Hi Kiran,

Thanks for emailing me. This made my day!

What personal qualities do you need to be a photojournalist?

To be a photojournalist, you need to be very curious about the world and how things work. You should be creative and like telling stories. You also need to be brave, because every day you will meet new people and be put in new situations.

What are some positives and negatives about the job?

Positives:

You do something different every day

You get to be creative and do what you love as a job

The photojournalism community is full of wonderful and supportive people

You get to make a difference in people’s lives

Negatives:

Carrying all of your equipment is hard on your body

It’s a very competitive field, so you have to try to be the best

Sometimes you have to take pictures of things that are boring, like empty lots (yuck!)

Newspapers are cutting down their photo staffs, so there aren’t as many jobs anymore

What type of camera do you like to use the most and why?

I use a Canon 5D Mk III and a 5D Mk II to take photos. They are great for taking photos in dim lighting, because the technology is advanced enough that you don’t have to use a flash. Having a nice camera is a plus, but remember that it’s less about the camera, and more about the person using the camera ☺

What is the most interesting thing about your job?

The most interesting part of my job is the variety of things I get to do. I’ve met celebrities, toured chocolate factories, and ridden in hot air balloons! I’ve had a lot of amazing experiences just because of my camera. I also get to help people by telling their stories and raising awareness about important issues.

How do you find your subjects you take pictures of?

Usually a newspaper or magazine calls me and sends me to a place to take photos, but sometimes if I see something interesting happening, I’ll just ask if I can take a photo! People usually say yes. I also keep an eye on the calendar to see if there’s anything cool happening, like a festival, then I’ll go and take photos just for fun. It’s best to always have a camera on you, and luckily my phone camera works pretty well if I happen to leave my real camera at home!

Your photos are very nice. You understand light and composition already, and there are people my age who don’t understand those yet! I’d love to see more.

Here’s a photo of my cat sitting on my lap. He usually does this whenever I write emails.

If you pick out a picture you like from my website, I can mail it to you! Or, I can pick one out.

I hope you get an A+ and let me know if you need anything else at all.

Taylor