Photographer Switzerland (Zürich, Berne, Lucerne, Zug) – Martin Bissig
I would like to introduce myself and give you a brief history of how I became a photographer based in Switzerland. It all started when I was young, really young. My father had a black and white lab back home. In my spare time I joined him developing analog films. The first camera I received as when I was seven years old and one of the first subjects I covered was my collection of toy cars. Little did I know that photography would become not only a passion but also a profession.
Becoming a freelance photographer
It took a couple of years, mainly taking pictures of my buddy riding a mountainbike. I was always dreaming of having my images on the cover of a magazine. Therefore I practiced a lot. My first experience in freelance photography was winning a photo competition over at RIDE Magazine, the biggest mag back then in Switzerland. The editor saw my entry and asked me if I wanted to take pictures for the magazine. This was my first freelance job for a mountainbiking magazine. Besides shooting outdoor photography I also do event photography for clients in Switzerland.
My perticular field – being an action photographer
I soon discovered that not only was mountain biking a great subject, but anything related to action sports: hiking, trekking, skiing etc. Being a photographer based in Switzerland, I had the perfect surroundings and the best playground one could imagine. Biking in the summer months, skiing during winter – I took benefit of the four seasons and enjoyed the different activities I could shoot.
Make a living as a photographer in Switzerland
People often ask me for advice. How do you earn enough money as a photographer in order to make a living in Switzerland? My answer is always the same. Follow your passion and do what you love. Staying motivated is the biggest challenge over the years. If you shoot what you love, it is much easier and you will sooner or later succeed. Photography only makes around 20 percent of the work. The other 80 percent is networking, marketing, administration etc.
For me, being an action photographer is still my dream job!