Brandon Bell, 29

News Photographer, Getty Images Education: Long Beach City College, associate degree in communications

What advice do you have for other young professionals in the news industry?

Growing up, I did not have access to journalism programs, facilities or fellowships. There may have been a class here and there, but no real strong mentorship that could help pave the way for a career in journalism. My love for storytelling has always opened doors and allowed me to be in unique and special places. I’m a self-taught photographer who worked retail jobs and saved money to train myself as a journalist. I would stay up until 3 or 4 a.m. studying light and composition and then make it to class by 8 a.m. to begin my day. Not the greatest habit, but I did that for years. I couldn’t help myself. I took my camera with me everywhere and felt terrible when I couldn’t have it with me. My biggest piece of advice for younger photographers is to “go even though none go with you.”

How have you overcome obstacles in your photojournalism career?

I really believe passion and determination propelled me past obstacles, and whenever I hit roadblocks, I was never stuck for too long because I could see the goal. I could feel the dream. There will always be setbacks but learn to turn those setbacks into opportunities. In their love for you, people will try to deter you because the field is a challenging career to make a living in, but your love and passion for your work must continue to mature to be greater than peoples’ disbelief.