- Messages
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- Name
- Alasdair Fowler
- Edit My Images
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I might as well start from the beginning.. Im 24 and im working as IT support/Media technician in a 6th Form college. I enjoy my job(Although some days are worse than others, but I suppose thats the same for every job) as it gives me plenty of opportunity to use both my IT and technical skills, as well as my more creative side. Pay isn't great, but at least it has given me a foot in the door. Although im happy here, im beginning to become restless.
I want to move to a city while im still young, to hopefully improve my social life(Can't be hard as I don't really have one at the moment). Im intending to move to Manchester as soon as I have saved up a bit of money and secured a job there. This is where I get to the point.. Im fairly sure I could get some sort of IT support job in Manchester fairly easy. But truth be told, I like many others don't really want a future in IT. Since discovering this greatness that is Photography, I think I have found where I want my future to lie. I really like the idea of being a Photographers assistant, or some sort of Technician in a photography studio. I have seen a couple of adverts for 'Photographers assistant' but they were VERY poorly paid (£11.2k), and I simply wouldn't be able to live on my own for that sort of money unfortunately(Looking at needing £15-£18k).
So my question to you lot; How did you ladies and gents that have taken it to a pro/semi-pro level get into it? Do you all freelance?(This would worry me initially, as I would hate the lack of job security, especially to begin with). What jobs are out there, specifically in the technician side of things and how would I get my foot into the door?
On a connected note, has anyone on here sold photographs on postcards etc? I know some of big pros (Joe Cornish etc) make a lot of money from this side of things. How would one go about trying to do it? Would you get laods of cards printed, then try and sell them to shops or are there third party card distributers that simply buy the photographs and give you a cut?
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
I want to move to a city while im still young, to hopefully improve my social life(Can't be hard as I don't really have one at the moment). Im intending to move to Manchester as soon as I have saved up a bit of money and secured a job there. This is where I get to the point.. Im fairly sure I could get some sort of IT support job in Manchester fairly easy. But truth be told, I like many others don't really want a future in IT. Since discovering this greatness that is Photography, I think I have found where I want my future to lie. I really like the idea of being a Photographers assistant, or some sort of Technician in a photography studio. I have seen a couple of adverts for 'Photographers assistant' but they were VERY poorly paid (£11.2k), and I simply wouldn't be able to live on my own for that sort of money unfortunately(Looking at needing £15-£18k).
So my question to you lot; How did you ladies and gents that have taken it to a pro/semi-pro level get into it? Do you all freelance?(This would worry me initially, as I would hate the lack of job security, especially to begin with). What jobs are out there, specifically in the technician side of things and how would I get my foot into the door?
On a connected note, has anyone on here sold photographs on postcards etc? I know some of big pros (Joe Cornish etc) make a lot of money from this side of things. How would one go about trying to do it? Would you get laods of cards printed, then try and sell them to shops or are there third party card distributers that simply buy the photographs and give you a cut?
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
while I wouldn't tell you to not give it a try remember it really does change things when you have to do it. I used to train horses for a living. I love horses, but day in day out I was sick of their stomping and poo and after 3 years dreaded going into work. I'd turned something that was so much a part of my life into a drudgery. I'll get off my high horse now....
