As I’ve gotten older, one thing I’ve learned is that it’s often easier and quicker to learn from someone else who has “been there and done that” than it is to learn by trial and error on your own. In this video, Serge Ramelli interviews Joel Grimes about what it takes to be a successful photographer.

I’ve been inspired by Joel’s work ever since I first saw his portfolio. Ramelli talks with Grimes about how he got into photography and how he got started in commercial photography. Grimes talks about reinventing himself as the commercial photography scene changed over time.

One of the things in this video that really made me think was his mention of having a self-assignment and the importance of it. I had started a personal project about a year ago but got busy with several other things. It has encouraged me to pick that back up. Grimes also speaks of going through rough times, which I think most people can identify with. As a result of this video, I’m definitely going to be changing the way I do a few things.

What do you think is the most important aspect of being a successful photographer?