 Sydney A. Robinson |
Developing a Photo Career I really love photography, but a friend of mine majored in it and she is now having the most difficult time finding work. She said there just isn't a high demand for photographers. I am into landscape and nature photography, still life, stuff like that. I guess what I'm asking is, is it truly that impossible for a photographer to find work?
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Diane Dupuis |
For me, photography is a hobby, and if I can make a few $'s while doing it, I'm happy. I think it can take a really long time to become established and make enough to feed your family in photography. May I suggest getting a paying job and practicing and setting up your clientele and portfolio until you make enough money at photography - then quit the other job?
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Chris J. Browne |
Ninety percent of waiters in Hollywood are actors. Have a good career first ... shoot second and really love it. Enter shows and sit there for 12 hours a day and listen to people say how beautiful the picture is and move on. Rejection is part of it. Landscape is difficult. Think about what you actually have bought! You might have to shoot things you don't like, such as construction sites or crime scenes first. But love it or leave it ... it is supposed to be fun!
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Sydney A. Robinson |
thanks for the feedback. you guys have been a big help.
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BetterPhoto Member |
It's like construction ... word of mouth is your best advertising. Sometimes, there's no work and sometimes too much, so it's a good idea to keep your day job and shoot on the side.
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Gregg |
Unless you have a really special skill or talent, it's going to be hard to find someone that will hire you for much more than a counter clerk at a photo lab. The trick is too work for your self and market. Find an area of photography you feel comfortable with and start with that. This may be shooting pets, landscapes, families, children, sports, etc.) Now send out mailing pieces with a modest fee. Send to friend, neighbors, etc.. Someone will reply. Now you have a start. The more tricky photography such as weddings, portraits cam come later.
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N. Airazell Riedlinger |
Ever since I took my very first photo the a tin can camera in 5th grade science class a photographer is the 1 and only thing I ever wanted to do. At I took ever single photo shop and or developing class possible..... Luckly I was very young to gain experience I took a job 15 yrs. ago for a nation wide company. And yes I did gain alot of experience in traditional portrait photography. However, what I gained more then that was; 1- a weekly income to help finance my true passion of my own studio 2- a help place to find out answers to my own question on photography. (This site wasn't available) 3- A clientiel --- A with the ability to travel has even help By builting cliential threw out N. CA. HOWEVER, BEWARE I AM ONLY JUST NOW LOOKING FOR A STUDIO LOCATION. AND HONESTLY, I AM STILL AT THAT SAME NATION WIDE COMPANY.
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Timothy W. Malone |
I have been working on answering the same question since 1965. In my youth I wanted to be a full time photographer so bad I could taste it. Those positions don't open up very often and you have to be be in the right place at the right time. Having a fine arts degree doesn't change it all that much. I settled for serving 25+ years in the military, which took me to many foreign countries where I could enjoy my photography in my off time. Now that I am older I work weddings every weekend and do a few portraits during the week just to keep the cash flowing. I spend my free time now working with large format cameras and collecting vintage cameras. A career, no. But a lifetime of enjoyment, yes!
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x |
One of the fallacies of photography is that you should study it, and then something will happen. My recommendation is to go to college and major in business. I know...yuk! But, you should because photography is a business. I am a businessman who happens to use photography to make money. You need to understand everything about photography, but knowing all the underlying business stuff makes it so much easier to succeed. Understanding that start-ups take at least 5 years to get off the ground, and 90% of those fail, kind of makes you feel OK in those dark moments of life as a photographer. It's all marketing and hype. People have to know that you are there, and they will come. But, then when they come, you have to deliver. So, you need to understand the principles of business, including marketing and accounting. Then, you have to understand all the technical parts of photography. Mesh those all together and you have a winning combination. Best of luck,
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BetterPhoto Member |
A pro makes about $50,000 a year, but the real ? is how much do they spend My set up cost more than my car ever will
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Scott Pedersen |
Making a living at Photography? Well the market is saturated. Everywhere you look there is a studio. Look at volume of stuff rght here on better photo with the introduction of digital cameras. You need to treat it like a serious hobby,of course, get into local clubs (not online) so your stuff will be seen by local people. Depending on what they think of your work, you might just get some jobs. Of course depending on your work on will lead to good word of mouth and get you more.
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Sydney A. Robinson |
oh my gosh. your set up really costs more than your car? what kind of photos do you shoot? portrait, landscape, etc...?
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Jeff Wignall |
Hi Sydney, I'm probably going to surprise you by giving you an answer that is different than most (not all) of the previous repsponses. The question is not whether is is possible to find work as a photographer, it's whether it's what you truly want to do. It's just as hard to be a taxi cab driver as it is to be a photographer if it's NOT what you want to do. But if it's what you want to do--what could ever stop you? A lot of the responses above carry parts of the answer. Jerry's suggestions to get a business degree is excellent, as is Digital K's to keep your day job (at least for a while). But don't let anyone talk you out of a dream if you happen to have one (and I'm posting this for many people to read, not just you, of course): life is short and dreams are worth chasing. It can be hard to make a living as a photographer, no question. But can it be any harder than any job that is tough to master? One thing I would caution any one NOT to do is to always think about starting at the bottom and working your way up some imaginary ladder. Instead, seek the help and advice of people at the TOP of their profession and learn from them. You can call the busiest photographer/studio owner in your town/state and ask them for an hour of their time (for any reason--business, artistic, technical) and my guess is that they will invite you over. Successful people like to share their knowledge, believe it or not. If you wonder if you can make a living as photographer, my real answer would be to go to the local bookstore and look around. Someone is filling those thousands of books and magzines (and the ads in the magazines) with photos. You just have to be creative about finding out WHO needs the pictures. There are text book publishers out there who buy tens of thousands of photos a year. Finally, I'll tell you this: Most clients (ad agencies, editors, etc.) are far more interested in your IDEAS than your past or your reputation. If you have great ideas and can deliver the goods (as Jerry pointed out), then finding work is just a matter of pushing ahead. The clients are out there. Those who can't find work have run out of ideas. You simply have to committ to whatever you want to do. And on that note, here is what Goethe had to say about Committment: The Power of Commitment! "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now".
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Sydney A. Robinson |
i thank youall for your advice. being a senior inhigh school, i've been hearing a lot lately about following dreams, and the road ahead, and truth is, I don't really know what I want to do for sure. I know that photography is in the top three for the ultimate decision, its tough to decide. im going to keep everything all of you have said to me though, in mind while I make that decision. thanks again -Sydney
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BetterPhoto Member |
As a very old soul I will tell you, follow all of your dreams. And you can jump back and forth from path to path(its your life). Someone who wanted to Judge me for what I do for a living I told them " I breathe in and I breathe out"
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