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A famous photographer explains what it takes to shoot for National Geographic magazine

Here's the thing about shooting photos for National Geographic: It's a slog.

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Known for its decades of astonishing photography, the magazine serves as a kind of Mount Everest for many photojournalists. There are few outlets in the world with as respected a team of photographers. No other publication seems to transform its shooters into celebrities the way National Geographic does.

National Geographic
Mario Spann/Flickr

But it's not an easy lifestyle.

The magazine only lists two staff photographers on its masthead. The rest of the images come from a stable of veteran freelancers.

On the National Geographic website, the magazine suggests aspiring young shooters complete a degree in something other than photography and find a specialty like underwater shooting.

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National Geographic freelancer Ami Vitale, who spoke to us recently about her wild photo essay about pandas, said she got her start as a war and conflict photographer before moving into wildlife shooting.

And she explained that sacrifice is a key job requirement.

"I find projects that I'm super passionate about," Vitale said. "And just so you know, I literally invest a ton of money myself in the beginning. Everything I make goes right back into the work."

So, despite its pages being hallowed ground, it can be difficult to make a decent living exclusively shooting for the magazine.

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"I've got to do a few commercial things every year to make the documentary work sustainable," Vitale said. "Frankly, I know there's a few people that have been able to do it. But I have to do things like give talks all the time, and do a lot of other things to make this sustainable. It's not really a money-making endeavor."

She's not alone.

Other well-known National Geographic photographers, like Melissa Farlow, Randy Olson, and even the world-famous (and controversial) Afghan Girl photographer Steve McCurry shoot commercial work to supplement their photography for the magazine.

Beyond that, the best thing anyone can do is practice — and know the job is not likely to make you rich.

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