 Dawn T. Palmerley |
I CAN'T AFFORD TO JOIN PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOC. What does someone like me do. I can't afford the costs to join a Photographers Association. I can barely afford to buy any equipment for my studio that I'm trying to start. Any advice??
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Mark Feldstein |
I'm glad you asked. I think it's a better investment for you to pay association dues first, go to meetings, hire yourself out as an assistant with the established photographers you meet there, and then after awhile, go buy some equipment (while you can afford to pay your dues). Mark
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Christopher A. Vedros |
If you're trying to start a studio and you don't have enough money for equipment, my suggestion would be: find a way to get more money. It can't get any simpler than that. If you are really serious about starting a business, there are only so many corners you can cut and still expect to get anywhere. As far as joining a Photographer's Association, that should probably be low on your list of priorities. You should worry more about getting the equipiment to do the job, and then get some customers.
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Mark Feldstein |
Most of the time, I'm in agreement with what Chris offers here. This time, however, I disagree for a lot of reasons. First, association dues are really pretty minimal in the overall scheme of things and measured against the benefits membership in professional groups offers, I think they're basically cheap. When I initially started out to open a studio doing commercial and illustrative work, I went to a local PPofA meeting, met some of the photographers, showed a portfolio and was accepted for membership. The meetings usually offered insight into how the local guys set fees, who was doing what work, and some offered me studio assisting gigs that I not only learned quite a bit from technically, but also helped me pay my rent til things really got rolling at my own shop. And, after awhile, I started getting referrals from other members for jobs they passed on for one reason or another. I passed jobs on to them, like weddings, events, etc. Being an association member helps you develop relationships even friendships with others in the same biz and either the same geographic locale or elsewhere. At times, I may need help for one reason or another, whether just an extra pair of hands or a piece of equipment for a shoot. I also freely offer my help when others ask. Last week, for example, I helped another photographer light an auditorium for a corporate portrait. Associations, I think, can help you grow professionally, keep you from becoming professionally isolated, and stagnated. Other members can provide critiques on your work if you want it and suggestions on how to improve. Some of the benefits on a national level are excellent too. For example, my ASMP membership dues provided me with access to very affordable insurance programs, medical and liability coverage that are real assets. Same with NPPA and APA. And of course, if you go to a national meeting, they can be a blast not to mention informative. In terms of finding more money to buy more equipment, again I disagree (even assuming for sake of argument that it was possible for you to do that). If you can't afford to buy and have gigs to shoot, then RENT what you need until you can afford to buy what you really need for now and some time into the future. There are rental outfits all over the U.S. that will ship anywhere. That's my spin on it. I'd like to hear what other pros think about association memberships for those just starting out and the older-timers too.
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Susan L. Vasquez |
"Associations, I think, can help you grow professionally, keep you from becoming professionally isolated, and stagnated. Other members can provide critiques on your work if you want it and suggestions on how to improve." Wow, I want to join and I have no interest in being a pro! I'd just love to have critiques that mean something, so I can be a better photographer. Are these associations for professionals only? or are there any that allow both pros and amateurs?
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Autumn Hernandez |
So if you were to join just one, which would you suggest?
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Mark Feldstein |
Wellllllllllllll, Susan, you might check into PPofA and whether they offer discounted associate memberships to students and/or assistants. And, of course, working as an assistant is a good way to learn the biz. [PP of A is the Professional Photographers of America]. They seem to have the most local chapters around the country and they've been in existance for quite awhile. Mark
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Susan L. Vasquez |
I'm probably looking for a club, more than an association is my guess. I'm very content having photography as my hobby, and nothing more. I enjoy giving prints as gifts, and people seem to really like them. I just got really excited by the idea of learning from others. My experience with photography has been pretty much a "DIY" thing :) I hope I'll be able to talk to you more sometime Mark, Happy New Year to you.
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Mark, I stand corrected. I wasn't really trying to give my opinion on photographer's associations. I don't belong to any, and I'm not a working professional photographer, so I'm not really qualified to judge their merits. I was reacting to the question in a different way. I saw it as "I can't really afford to start a photography business, but I'm doing it anyway." I was being overly judgemental. I need to add that to my list of resolutions for the New Year. Dawn, sorry for my hasty response. I checked out your gallery and you have promising talent. Good luck. Chris
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Mark Feldstein |
HAPPY NEW YEAR CHRIS !! Don't be too hard on yourself. I probably overstated the case any way. I do see your point, however and certainly the right tools for the job are quite important. Susan: It sounds like you hit your own nail on the head, so-to-speak. Photo clubs are great fun and quite similar to associations because you're all associated under a common umbrella of photography, whether it's digital or film or (I would hope) both. Even just taking a class or two at a local continuing education program or community college and you essentially build the same kinds of relationships. I always encourage the students I've had to go out and shoot with others and then critique the work with each other before bringing it to class. If you don't have those kinds of resources or a local club you can join then you can probably just start "SUSAN's OFFICIAL PHOTO CLUB". Getting members is usually easy, even in a very small town. Just post a flyer at the local mini-labs, pro labs, take out a free community service announcement on the local public radio station (among others) and just find a free place to meet, like the local YMCA, YWCA, meeting rooms available from city government or the local chamber of commerce. You should be off and running in no time. ;>). Even beforehand, you can start a thread here on PHOTO CLUBS and probably get a lot more input. And...HNY TO YOU TOO Susan. Be well you guys. Have a relatively sane but very healthy and propsperous new year. Mark
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Irene Troy |
I won’t pretend to know much about studio photography or how to get started in that angle of the business. I am, first off, a writer who is trying to add photographer to my resume. However, I have managed to make a few inroads into the areas of my own interest – travel, nature and wildlife – and can share a few ideas in this area with the thought that they may translate to the studio business. One way I started getting some local work was to volunteer my services to several local nature organizations. I can offer them something of a package deal with writing and images; however, in many instances they really need images of local floral and fauna and lack the means to pay “real money” for these images. Several of these non-paid gigs have resulted in paid work. Also, I volunteer my time and skills (however limited) to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity and this has also resulted in some paid jobs. I didn’t start volunteering with the idea of making work connections, but this has been a nice side effect. Of-course, it helps to have a legitimate interest in the work of the organization itself rather than just an interest in making work connections.
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Dawn T. Palmerley |
Thank you so much everyone for responding to my question! I was told by some near by professionals that if I was serious about photography then the way to go was the Association. I have started to build my own client base but sometimes feel like I'm undercharging. I've heard that they let you know what prices should be, etc. And as for "clubs", I've asked other photographers both amateur and pro about starting a club only to get the cold shoulder. I really appreciate this site because everyone here seems so open and there is no feeling of competitiveness. Thanks guys!! Happy New Year to you all! Dawn
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