For photographers just starting out, first get a subscription to French Photo magazine. Master your craft on a daily basis. Pick something you like to shoot and shoot it as often as you can. Show your work to people whose opinions you value, and listen to their feedback, but take it all with a grain of salt, because sometimes those we trust will subtly put down our work out of jealousy or fear.

And market the hell out of yourself.

Eric Striffler is a photographer working out of Miami Florida and New York City. You will find his website at striffler.com