Exposed - The Business of Photography (for South Africa) - Revised Edition by Deryck van Steenderen

Exposed is aimed at the South African professional photography market keeping local law and photographic trends in context. This revised edition ensure buyers of timely and accurate information based on new industry developments and reader feedback. 

The Business of Photography

EXPOSED – The Business of Photography is the book that everyone wishes they had when they were starting out as a young photographer. According to the author, Deryck van Steenderen, he borrowed an established commercial photographer’s studio to shoot his first fashion test shoot in at the age of 19. The photographer's advice was “Choose another career, you can always do this as a hobby.”

At the time, Deryck thought he was just being negative, but many years later he now understands what the challenges were. The author shares that he read countless books and magazines on photography and photographers but none of them really prepared him for the reality of the actual business of photography.

In 2015, the Mail & Guardian published an article on Deryck exposing the "lack of education around copyright infringement and how general business savvy is a huge cap, particularly in tertiary education."

Understanding photography in South Africa

Whilst honing our technical and creative skills as a photographer we also need to hone our business skills, without which we are unlikely to succeed as professional photographers. Our goal should be to have a financially viable, sustainable career producing the best work possible as professional photographers. A financially viable and sustainable career means one in which we are able to live a decent lifestyle, whilst making provision for our retirement at the same time. Just as every other career deems this normal, so should we.

More about the author

Deryck is a commercial photographer, based in Cape Town, working internationally on assignments from lifestyle to fashion and beauty, food and decor, portraits and travel.