In this episode of ELLOS by Funktastiko, we sit down with Finnish photographer and visual storyteller Robert Lindström for a conversation about photography, art school, experience, and what it really means to build a creative career. We talk about whether having a title such as Master of Arts truly matters in the photography industry, or if experience, practice, curiosity, and personal vision carry more weight. Robert reflects on his time studying in London, what art school actually teaches, and how learning about photography history, theory, culture, and visual thinking helped him develop his eye. The conversation also goes into Robert’s early years with photography: his first digital camera, shooting band portraits, learning from magazines and books before the internet became what it is today, and how he started calling magazines in Finland to get his first opportunities. We also explore the realities of working as a photographer from press photography and commercial assignments to lighting, production, client expectations, image rights, AI, film photography, printing, photobooks, golf photography, and the challenge of keeping your personal voice while making a living from creative work. A relaxed and honest conversation about photography, art, education, privilege, technology, storytelling, and the long process of becoming a photographer.
