to all professional photographers here...
- Thread starter LKavaney
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I didn't and still don't. I'm finding it very hard to make ends meet and it is scary as hell doing this. I decided that in order to really give this a go I had to do nothing but photography. I didn't want to get stuck in a 2nd job hoping my photography would kick off.
yeh I know I can make a go of it for sure but it is dead scary! I'm trying to find the courage to take the leap. I know their is a market for my work (pet portrait) because Im forever being asked to do it for people... right I'm going to work on getting my portfolio into order first seems like a good idea and it feels like a step in the right direction.
From what I've seen of things, people will ask you for the world and when you give them a price they'll disappear. People want everything for free. I spent 3 days at a fair once trying to shift mounted photos for £5. I sold maybe 6 in 3 days. I stopped shooting bands because they simply can't afford me. My rate is based on what I need to live on. I had one recently saying they could maybe stretch to £20 for a professional photographer to cover a gig. £20!
Gandhi
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Luck mostly on my part.
Found an advert in the small ads from the local rag, showed them my portfolio and from there it's snowballed. Prior to that I had a second p/t job. I, like pete, made the decision that i needed to focus on my photography full time. Am currently involved in profile raising activities around where I live, general marketing stuff mostly. I guess I was lucky in that if I don't make any money, my g/f makes enough cash to support us both for a month or two should I hit a dry spell.
Hard work and having a good business head will, some may say unfortunately, get you a lot further to start with than being a great photographer.
General advice? Decide what you like/are good at, take loads of photo's of it, network, find outlets for them, repeat until you can live on more than beans on toast!
Found an advert in the small ads from the local rag, showed them my portfolio and from there it's snowballed. Prior to that I had a second p/t job. I, like pete, made the decision that i needed to focus on my photography full time. Am currently involved in profile raising activities around where I live, general marketing stuff mostly. I guess I was lucky in that if I don't make any money, my g/f makes enough cash to support us both for a month or two should I hit a dry spell.
Hard work and having a good business head will, some may say unfortunately, get you a lot further to start with than being a great photographer.
General advice? Decide what you like/are good at, take loads of photo's of it, network, find outlets for them, repeat until you can live on more than beans on toast!
cjnicolai
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Wow -- yup, that's a big question. 
I waited to go full-time until I absolutely knew my craft, my style, and my target market completely. I had already had my first major gallery show and my first magazine feature at that point. So, when it was time to go full-time, all it took was one very well-placed and well-planned display to be buried in business. I had been working a corporate job where I was making upwards of $75K US per year, and I needed to match that income with photography within four weeks to avoid total financial disaster, and I did it.
It IS possible to make a living in photography, particularly in commissioned work (as opposed to fine art print sales.)
Because it directly pertains to your situation, I'm pasting below a post I've made somewhere on this forum (not sure where.) This will sum up pretty much all my thoughts.
************************************************** **
These are my thoughts, nothing more and nothing less.
I get asked all the time, during workshops, in e-mails, in private messages, what words of wisdom I would give to a new and aspiring photographer. Here's my answer.
- Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don't look outward for your style; look inward.
- Know your stuff. Luck is a nice thing, but a terrifying thing to rely on. It's like money; you only have it when you don't need it.
- Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a concensus.
- Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don't fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you're stressed and anxious.
- Learn to say "I'm a photographer" out loud with a straight face. If you can't say it and believe it, you can't expect anyone else to, either.
- You cannot specialize in everything.
- You don't have to go into business just because people tell you you should! And you don't have to be full time and making an executive income to be successful. If you decide you want to be in business, set your limits before you begin.
- Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don't, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that's tough.
- Accept critique, but don't apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn't not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent.
- Leave room for yourself to grow and evolve. It may seem like a good idea to call your business "Precious Chubby Tootsies"....but what happens when you decide you love to photograph seniors? Or boudoir?
- Remember that if your work looks like everyone else's, there's no reason for a client to book you instead of someone else. Unless you're cheaper. And nobody wants to be known as "the cheaper photographer".
- Gimmicks and merchandise will come and go, but honest photography is never outdated.
- It's easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you've got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don't spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you've outgrown your current equipment and you're being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.
- Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.
- Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.
- Never compare your journey with someone else's. It's a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never "arrive". No one ever does.
- Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacence.
