| Author | Thread |
|
|
03/18/2007 07:55:16 PM · #1 |
Hi All,
I'm after a bit of advice on making initial steps to get into Photography as a career instead of a hobby.
I've been working in IT for the last 10 years, first as a programmer and now as a team leader. The 12 hour days and high pressure don't leave much time for photogaphy, and it's got to a point where i would be willing to take the salary hit to start doing something i enjoy.
I've set up a studio in my house and have done a few photo shoots for friends but i'm after advice on going to the next step. I'm looking at either advertising portrait services or trying to get work as an assistant or photographer in a studio or wedding company.
Is there a good place to look for these kind of positions (i'm based in Essex, England so good location for London commute as well)?
Thanks for any advice anyone can give me
Kev |
|
|
|
03/18/2007 07:57:33 PM · #2 |
Don't quit your day job j/k. Kidding your stuff's good and you have a nice camera to work with.
Message edited by author 2007-03-18 19:57:59. |
|
|
|
03/18/2007 08:27:07 PM · #3 |
Hey Kevin, well there are two very different directions you're talking about in your post: 1) start-up a studio on your own, or 2) work for an established studio.
If you work for an already established studio as one of their photographers (as I'm currently doing) you'll take a pay cut, but have security. The deal I have with my studio here is a salary every month, no mater how business is good or bad. To find those types of jobs I'd recommend signing up to classified sections from different newspapers, and getting job alerts with specific keywords, i.e. "photographer" as a job title. You can also do a search on google for "lodon photographers" and find which companies there are and contact them. Or, there's also job sites like //www.monster.co.uk
It'll take a while, so patience. Send lots of resumes and portfolios and it will happen!
To start up your own studio is extremely different. If you're looking to make the jump into starting your own biz, you're own studio, I'd save up money - lots of it. In general they say that a studio should predict not generating any profit for two years - and that doesn't include all the money you haver to throw into it to start it up (lights, cameras, lenses, tripods,...). I'd start by figuring which part of the market you want to target, build a strong portfolio website, do a lot of research to see whose your competition and do target advertising.
The market is saturated with photographers, and there's even more coming out every year. Young students charge ridiculous prices that no one can beat and even pro photographers are cutting their prices seriously back in order to get clients. It's a cutthroat business.
Best of luck to you! Wish I had more encouraging words!!
|
|
|
|
03/18/2007 08:42:25 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by kevip6:
I've been working in IT for the last 10 years, first as a programmer and now as a team leader. The 12 hour days and high pressure don't leave much time for photogaphy, and it's got to a point where i would be willing to take the salary hit to start doing something i enjoy. |
I hear you, I am practically in the same boat. Came across an interesting quote in an article that describes just how I feel.....
"IT professionals that have worked in the field for a long time often speak about a shift in their work where they have gone from tossing ideas back and forth to make for better technology solutions to fighting fires all day.
"There's less emphasis on creativity, and more on maintenance. Tweak this, work on thisâ€Â¦ In being reactive not proactive, everything is a crisis. Something has to be done right now, putting out fire after fire, going a long way to making IT a less pleasant environment," said Skaistis."
//www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2104998,00.asp
To me, this is really one of the main reasons for my being so burned out at work.
|
|
|
|
03/18/2007 08:55:27 PM · #5 |
a good marketing plan is important and word of mouth referrals are best because nobody wants to be advertised to anymore. I highly reccommend reading a few books on the subject. A good place to start is called the anatomy of buzz. (sorry don't remember the author offhand!)
For every client I do an online slideshow for them. They love it and pass it on to friends and family! I think each of mine have over 5,000 views each :0)
Wedding Slideshow
Engagement Slideshow
Good Luck!! :0D
|
|
|
|
03/18/2007 09:02:21 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by theSaj:
Originally posted by kevip6:
I've been working in IT for the last 10 years, first as a programmer and now as a team leader. The 12 hour days and high pressure don't leave much time for photogaphy, and it's got to a point where i would be willing to take the salary hit to start doing something i enjoy. |
I hear you, I am practically in the same boat. Came across an interesting quote in an article that describes just how I feel.....
"IT professionals that have worked in the field for a long time often speak about a shift in their work where they have gone from tossing ideas back and forth to make for better technology solutions to fighting fires all day.
"There's less emphasis on creativity, and more on maintenance. Tweak this, work on thisâ€Â¦ In being reactive not proactive, everything is a crisis. Something has to be done right now, putting out fire after fire, going a long way to making IT a less pleasant environment," said Skaistis."
//www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2104998,00.asp
To me, this is really one of the main reasons for my being so burned out at work. |
ah! a league of BOFH's .. well jump while you can
it's all SSDD in my corner of IT
i figure my only salvation will be another 5-10yrs then i can afford to get out ;)
so if you can - get out while you are still sane ..
|
|
|
|
03/18/2007 09:20:44 PM · #7 |
@Saj - 100% perfect quotes, that is *exactly* the problem.
[five paragraph rant deleted to keep us on topic]
*off to read the article*
Luck dood!!!!! But 99% of luck is planning :)
|
|
|
|
03/18/2007 10:01:14 PM · #8 |
Just got a PM from  Cutter about the software I use for my slideshows and thought I'd post it here in case anyone else is interested.
It's called Showit Web and pretty easy to use but then again you are all techies so I guess that's not a problem :0P
Message edited by author 2007-03-18 22:04:34.
|
|
|
|
03/19/2007 03:57:02 AM · #9 |
Thanks for all the responses!
I have been searching through google for photography jobs around my way and in london but they seem to be few and far between. That's why i wondered if i'm missing a trick and maybe there's some great web sites that google doesn't have indexed that well. But maybe the harsh reality is that they really are few and far between!
Thanks for the advice on the slide show and the examples, that's very helpful as well
For all the IT responses, there seems to be a general feeling of dissatistaction in certain teams where i work and yet others seem quite engaged and motivated, i guess it all depends on the project you're working on. I've never really been the office type but the money's good so you grin and bare it. Just got to a point now where i'm happy to drop the money for something more fulfilling
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/02/2025 04:39:28 PM EDT.
