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03/23/2006 09:23:33 AM · #26 |
guyver, you're out of line ;-)
think about the OP. she's somewhere between 16-18 years old, and has her whole life ahead of her. she's exploring and questioning. for anyone to be shooting her down, rather than encouraging her is doomsaying and naysaying.
it doesn't matter what career path or industry you work in. some people make it to the top, some fail out the bottom, and most are stuck in between. just because someone can't see how to make a living at something is no justification for telling someone else that they shouldn't try it.
and i'm kinda disappointed in brent's flippant post. of all people, not to be encouraging someone to explore the opportunities. photography is not an all-or-nothing, rags-or-riches proposition. there are many, many rewarding, paying avenues to follow.
i guess the thing i would tell lauren is that whenever she gets advice, she should quiz the advisor:
1) is that what you did?
2) are you speaking from experience?
3) why didn't you try it?
4) why do you think it didn't work for you?
it's too easy to get bad advice from someone who really has no clue as to what they're talking about.
if you become a chartered accountant, you could work for a corporation like enron, and end up going to jail...
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03/23/2006 09:27:06 AM · #27 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
guyver, you're out of line ;-)
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Thought so. Okay, seeing as it's just me who felt it a bit harsh, I withdraw my previous post and get back in line. LOL!
Originally posted by skiprow:
if you become a chartered accountant, you could work for a corporation like enron, and end up going to jail... |
It was an example man... :) |
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03/23/2006 09:38:13 AM · #28 |
| I say to these young people what I say to my 2 daughters (in their 20's) ... follow your heart! |
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03/23/2006 09:46:51 AM · #29 |
@Guyver:
I am definitely NOT saying that "hobbyists" don't love what they do. Quite the contrary! But I wouldn't ask a hobbysist for career advice.
And, as Skip inferred, your chances at making a career out of photography are no more, and no less, than any other career. It is what you make of it.
And especially with photography, the wide array of "areas" of photography that you could choose as a career allow many more choices than you might have at other career paths.
Do I think that I was was being especially "intense" with my post? YES, I was, and for good reason. I don't want to see a bright young person with a love for ANYTHING have that spirit dampened just because others have not enjoyed, or pursued "career" success.
Skip's advice to Lauren to ask those pertinent questions is especially good. With those answers, she knows the "basis" of the advice she receives.
Respectfully,
Linda |
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03/23/2006 09:51:40 AM · #30 |
Originally posted by Guyver:
Originally posted by skiprow:
if you become a chartered accountant, you could work for a corporation like enron, and end up going to jail... |
It was an example man... :) |
i know ;-) i was just pointing out that it doesn't matter what path you take, there will be good, bad, and ugly. in the long run, though, if you believe in yourself, apply yourself, and do what you are capable of, you will get where you want to be.
when i was 17, my dad gave me this book "If You Don't Know Where You're Going, You'll Probably End Up Somewhere Else (Paperback)", and when i put it to practice, things went well. when i laid it aside, well, i got detoured.
cheers ;-) |
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03/23/2006 10:20:57 AM · #31 |
Originally posted by mastrmind:
While I don't major in photography, I do know that your major in college is not really important. Find a school you like, take classes that you love, and take whatever degree gets you out the fastest. If you find out you don't like it most people don't look at what you majored in during college but rather that you went to college. And if you really feel like you are trapped after college, go to grad school and specialize in something you really want to do! |
Actually, what you major in is very important. True, Starbucks and Walmart don't care what degree you have, but Boeing and Intel do. Where would you rather work?
I went through a stack of 50+ resumes today for 2 job openings. I assure you that I checked their majors and the people getting interviewed have majors that are relevant to the job.
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03/23/2006 10:29:31 AM · #32 |
| Skip, and lhall have the right idea here. I too couldn't help but notice that the people talking about how hard it was didn't seem to be professionals. Any pro photographer I've talked has told me to do it and that I won't have any problem getting a job as long as I work hard. I'm a photography major and I know that I'm not going to make the big bucks but I'll be doing what I love to do. There are a ton of different jobs in photography, all it takes is a little know how and then the time and effort to go out, make contacts, do internships and get a job in a field that you like. Then you can work your way up from there. It's going to be challenging when I graduate next year, but I'm really looking forward to it. My biggest issues is I don't want to end up in the wrong field of photography. Right now I'm torn between photojournalist or studio/commercial. I might just go with the latter because of more creativity and potentially higher paycheck. Anyways, I say go for it. |
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03/23/2006 10:48:56 AM · #33 |
To clarify, if it's something you love to do and are really passionate about, then by all means go for it. I didn't get that from your original post though.
If you simply "like to take pictures" as you said, it may not be the wisest career path and I stick to my advice of keeping it as a hobby for now. If in 5 years you realize that you are really good and want to make a career out of it, you haven't lost much ground because a degree in photography is not required to be a good photographer.
