Approaching an Assignment

Without any formal education in photography, how can a novice, approach a brand/publication for an assignment?

Answer by: Amit Ashar, Commercial and Documentary Photographer

I, too, don’t have any formal education in photography. That makes two of us.

Firstly, I would suggest making a great and honest portfolio. Curate your images, see how strong you can make it. Secondly, make a list of the places you want to apply to. The list should be a bit exhaustive. Then gather some information about the brands and publications.

See what kind of work they are doing, who they are collaborating with. This should give you a fair idea if they produce work similar to your style. Once you know who you want to work with, write to them. Keep it short and simple. If your work is good, it will certainly be seen. If they like you and your project, they will give you assignments.

You have chosen a great field. Just hang in there, don’t lose hope, and enjoy the journey.

This article originally appeared in the June 2019 issue of Better Photography.