- CJ
I waited to go full-time until I absolutely knew my craft, my style, and my target market completely. I had already had my first major gallery show and my first magazine feature at that point. So, when it was time to go full-time, all it took was one very well-placed and well-planned display to be buried in business. I had been working a corporate job where I was making upwards of $75K US per year, and I needed to match that income with photography within four weeks to avoid total financial disaster, and I did it.
It IS possible to make a living in photography, particularly in commissioned work (as opposed to fine art print sales.)
Because it directly pertains to your situation, I'm pasting below a post I've made somewhere on this forum (not sure where.) This will sum up pretty much all my thoughts.
************************************************** **
These are my thoughts, nothing more and nothing less.
I get asked all the time, during workshops, in e-mails, in private messages, what words of wisdom I would give to a new and aspiring photographer. Here's my answer.
- Style is a voice, not a prop or an action. If you can buy it, borrow it, download it, or steal it, it is not a style. Don't look outward for your style; look inward.
- Know your stuff. Luck is a nice thing, but a terrifying thing to rely on. It's like money; you only have it when you don't need it.
- Never apologize for your own sense of beauty. Nobody can tell you what you should love. Do what you do brazenly and unapologetically. You cannot build your sense of aesthetics on a concensus.
- Say no. Say it often. It may be difficult, but you owe it to yourself and your clients. Turn down jobs that don't fit you, say no to overbooking yourself. You are no good to anyone when you're stressed and anxious.
- Learn to say "I'm a photographer" out loud with a straight face. If you can't say it and believe it, you can't expect anyone else to, either.
- You cannot specialize in everything.
- You don't have to go into business just because people tell you you should! And you don't have to be full time and making an executive income to be successful. If you decide you want to be in business, set your limits before you begin.
- Know your style before you hang out your shingle. If you don't, your clients will dictate your style to you. That makes you nothing more than a picture taker. Changing your style later will force you to start all over again, and that's tough.
- Accept critique, but don't apply it blindly. Just because someone said it does not make it so. Critiques are opinions, nothing more. Consider the advice, consider the perspective of the advice giver, consider your style and what you want to convey in your work. Implement only what makes sense to implement. That doesn't not make you ungrateful, it makes you independent.
- Leave room for yourself to grow and evolve. It may seem like a good idea to call your business "Precious Chubby Tootsies"....but what happens when you decide you love to photograph seniors? Or boudoir?
- Remember that if your work looks like everyone else's, there's no reason for a client to book you instead of someone else. Unless you're cheaper. And nobody wants to be known as "the cheaper photographer".
- Gimmicks and merchandise will come and go, but honest photography is never outdated.
- It's easier to focus on buying that next piece of equipment than it is to accept that you should be able to create great work with what you've got. Buying stuff is a convenient and expensive distraction. You need a decent camera, a decent lens, and a light meter. Until you can use those tools consistently and masterfully, don't spend another dime. Spend money on equipment ONLY when you've outgrown your current equipment and you're being limited by it. There are no magic bullets.
- Learn that people photography is about people, not about photography. Great portraits are a side effect of a strong human connection.
- Never forget why you started taking pictures in the first place. Excellent technique is a great tool, but a terrible end product. The best thing your technique can do is not call attention to itself. Never let your technique upstage your subject.
- Never compare your journey with someone else's. It's a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never "arrive". No one ever does.
- Embrace frustration. It pushes you to learn and grow, broadens your horizons, and lights a fire under you when your work has gone cold. Nothing is more dangerous to an artist than complacence.
- CJ
Damian Brown
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You could happily cover that on a small part time job, 18 hours a week, until you get enough regular work to justify going solo, ie without the part time job. It is very possible like that if you are a-good enough b-lucky - c-committed or d-ready to be committed like me
Sweet cheese n nibbles! I'm still struggling to get clients every month. When I do its great like Bench, but when I don't its very hard. I'm going to read the rest of what you posted and try to take it in
I'm going to revamp my portfolio asap, been meaning to for a few weeks really as its a year old. Then I'm going to hit the ground running.
Damian Brown
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Cj- that's a great post, I'm sure many will benefit.
J Gordon
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Long story, but the short version is I convinced several buyers that I was the best at what they needed, demonstrated I could perform very well under pressure and had a killer portfolio. I still have skint months years on but hey, life is for living. And this is some living!
