Create and Accomplish with Personal Photography Projects Craig Wetjen

Craig Wetjen of www.craigwetjen.com has been a professional photographer in Australia and the US for 31 years. He has a string of awards that would make any photographer proud and he's been exhibited on numerous occasions and he's arguably best known for his book… Men and Their Shed where he photographed and captured the stories of 101 men and their backyard sheds.

I found myself at many points in my career so far, which is still going, that I get wallowed up with looking on the other side of the fence rather than looking in my own backyard, and looking at my own ideas, and doing my own thing, and not worrying about what’s going on out behind you but look out what’s going ahead of you in your own two feet, in your own backyard – Craig Wetjen

In addition to his accolades and photography, Craig has taught SEO and web marketing for photographers. This guy is one accomplished photographer and I'm rapt to have him for this interview where we go deep into personal photography projects and everything that goes into creating something you will be truly proud of.

Here’s some of what we cover:

How Craig makes a living as a photographer
Where to study in Australia to get a degree in photography
Advantages of enrolling in a photography course instead of self-taught learnings
What an aspiring photographer must do to learn photography
Considering an apprenticeship as a means to learn photography
The best approach to take when applying as a second shooter or looking to get an apprenticeship
Working out a deal in exchange for carrying a photographer’s bags
How and why photographers should detach themselves from their work
Craig's reasons for not selling his digital files.
What rights will you give up when selling your digital files to the National Gallery/Archives
The difference between giving your digital files to commercial and domestic clients
Craig's personal projects
Why it took Craig 30 years before working on his own personal projects
How Craig’s personal project came about and the parameters and guidelines he considered before starting
Rule of thirds, backlighting and other lighting patterns
Craig’s end goal when starting his personal projects with men and their sheds
Writing a project plan when planning to write a book
Craig's health issues and how he channels things through photography
The importance of utilising available resources to help cope with depression
Can you earn money through selling prints from your personal projects
Why it is so costly to self-publish your book
Hiring a publisher and how the process works
What kind of royalties you receive when hiring a publisher to sell your books
Can writing and publishing books be a profitable business for a photographer
Craig’s new project about dementia
How Craig coped with juggling his business, personal projects and personal life
Do what you want to do and focus on your own ideas
Is it normal to think negative thoughts when conceptualising ideas
How to deal with your personal demons when completing projects
Why you don’t need to rush to finish personal projects
How Craig finds subjects for his photography projects
Is it necessary to promise your photography subjects something in return for posing for your projects
The process involved with Craig’s book layout and getting to the end product
Craig’s reaction when he finally received the first copy of his book
The advantages of hiring a publisher to sell your book
Craig’s reason for choosing dementia as inspiration for his next project
Using photography as a vehicle to help generate community awareness on social issues
Craig’s advise to people who have an idea for a personal photography project
Writing a project report is key to successfully implementing an idea
An idea is not real until it’s tangible
A digital file is not tangible. A print is tangible

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Craig had to share?

Life is not always about money. It's about doing what you love. You know they say if you do whatever you love, you never have to work a day in your life. And I just wanted to do what I love. Selling prints was an absolute bonus – Craig Wetjen

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Craig or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.

You’ve got to detach from your photography. You’ve got to detach the fact that you’re a creative and you’ve got this sense of ownership of the photograph – Craig Wetjen

To really keep your own mindset is to go with your own journey and follow with your heart – Craig Wetjen

Everybody is worthy of a photograph no matter what age or what gender – Craig Wetjen

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Men and their Sheds Website

Men and their Sheds by Craig Wetjen from Booktopia

Men and their Sheds by Craig Wetjen from Book Depository (Free international shipping)

Men and their Sheds by Craig Wetjen from Angus & Robertson

Men and their Sheds by Craig Wetjen from Dymocks

Men and their Sheds by Craig Wetjen from Collins

Men and their Sheds in the News

Craig Wetjen Website

Craig Wetjen on Facebook

Craig Wetjen on Twitter

Craig Wetjen on Instagram

Jesse Marlow

Andrew Esposito

Michael Teo

Episode 005 Premium Only: Michael Teo – Photography Projects Pay Off When You Commit

Beyond Blue

Australian Men's Shed Association

How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening to the show and thanks to Craig for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing his thoughts, views and ideas.

Go with your heart and stay true to what you want to do. Take input and inspiration from others but stay true to your idea. Put your idea on paper – Craig Wetjen

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me, hope everything is going well for you in life and photography!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew