Angus Fraser in his office, ©Rikii Altamirano, 2025
Learning from Experience: Angus Fraser's Insights for Emerging Photographers.
By Rikii Altamirano, June 2025.
Introduction
For young photographers beginning their careers, the path ahead can often feel uncertain and fragmented. How does one effectively move from the structure of formal education into the unpredictable world of professional practice? What balance should be found between the need to earn through commercial work and the desire to pursue meaningful personal projects? And in a field that is increasingly shaped by digital platforms and accessible technology, how important is traditional training in building a lasting career?
These important questions are addressed through the career of Angus Fraser, a commercial photographer who became an educator. With twenty-seven years of experience in the photography industry, Fraser offers valuable lessons for those who are just starting out. His journey from a working professional to an academic highlights the flexibility needed to succeed in a constantly changing creative environment, as well as the continued importance of discipline, guidance and artistic vision. His experience brings clarity to the practical and creative decisions photographers must make to establish careers that are both sustainable and fulfilling.
For emerging photographers like myself, Fraser’s story is a timely reminder that success in photography is rarely straightforward. It involves an ongoing effort to balance artistic integrity with financial realities and tenacity in practice. This article explores Fraser’s insights with a particular focus on supporting the next generation of image makers as they navigate the challenges and embrace the opportunities within today’s creative industries.
From London Studios to University Lecturing: A Diversified Career Path
Fraser's professional trajectory demonstrates the varied possibilities within photography:
"I was a professional commercial photographer, working mainly in London for ad and design agencies, mainly portraiture, mainly location-based work. Then I moved into education, first at UWE Bristol and now at the University of Plymouth since 2019.” This transition from practitioner to educator reflects an increasingly common career evolution noted by Dr. Liz Wells, who observes that "photographers moving into teaching bring invaluable real-world experience that bridges theory and practice" (Wells, 2015). For emerging photographers, Fraser's path suggests multiple potential career phases rather than a single fixed identity.
Commercial Practice and Personal Projects: Maintaining Creative Balance
Fraser's approach to balancing paid work with personal creative development offers practical guidance:
"When you're working commercially, you're doing little shoots to build up your portfolio. When you go into more teaching or research, you do more long-term projects. The biggest project I've done was Santa Muerte in Mexico – that took four years alongside other work." His experience confirms David Bate's assertion that "long-term documentary projects require sustained engagement that often benefits from institutional support" (Bate, 2009). For young photographers, this underscores the importance of:
1. Developing commercial skills to sustain your practice
2. Committing to personal projects that develop your unique voice
3. Seeking opportunities (grants, residencies) that support deeper work.
Degree Shows and Professional Transition
As a programme leader of BA Photography, University of Plymouth, Fraser's perspective on degree shows reveals their importance as career launchpads:
"The strength of any degree show is the strength of the students' work. You're hoping those final-year students make their best possible work. When people come saying it's one of the strongest shows they've seen – that's the best thing."
Russell Marshall's research confirms that "degree show serve as crucial transitional spaces where students evolve into professional practitioners" (Marshall, 2018). Fraser's emphasis on presentation quality ("framing, etc., gives that finesse") reminds us that excellent work deserves excellent presentation.
Essential Advice for Emerging Photographers
Fraser's distilled wisdom offers actionable guidance:
On the creative process:
When questioned about between plan and shooting, Angus highlighted a hybrid approach as he stated, "It's a bit of both; you need to go out and test ideas, especially locally. With Santa Muerte, I had an idea but didn't know the strength until I got there. It was a risk. "Sometimes it works, sometimes not."
On persistence:
"Tenacity. Have confidence in your convictions. Many young photographers aren't sure where to go, that's why education matters. Learn to edit, sequence, and submit work properly. Even after 30 years, I'm still learning."
Paul Lowe's research supports this, noting that "while formal education provides foundations, professional growth demands lifelong learning" (Lowe, 2020).
On inspiration:
"I've always admired Dutch photographer Rob Hornstra's work. It's exhaustive, comprehensive, really well done." Studying established photographers like Hornstra helps develop one's visual literacy – a crucial but often overlooked professional skill.
The Educator-Photographer Balance
Fraser's candid reflection on his current professional identity contains an important lesson:
"At the moment, I feel more educator than a photographer. I want to retain some identity as a photographer; I just don't know when that'll happen."
As Terry Barrett notes, "Academic roles often consume creative energy, yet the two identities can productively coexist" (Barrett, 2012). For emerging photographers considering teaching, this suggests the need for deliberate strategies to maintain personal practice.
A Message to all students who graduated in photography with an academic.
Fraser's closing advice encapsulates the article's central message:
"You're a talented bunch. Right now, post-graduation feels like a void, but we're still here for you. Keep pushing. Go for every opportunity. You will get there", Angus said.
Charlotte Cotton emphasises that "community and persistence form the pillars of sustainable practice" (Cotton, 2014), a truth reflected in Fraser's encouragement to stay connected with mentors and peers.
Conclusion: Building Your Photographic Future
Angus Fraser's career demonstrates that photographic success takes multiple forms across a lifetime. His insights suggest a framework for emerging photographers:
1. Embrace professional evolution – Your career will likely encompass several phases.
2. Balance commercial and personal work – Each sustains different aspects of your practice.
3. Commit to long-term projects – They develop your voice and visibility.
4. Never stop learning – From mentors, peers and your own experiences.
As you navigate your own path, remember Fraser's fundamental advice: "You've just got to keep pushing. You will get there." These simple words capture the resilient mindset required to build a meaningful, sustainable career in photography.
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Bibliography
Barrett, T. (2012). Criticising Photographs: An Introduction to Understanding Images.McGraw Hill.
Bate, D. (2009). Photography: The Key Concepts. Bloomsbury.
Cotton, C. (2014). The Photograph as Contemporary Art. Thames & Hudson.
Lowe, P. (2020). The Praxis of Documentary Photography. Routledge.
Marshall, R. (2018). Exhibiting Photography in the Contemporary World. Intellect Books.
Wells, L. (2015). Photography: A Critical Introduction. Routledge.
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© 2025 Rikii Altamirano. All rights reserved.
This article, including all text, interview content, and photographs, was independently conducted, written, and photographed by Rikii Altamirano, with full acknowledgement and informed consent of the interviewee.
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This article, including all text, interview content, and photographs, was independently conducted, written, and photographed by Rikii Altamirano, with full acknowledgement and informed consent of the interviewee.
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