Career Roadmap
Atiba's work combines: Art, Sports, and Being Creative
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
If photography is your passion, find a way to work in that industry. That doesn't mean you have to start out shooting the biggest celebrities. That could mean working in a camera shop. As long as you're in the industry that interests you, you'll be just fine. I also highly recommend assisting. I got my start by assisting the photo editor for TransWorld Skateboarding magazine. In my opinion, assisting is like free school.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I got my first camera when I was 15 years old—after breaking it halfway through that year, I took a break from photography.
2.
At the start of my senior year, I picked up another camera and realized how much I missed shooting photos—I haven’t stopped since!
3.
I was working at a skate shop because I loved skateboarding, but I decided to quit and move to California to try and live my dream of skateboarding and shooting skateboard photography.
4.
After sending some photos to Transworld Skateboarding, I built a relationship with the magazine’s photo editor, who offered to take me on as an assistant.
5.
I was able to get connected with the photographer for the Lakers—he took me under his wing and taught me so much about photography.
6.
I learned absolutely everything I possibly could from my mentors in terms of skill and industry as I established my own style and status.
7.
I’ve been able to make a name for myself as a photographer, work for major skateboard publications, and shoot for clients like Nike, ESPN, and Canon—and I’m still just as passionate about it as ever.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You need to figure out what you're going to do with your life now.
How I responded:
There's such pressure on young people—especially in high school—to figure out what they're going to do for the rest of their life. Students will be 17 years old and society expects them to determine what they'll be doing forever. I definitely felt that pressure in high school. But I believe that if people are left alone to do what makes them happy without that pressure, they're so much better off. Just do what makes you happy.