I’ve been mentioning folks now for over five years on a one to one basis, and I have some thoughts on what mentoring should be, and what anyone who is wishing to be mentored should consider before working with a photographer who’s work they like.
I think first and foremost, if one is going to look for a mentor, they should really try to answer the question as to why they want to be mentored, and what they are perhaps hoping to get out of the experience. And also - why that particular photographer?
There are a few things I think anyone who wishes to be mentored should consider before approaching someone for mentoring:
You should choose a photographer because you think there is something about their work that you can learn from. Or because you think they may be a good teacher. Some photographers may be better teachers than they are photographers. While others may be great photographers but not so good at teaching. Do your research. Watch interviews, or read interviews, study their work, and philosophy. See if it resonates.
Best to get an idea of what the expectations are before you begin. Having a clear idea of what you are expected to provide, and what the teacher will provide is key.
As a student, you will be expected to put effort into the sessions, and provide images that meet exercises your teacher will set you. The only way to improve, is by doing the work yourself.
The mentoring might not be what you expected. In fact, it probably won’t be anything close to what you anticipated. Going into mentoring with a photographer, I would advise you to keep your mind open, and go with wherever they wish to go with you.
Try to leave your ego outside the sessions. As tough as it will be, your work will be up for review, always with the aim of trying to encourage you to broaden your skillset. This can only happen if you’re receptive to feedback. If you have a good teacher, you should come away from the sessions feeling encouraged, and with “buy in”. In other words, you should feel a belief and commitment to do the work you’ve been set.
Best not to go into it, hoping that the teacher will love your work. They are not there to validate you. They are there, irrespective of how accomplished your work is, to give value and find some things to help broaden your skills. No matter how accomplished the work is, as a teacher it is my job to always offer something. In these circumstances I always make it clear that what I am offering is not a criticism of the work, but just different ways to consider the work. The aim is always to expand the students skills in either seeing or interpreting the work.
Mentoring is a relationship, and as such requires honesty and accountability on both sides. You have to be ready to be vulnerable. As a teacher, i’m more interested in what you need to improve on, than what you do well already. To admit where you had difficulty or struggle is helpful for me in finding the areas we need to work on.
Lastly, but perhaps the most important: try to submit work that is your own. This sounds harsh but what I really mean by this is you should submit work that is the least influenced by the photographer you want to be taught by.
In my own case, I have no interest in repeating the same compositional devices or editing techiques that I did with a certain landscape, with a student’s similar imagery. Yet it is not uncommon to be sent submissions that are of the same locations or similar compositions as my own.
I would urge you to try to find images that you know are your own work, and do not “borrow” too heavily from the teacher you are hoping to work with. This will have several benefits;
a) it will be more interesting for the teacher to work on things they are unfamiliar with
b) it will allow your teacher to remove themselves from your work
c) you and your teacher will be in a more neutral place for the mentoring to begin
—
Ok, so there is a lot to think about above. But important points to consider.
I would say however, that it’s ok to pursue mentoring, even if you can’t answer some of the questions I’ve put forward for you to consider. I merely wish to put them forward as food for thought.