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06/28/2005 03:58:06 PM · #1 |
By professional I mean this is what you make a living doing with other income sources being minimum. Tell us about you job, if you work for yourself or somone else and how you got started. Might be fun, and inspire some others to become full timers.
Travis
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06/28/2005 04:19:11 PM · #2 |
I think it WOULD inspire!
And if you have any tips for getting your foot in the door, I know I'd love to hear them :-) |
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06/28/2005 04:29:01 PM · #3 |
Howdy. I've been shooting for about 25 years. Have been pro for around the last 10. I own a Photography and Graphic design company, but about 75% of my business is photography. I have worked for newspapers and still do some pj and sports work for some weeklies around town. Most of my money comes from Weddings, portraits and sport events. It's a lot of hard work to generate business, etc. Probably 70% of my time is spent marketing as opposed to shooting, which sucks. But I still love to shoot.
What I find funny is my scores here suck. I make a living doing this, (with lots of referals) and I can't seem to appeal to many here. Most of my work is for individuals (portraits, weddings, etc.) and I won't publish those on the web, or for newpapers which is a different breed of photography from what seems to be expected here.
It's a great way to make a living, but it is also A LOT of hard work. Clients don't just pop out of the closet, you have to market yourself and make sure you are charging what you need to live on, but not so much you price yourself out of the market.
Also don't be afraid of talking to other photographers, especially pros. Just remember if you see one at a wedding or sporting event they are working and will probably ignore you or be very short with you. Just tell them you are interested in talking to them about photography and give them a card with your contact info. It may take a few weeks, but most will be happy to talk to you. (I always do, especially if it involves lunch.) |
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06/28/2005 04:32:26 PM · #4 |
| I forgot to add, at least with newspapers, give them samples of your work, talk to the editors and chances are, if your work is good enough, you will be added to their stringer list. Be professional and start with the small weeklies and montlies around your town. Also if you can write, thats an added bonus, I've gotten many jobs to both write about a game and shoot it. |
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06/28/2005 04:35:52 PM · #5 |
I've been bumping into a few opportunities...definitely not professional by any means but the opportunities I have come across were as simple as asking questions...
Examples:
1. I went to a drag race event (as a spectator), asked some questions, took some pictures from the stands, emailed some people...now I have work available at the drag strip about 5 or 6 times over the summer.
2. The company I work for sponsors a rodeo across the province. Asked some questions, showed some samples, made a phone call...now I have access to shoot the rodeos with a possible opportunity to sell prints.
Use every opportunity to collect contacts, understand the business and promote yourself. Get to know what opportunities exist out there!
Message edited by author 2005-06-28 16:37:27.
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06/28/2005 04:39:09 PM · #6 |
| without going into a whole thing about how and what... the only thing I can say about pro work in the glamour biz, is that it's 25% talent, 75% networking.... |
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06/28/2005 04:42:45 PM · #7 |
I went to a seminar last year with the guest speaker being a young sports photographer and I was lucky enough to have a chat with him afterwards.
Since then I have been totally inspired by his work and attitude.
His work is just fantastic and his name is Adam Pretty
Edit: had trouble with the link
Message edited by author 2005-06-28 16:51:24. |
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06/28/2005 04:42:49 PM · #8 |
If you're a portrait photographer.....do you find it helpful to have assistants? Do you hire them? How many do you have?
It seems to me like that would be a good way to learn more about the biz, train your eye, and get your foot in the door.....but is that realistic? Is that a good way to start?
Also, if anyone has the answer--are there many photogs that shoot digital for pro portraits? And, if so, who does the post processing? Do you do it all yourself, or do you have a trusted assistant? |
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06/28/2005 04:48:04 PM · #9 |
Back in my day, the path I followed (and the path nearly every good pro followed) was to apprentice myself to a studio as gofer/darkroom tech. From that I worked up to shooting some of the less-demanding jobs, and eventually got my name on the "masthead", then decided on a specialty (architecture) and went out and drummed up my own clients from personal contacts (which then spread by word-of-mouth), and finally spun off my own business, whence I began employing my own assistants, who in the fullness of time went on to go into business for themselves... and the wheel turns.
I assume it still works that way, perhaps substituting digital darkroom skills for chemical darkroom skills...
Robt.
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06/28/2005 04:56:51 PM · #10 |
I always have assistant(s) it's a must. it's generally always the same people up until the moment they feel that that can learn anything new by working with us.
I don't know of 1 single studio here in montreal that does any commercial work on film. everyone either uses Canon 1DsMkII or LeafValeo if they're intent on Medium format.
Message edited by author 2005-06-28 16:59:08. |
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06/28/2005 04:58:35 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by rlinn3:
What I find funny is my scores here suck. I make a living doing this, |
reassuring to all od us Rlinn *grins*
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06/28/2005 05:00:07 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by mesmeraj:
Originally posted by rlinn3:
What I find funny is my scores here suck. I make a living doing this, |
reassuring to all od us Rlinn *grins* |
I never scored very well either...challenges are a whole different ball game. |
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06/28/2005 05:02:16 PM · #13 |
I photograph horse events for the main part of my income. I also do graphic design to suppliment it. I started by photographing events I used to compete in and was very familiar with. Word of mouth advertising let it expand into arabian horse and jumping shows. I then got a job in a wedding studio/photo lab and became the custom printer quite quickly....seems I had a talent for working the color enlarger on an efficient basis. Makes sense...I am both visually & mechanically adept! Eventually I left the lab to become a full time professional photographer specializing in equestrian sports of all kinds. Lots of hard work & marketing for not all that much money (horse people are notoriously cheap!) It's not an easy living but I sure do enjoy it and being around the (large) critters all the time.