Jump in with both feet and ensure you have a thick skin is my best advice. And enjoy what you do, don't get bogged down in the business, you'll forget that you are actually a photographer as I did for a while...it's not easy but nothing worthwhile is. That's the truth.
Jump in with both feet and ensure you have a thick skin is my best advice. And enjoy what you do, don't get bogged down in the business, you'll forget that you are actually a photographer as I did for a while...it's not easy but nothing worthwhile is. That's the truth.
pxl8
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In simple terms I got out there and with a little luck and a lot of lateral thinking created opportunities and found the work was there for the taking.
I will echo what Pete said - there's always plenty of people willing to use you if it's a favour or freebie so it's a very poor indicator of how much paid work you'd get. Freebie's can be a benefit but you have to find the angle to turn them into further paid work or generate alternative sales. Back in June I shot an awards bash for no fee but the print sales have netted over £500 profit so far and generate leads for further work.
I will echo what Pete said - there's always plenty of people willing to use you if it's a favour or freebie so it's a very poor indicator of how much paid work you'd get. Freebie's can be a benefit but you have to find the angle to turn them into further paid work or generate alternative sales. Back in June I shot an awards bash for no fee but the print sales have netted over £500 profit so far and generate leads for further work.
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I'm not really pro but have fallen into events photography through an interest in bikes and horses. It's certainly not something which would pay the bills either although it does produce funds for the toys account.
Weddings is an area I'm becoming interested in, mainly because I did one as a very low paid favour and with no attempt to market myself have had two further bookings from it.
To be honest though, I'm not sure I want it to be my job. I'm happy being able to cover the bills through other businesses and still being able to enjoy the photography
Weddings is an area I'm becoming interested in, mainly because I did one as a very low paid favour and with no attempt to market myself have had two further bookings from it.
To be honest though, I'm not sure I want it to be my job. I'm happy being able to cover the bills through other businesses and still being able to enjoy the photography
To be honest though, I'm not sure I want it to be my job. I'm happy being able to cover the bills through other businesses and still being able to enjoy the photography
Ah you see for me, even with the boring dull business side there's not a moment that makes me want to pack up and get a job in web design again. I could get a job with good money, move out and enjoy photography on the weekends. However in the past few years of doing photography its changed my life so much, more than anything in 10 years. If someone wants to send me to London to shoot some shoes, sure. I get to goto London. If someone wants to send me to Spain to shoot a house (has been considered), sure send me to Spain. I never went to gigs before now. I never went to well anything really before now. So yes theres a downside but it pales in comparison to the upside. The upside is basically that I have a life I love. If I ever get bored with work I can always wander around Liverpool shooting street photography or urban exploration to relax. I can even nip out to the Lakes or Wales and enjoy the view. There's so much in photography for me that I can work and play without getting bored.
FranchiseJuan
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I shot sports, events, performance, and portraits part time for about 2 years. Then I quit my job, sold almost everything I owned, and moved half way around the world to London.
I still am part time in IT, and part time in photography.
One thing I will add to what has already been said is that when it comes to a potential job, I will not do anything for free (excluding pictures of friends I take at parties I happen to be at). I will not compromise on either price or quality. Some people don't come back when I quote the price, but those that do have all been happy with the results.
I still am part time in IT, and part time in photography.
One thing I will add to what has already been said is that when it comes to a potential job, I will not do anything for free (excluding pictures of friends I take at parties I happen to be at). I will not compromise on either price or quality. Some people don't come back when I quote the price, but those that do have all been happy with the results.
R8JimBob88
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Very interesting read
In the long term, and I mean looong term. This is something i'd like to do. I dont think i'd ever pack in the day job though but it would be good to earn some extra cash doing something I like. But then again, you never know.....
In the long term, and I mean looong term. This is something i'd like to do. I dont think i'd ever pack in the day job though but it would be good to earn some extra cash doing something I like. But then again, you never know.....
Creed
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Very interesting read
In the long term, and I mean looong term. This is something i'd like to do. I dont think i'd ever pack in the day job though but it would be good to earn some extra cash doing something I like. But then again, you never know.....
Would have to say I agree with that, I can't see myself in the near future giving up the day job but would love to get the occasional part time work from photography just to supliment my wages..
For part time work out of the normal 9-5 working hours is there any tips for getting work etc... Obviously a beginner so things like weddings are out for the foreseable future