Mathew Brady is one of most celebrated photographers in American history. He is famous for photographing 18 different Presidents; an astounding number by anyone’s definition. And if you see a photograph of the American Civil War on PBS or in a text book, chances are Mathew Brady took it. Back then photography was still in its infancy and the daguerreotype, the first camera widely available to the general public, was Brady’s camera of choice.

Brady made another notable contribution to history, too. Every image he printed was tagged with the words “Photo by Brady.” It is the first known use of a corporate credit line ever. And a very clever marketing ploy.

Even back in the 1800s Brady knew (instinctively or otherwise) that a good photographer needed to be the jack of many different trades. Successful photographers must be the master of their equipment, exposure, composition, artificial lighting, printing techniques, color management, posing, and post processing. But there’s more.

Even if a photographer manages to tackle all of the fundamental ingredients necessary to produce remarkable images, there are still so many other things he or she must learn if they wish to be considered elite. It may have been less competitive when Mathew Brady was capturing American history on film, and because of that a photographer must also be skillful in so many other areas today. Including:

1. Accounting

2. Computer programming (HTML, Flash, FBML, CSS, etc.)

3. Marketing

4. Advertising

5. Sales

6. Negotiation

7. Organization

8. Project management

9. Social media

10. Computer and data entry

11. Contract law

12. Writing

13. Video

14. People skills

15. Acting

16. Modeling

17. Management

18. Design

Just to name a few.

Photographers must also intimately know their subject. When is the best time of day to find a grizzly bear sow out hunting for food with her cub? At what temperature and dew point will fog coat trees in a fine layer of frost in the wee hours of the morning? Which way will a possession wide receiver turn when faced with a man-to-man defense in a ‘cover two’ configuration so I know the best side of the field to set-up my camera? What makes a young model tick so I can get her to reveal a candid grin?

There is so much to know.

Even Mathew Brady, widely considered one of the most influential photographers in American history, didn’t know everything he needed to know. Later in his career after documenting the war, he was forced to sell his New York studio and go into bankruptcy.

In 1896 Mathew Brady died penniless in the charity ward of a New York hospital.

Therein lies the most important lesson Brady taught us. No matter how good you are behind the camera, you damn well better be well rounded in other areas or else you are doomed to fail. Don’t believe me? Just ask Annie Leibovitz.