....funny how I can get money but not high scores on the same photos, but then again I'm a newbie at the Challenge thing! |
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06/28/2005 05:08:47 PM · #14 |
My name is William (Wild Bill) Elmore and I am 52 years young. I have been a photographer for most of those 52 years. Now I am a commercial photographer and graphic designer. I have my own studio with Jahn who is my partner in life as well as the studio. She and I met in Seattle WA. And now live in the mid-west. We have clients all over the country and even some over-seas. Our studio is called “Studio Of Fine Art Photography” or “SOFAP” for short. If you check out our web site you ach get a feel for what we do and photography and graphic design is all we do, and we live it.
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06/28/2005 05:31:35 PM · #15 |
Hi guys,
I'm working for a paper called "Morgunbladid" (www.mbl.is). I've been working for them as a freelancer for couple of years. In the summers I work full time for them. I also shoot other projects. Ads, theatre, just name it. I live and eat photography and making a pretty good living out of it. |
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06/28/2005 05:42:33 PM · #16 |
I shoot stock photography for a living and do a bit of writing and teaching. Wonderful way to make a living, but you need to be prepared to be very poor while you're starting out. :) I'm finally getting past that, thank goodness! AND to work harder than you ever have in your life. But I'd never do anything else.
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06/28/2005 06:02:39 PM · #17 |
| I have been a full time pro for over 20 years now. Shooting mostly the hotel / motel and product photos for manufactures. My work is for print in brochures, post cards and catalogs. Lately for web sites for manufactures. I have done a few weddings and portraits, but the commercial work pays the bills. I have hired assistants for commercial on location work in industrial plants for lighting. I usually paid $200 a day for a good lighting assistant. If the job didn't require an assistant I kept the money my self. I never bill a job by the hour. I didn't want the client standing over me telling me to hurry up. Instead I bid a flat fee for the job and I have learned to work quickly so I made a profit. I also get a commission from the printing company so I make money on both sides and I get paid upfront, before I take a photo. My web site is //www.gwphoto.ws |
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06/28/2005 06:19:22 PM · #18 |
| This is certainly an inspiring thread. I'm just begining my major in photography and had my first paid job the other day(dumb luck really). I'm ready to be poor for a while but I can not wait to develop my portfolio and begin to find a specialty in the business. It sounds like I should make my minor marketing. |
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06/28/2005 06:24:03 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by keegbow:
His work is just fantastic and his name is Adam Pretty
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Love his work. |
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06/28/2005 07:08:59 PM · #20 |
Great insperation lets keep it going.
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06/28/2005 07:16:16 PM · #21 |
Great thread travis. Thanks to all for sharing your experiences :-)
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06/28/2005 08:14:45 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by keegbow:
I went to a seminar last year with the guest speaker being a young sports photographer and I was lucky enough to have a chat with him afterwards.
Since then I have been totally inspired by his work and attitude.
His work is just fantastic and his name is Adam Pretty
Edit: had trouble with the link |
Your right...great attitude.
Especially like the quote under his pic.
"...so if you can provide a different angle or something a bit more eye-catching your work will stand out."
When I go to events I look at the photog's around me and check their postures, angles, and FOV's and I will go the completely a different position. My theory if it doesn't physically hurt to get into a position to take a shot, chances are it's been taken by a hundred photogs before me...
Whoops this is about pros back to your regularly scheduled thread...
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06/28/2005 10:15:16 PM · #23 |
I started a portrait/wedding business 30 years ago and then got married and started having kids and had to get a steady income, so dropped photography as a business, but always shot with an eye for the artistic. Three years ago, a divorce changed my life dramatically and I started all over again. Since that time, I have stopped my 9 to 5, written two books of poetry and bought a digital to shoot my own illustrations for the second book. In the last year, I have married for a second time, moved to Brazil (to my wife's hometown), and began a photography business again, since poetry will not pay bills. To make money, I shoot portraits. (My wife is my assistant ... a must for single woman shoots ... puts the non-pro model client at ease.) I also network with a wonderful lady who is a party planner. (Find these people!) She does some high-end parties for clients that occasionally want a pro photographer to record the event. This is good money for 4 hours of mostly candids and atmosphere shots that also seeds my portrait business (I take a lot of cards to parties.) These are nothing like shooting weddings, which I vowed 30 years ago I would never do again! I have shot theme, masquarade and rich little kid birthday parties, all of which put me in contact with people. And since I am the choice of the party planner, I have a built-in stamp of approval. It works very well for me. And portraiture (good portraiture) leads naturally to referrals. My first love, however is shooting art prints and have just completed my third gallery exhibition. I just started showing a small portfolio to gallery owners until some accepted me for a show. This is not so immediately lucrative, but it is emotionally satisfying. Work from the soul (as opposed to trying to satisfy a calendar manufacturer) and eventually you will be noticed, if you make art. A Belgium print buyer happened in one day during my last show and wanted the gallery to quote a comprehensive lifetime rights price for one of my shots. I quoted accordingly, but modestly (so we will always have a relationship ... I can make a lot more photographs than the gallery can sell to this man) and he bought. Also among the attendees was a publishing rep for a cultural ministry department who I am set to meet with in 2 weeks to discuss a coffee table-style book. I am in a good position in that my family is grown and on their own, so I need only meet my wife and my own meager income requirements, meaning no pressure. But knowing what I do now, if I still was raising a family I would start doing what I do on the side. I did it wrong then, but it is working well now. Would love to tell more but don't want to hijack this thread.
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06/28/2005 10:36:59 PM · #24 |
I'll be a pro some day...so I just thought I'd add my voice ;)
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06/28/2005 11:46:32 PM · #25 |
| Is it selling prints at OPC considered "professional photo-man" ? |
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