you get books printed at low enough of a cost that they would sell for a profit? All the places I've looked at charge me way more than most people would pay retail! Looking forward to your reply 😊

Some real frank talking here Stuart, but it's a refreshing change from the usual BS about this topic. Looking forward to seeing your results from this year's bluebell season. Take care mate 👍

Excellent video with great advice, just telling it how it is. Look forward to the next one. Take care

Also, your best photos won't sell unless you put other prints with them so the customers have a choice of photos to choose from. They still buy the same photos, but they make the choice.

Nothing but honest common sense as always Stuart 👌. I always say it as it is (& it usually doesn’t go down well🙄😀😂) but I could listen to you all day as your outlook on topics that I have seen,/heard ,are very similar to what mine are. You say it a whole lot better than I ever can😀👍

Really good to hear your open and honest appraisal of the reality of landscape photography as a full-time job Stuart. Some great advice there too. You are so right about the number of mediocre photographers on you tube that are all style and no substance, and that quality of work is more important in the long term. You captured some really nice images in this video too, and glad to hear no ducks 🦆were harmed in the making of the video 🤣. All the best with your future business and photography. Kind regards, Phil

Elitist! Get you! 🤣 I don't really see it as that, you're simply giving the best you can to give the best quality you can and as you say that's what's required. You have that quality and a great nature to deliver it. Well done and long may it continue.

Great video Stuart, I do think youtube is oversaturated with photography and some of those that i have briefly seen although the images produced looked ok, the way its put over...... too many seem more interested in telling me the lights, this the lights that, running around like a headless chicken and not producing anything. This is one of the reasons i like what you produce, the day job comes first, and if we have to wait for a few weeks, we know its interesting and the images will be stunning. One day I'll book myself on a course with you.

While I agree that “most” landscape photographers won’t ever sell many prints, I personally know a number including me who do well selling our work online. The trick? SEO. How many people walk by your gallery every day? How many people see someone like Aaron Reed’s website every day? Combine website traffic with monitoring your web traffic, chatting with those who are browsing your site, getting them on the phone and having conversations with them, showing them what your work will look like their wall, and closing the deal. High end web sales is the same as high end gallery sales. Most people put up a website and wonder why they never get sales. It’s far more than just having a website.

Great points mate! Unfortunately we’re in the age where marketing and SM is way more important than producing quality work. Anyway, I need to dust the cameras off!

I don't know what it is about photography and why everyone feels the need to monetize it. Even the gear is divided into "professional" and "consumer". Earn a good living and you can buy the best gear, travel to cool places and shoot what you want. All without having to stress over it like a job.

My love of RU-vid has diminished over the years. It feels like I used to watch videos with dramatic footage of the landscape. Maybe it’s nostalgia or something but I’m struggling to remember the last time I saw some really amazing arial footage or a mega Timelapse. It probably goes hand in hand with life in 2023. It seems that there is a a generic blueprint for everything in life now. You must do “this” to be successful. All politicians go to the same school, all football coaches get taught the same qualifications and all photography channels need a thumbnail with a stupid facial expression and a list of 5 things to succeed. The quality is just not there. A channel with a combined total of 5700 tips to take the perfect image and yet the work is awful. That said. There are a few gems out there. For some reason they don’t have the status they should. The ones who the photography community should have on a pedestal as a barometer for the public to see what quality actually is and why people are worth the money. Unfortunately they are outnumbered by people shooting a camera like a gangster shoots a gun and abusing the editing process like they would a 3 for £5 sale of jeagerbombs.

annoying birds, please mute them next time

What??? Ducks "ruin" the composition??? I'm afraid your channel is not for me. Good luck.