Turning Pro - DPChallenge Forums

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

05/28/2007 07:06:34 AM · #1

Hi,

Does anyone have any advise on a "workflow" with short term goals to achieve with the end result being quitting your job and turning pro as a photographer?

I really want to make a career from photography, but need some serious guidelines on how to get to the point where I can confidently quit my safety net job. I suppose weddings and family portratis will make up a large quantity of the business I am aiming for, but that could change as I develop to fashion or wildlife.

Any advice will be appreciated!

Thanks,
Jan.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/28/2007 07:16:13 AM · #2

Is it possible to do both for a while or does your current job not offer you that flexibility?

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/28/2007 07:28:56 AM · #3

Not much flexibility in my current job. I'm in legal services (not a lawyer) so it is quite demanding. I have weekends free though.

Makka

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/28/2007 07:34:02 AM · #4

If you have the weekends free then I'd suggest start by working with your available time. The main question you need to ask yourself is 'where is my potential work going to come from'. It's taken us 3 years to finally get our business generating a decent income and a lot of it was from trial and error with advertising and getting our name out there. Now, we are starting to reap the rewards.

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/28/2007 07:41:45 AM · #5

Thanks Makka, I think for the time being, weddings will be the main source of income, family portraits and the like will have to suplement the income.
I'm also looking at trying to sell prints, or photos printed on canvas to galleries and so on.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

05/28/2007 07:47:23 AM · #6

Q how do you make a small fortune in photography?

A start with a large one...

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a lot of it depends on what you want your end result to be. do you want to be a freelancer, or would you like a staff job? are you looking to open a studio, or do you want to roam about?

anything is possible, but trust me, there is no such thing as making an overnight success of yourself. it takes work, dedication, and commitment. you have to be aware of all the possible downfalls and be prepared to deal with them as they turn it.

given the open-endedness of your query, i'd suggest 1) read/search these forums for the business of photography threads, and 2) read through as many books on the topic as you can. then you can start to organize a path for you to take. the most important thing, as richard and makka alluded to, is to transition yourself from where you are to where you want to be. just jumping in with no means of support is a sure recipe for failure...

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/28/2007 07:55:17 AM · #7

Thanks Skip. I plan to hang on to my current job for as long as it takes. You raise very valid points that I meed to consider, I doubt I'd want a staff job, then again, if Sports Illustrated offered me a job would be hard to turn that down. But those are the kinds of decisions I have to make now.

Honestly I think my goal now is to have a studio and work from there. Go out for weddings, and do shoots from the studio, perhaps also take on freelance work for newspapers or magazines, or am I taking on too much?

Thanks for the replies so far, really helping a lot!

Makka

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/28/2007 07:57:13 AM · #8

And I can definately say I agree with Skip's opening lines there! We have spent a fair whack of cash to get this venture off the ground in regards to camera equipment, studio equipment, computer equipment, advertising etc etc....

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/28/2007 08:05:31 AM · #9

here's a real quick overview of what you need to research...

@ itemize the types of work you want to do

@ for each item, itemize the equipment you need to get the work done

@ for each item, itemize the incidental expenses (insurance, advertising, etc) and research their cost

@ once you have an idea as to how much it cost to operate, start figuring out how much work you'll be able to do, and how you'll have to price it.

there are a lot of books out there that can help you through this.

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one thing to consider is working as hard as you can to raise capital while cutting expenses. take a second or third job and stop eating out and entertaining yourself. cut back your cell service. start living low to the ground and saving money so that you can start with something in the bank...