I think the best bit of advice I've seen here is to try to get a summer job or internship as a photog assitant, or even just a job in a photo store. Try it before you commit to it.
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03/23/2006 10:52:11 AM · #34 |
Originally posted by Guyver:
I've always wondered that once I seriously consider making money off it, I will lose my passion for it...
Could this happen?
Then it kind of becomes a job? |
Happened to me. Over ane xtended period of time, I "burned out" on photography. It wasn't fun anymore, the business got tougher and tougher. I sold everything, studio and gear, and moved on. But this was 25 years in the business, and my niche of the business had changed a lot.
When I started as an Architectural Photographer it was basically an "art". I worked hand in hand with architects and interior designers, who were my primary clients and paid my fees. I shot portfolios of work for them on each of their projects, documenting all aspects of them creatively.
By the time I left, it was a marketing business, really; the designers rarely paid for the work. Instead, it was up to the photographer to put together "consortiums" of secondary clients, each of whom had specific requirements; the glass people, the carpet people, the furniture people, you get the idea. It was not as unified, as holistic, an endeavour as it used to be. I wasn't having any fun anymore, so I left.
Became a chef and a graphic designer. Now retired. The transition took place over time, BTW; phased out photography bit by bit.
I'm having way more fun again now :-)
Robt.
Message edited by author 2006-03-23 10:53:27.
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03/23/2006 12:28:03 PM · #35 |
Best way to ruin a great hobby is to do it full time...
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03/23/2006 12:39:03 PM · #36 |
Originally posted by Brent_Ward:
Best way to ruin a great hobby is to do it full time... |
Come on Brent, you can't say you don't enjoy working with the beauty models? LOL
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03/23/2006 12:46:36 PM · #37 |
Pfff, I am actually debating the same thing, should I go study photography at this phase in my life? I live breathe and dream about photography 24/7, I think I am fairly good at it and could potentially be great if I got to go to school to study it and I definately have the people skills (work as a sales person now) and buisness sense to make it work.
Two things that bother me is that I have in the past gotten hobbies that I got tired of after a few months. However, photography has really stuck with me and if anything I am more and more interested each day.
The other thing is that if I go do this, I will be screwing around with the lives of my wife and kids, dragging them abroad to study and screwing up our finances for a couple of years, possibly a decade...
Sorry, think this might be highjacking this thread so I´ll go to my corner now :P |
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03/23/2006 12:47:30 PM · #38 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by Brent_Ward:
Best way to ruin a great hobby is to do it full time... |
Come on Brent, you can't say you don't enjoy working with the beauty models? LOL |
Models are a pain in the ass. They are so unreliable. And usually 16. :D
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03/23/2006 01:13:08 PM · #39 |
Originally posted by Larus:
Pfff, I am actually debating the same thing, should I go study photography at this phase in my life? I live breathe and dream about photography 24/7, I think I am fairly good at it and could potentially be great if I got to go to school to study it and I definately have the people skills (work as a sales person now) and buisness sense to make it work.
Two things that bother me is that I have in the past gotten hobbies that I got tired of after a few months. However, photography has really stuck with me and if anything I am more and more interested each day.
The other thing is that if I go do this, I will be screwing around with the lives of my wife and kids, dragging them abroad to study and screwing up our finances for a couple of years, possibly a decade...
Sorry, think this might be highjacking this thread so I´ll go to my corner now :P |
When you are old and grey, it is better to regret things you have tried than to regret never trying.
Go for it, Icelanders have been studying abroad for hundreds of year, it is a wonderful experience, for the whole family.
Go for it, start today, find out what good schools there are out there.
You are an exellent photographer, it would be a big waste not to give all this talent you have a realistic chance to grow.   |
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03/23/2006 02:08:57 PM · #40 |
Hmmm, seems I'm a doomsayer.
Simply, I finished school with nearly nothing, lied my way into college twice, dropped out the first time got kicked out the second. Ended up working as a foundry labourer and spent my days with a bucket and shovel cleaning the crap behind furnaces. Through nightschool I discovered computers and realised that 1, they were easy 2, I loved working with them. A year later and I was in university (part-time) and 15 years later I'm contracting and doing very well indeed BUT that love and passion got eroded over the years and although I very grateful for the chances I've been given and where I am today, I have no love for my work.
Now, I will become a professional photographer but I will learn from my computing journey and not compromise with my passion this time.
Following your heart is very much agreed with, but the reality is that only very few manage to go through life without having to compromise their art in order to pay the bills.
Doomsayer? I think not, just a realist.
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03/23/2006 08:03:13 PM · #41 |
Wow! Thanks for all the thoughts. I think I may see about working or just watching a photographer in my town this summer. Some of you questioned if I really have a passion for it and the answer is...I'm not sure. I do right now, but who knows about a year from now. That's really what I'm trying to find out. I know I'm capable of doing anything I want, I work hard and get good grades, so I'm just trying to decide where I can take myself.
-Lauren |
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