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10/29/2004 01:57:40 AM · #1 |
I am seriously considering starting my own photo business. It won't be any time soon, so I am looking for any info that may help with decisions.
A few questions for those of you who may be in the photo biz:
Do you have a degree that is specific to your job?
How long did it take before you could rely on your business for a majority of your income?
Did you "apprentice" behind a professional before starting?
Thanks!
edit: sp
Message edited by author 2004-10-29 02:06:46. |
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10/29/2004 09:36:35 AM · #2 |
I am no longer in the photo business, but for several years, I was. It's a long story, for some more info, see my profile.
Anyway.........to answer your questions.
1. Yes, I have a degree in Commercial Art with a concentration in Photography. There are a lot of different ways to get a degree in photography. Think of school as a good way to explore different kinds of photography (commercial, fine art, photojournalism, etc.), decide what YOU like and develop that killer portfolio in a structured manner with a low amount of risk. (You don't have a client breathing down your neck and you don't have to spend all your time trying to get jobs shooting crap to pay the bills)
2. My "business" never got to that point, I was working a fulltime job (in a pro film lab) and shooting/assisting on the side. Basically I was working 80+ hours every week and barely keeping ahead. Now, this was in Los Angeles where it is pretty expensive to live, but still, it's pretty common. Things got a bit better when I moved to Michigan. FWIW, if you do go to school, make sure you learn business skills while you're there.
3. I was a freelance assistant in LA, and when I moved to Michigan, it was pretty easy for me to find a job as a full-time assistant, for a couple of reasons: I got lucky and there was an opening, none of the other applicants had much experience and I had a good portfolio
Message edited by author 2004-10-29 09:44:57. |
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10/29/2004 09:40:11 AM · #3 |
just get out there and take thousands of photos, we all know that most photos taken are not acceptable but with the digital age upon us we no longer have to wait or endure the costs of processing. I have only had my 300D for 4 months now and have quit my job with Disneys Design and Engineering to go freelance., I only have the 300d and a cheepie 200mm zoom lens along with the stock lens that came with the camera and have found that Im just fine in regards to equipment, didnt need to invest 10,000 in equipment, Lots of pros out there roll their eyes at the 300d but baby it does a great job from my experience, Lots of pros like a heavier camera but in my opinion lighter works for me, ya know when shopping for a bike people go for lighter, same with shoes... lighter, looking for a backpack... lighter... so I dont get the heaver concept...
I have been doing event photography and pass out my business card to people I shoot, the card gives them a proof code so when they go to my website they can enter a code to view the photos I shot of them at that days event. My advise is to et out there ans shoot shoot shoot... then get your work in front of potential customers.
my site for example... //digitalproofs.net with a sample code of: campaign
Message edited by author 2004-10-29 09:41:00. |
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10/29/2004 02:47:08 PM · #4 |
| That's a pretty cool website. How did you set it up to be like that? |
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10/29/2004 03:50:02 PM · #5 |
| I program in cold fusion and wanted to create a easy way for customers to view proofs based on a specific venue.. so I went with a proof code method , one that allows me to on the fly make up proof codes for events or a range of photos, then as the images are uploaded thumbs and proof images are automatically generated in one step, saves a lot of time having to make thumbs and watermarked images yourself. |
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10/29/2004 04:13:43 PM · #6 |
hey kidchico,
I worked with my cousin who has a masters in photography for about a year as her assistant. Then when she got married in Feb I shot it for her for free as a kick-start for me. (I'd been doing industrial photography up to that point). My cousin did photography part-time for a few years before going full time. She has to turn business DOWN.
In March I started Lori Moss Photography. Today I signed up for my first course (a studio lighting course) which starts this week. Photography is hard in Calgary since there are sooo many photographers, and they're all pretty knowledgeable (or atleast think they are) so they like to question my education. I don't lie, since I don't care, if they do - then they're not a client I want anyway. I mean, I have lots to learn but that doesn't mean I'm entirely clueless.
I'm only doing weddings and band photos. I did some other stuff but decided it's not where I want to be or what I like doing so I don't do family stuff, pets, portraits, etc. Just ain't my thang.
Good luck :-)
Message edited by author 2004-10-29 16:14:48. |
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10/29/2004 04:21:56 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by gusto:
just get out there and take thousands of photos, we all know that most photos taken are not acceptable but with the digital age upon us we no longer have to wait or endure the costs of processing. I have only had my 300D for 4 months now and have quit my job with Disneys Design and Engineering to go freelance., I only have the 300d and a cheepie 200mm zoom lens along with the stock lens that came with the camera and have found that Im just fine in regards to equipment, didnt need to invest 10,000 in equipment, Lots of pros out there roll their eyes at the 300d but baby it does a great job from my experience, Lots of pros like a heavier camera but in my opinion lighter works for me, ya know when shopping for a bike people go for lighter, same with shoes... lighter, looking for a backpack... lighter... so I dont get the heaver concept...
I have been doing event photography and pass out my business card to people I shoot, the card gives them a proof code so when they go to my website they can enter a code to view the photos I shot of them at that days event. My advise is to et out there ans shoot shoot shoot... then get your work in front of potential customers.
my site for example... //digitalproofs.net with a sample code of: campaign |
That is a genius idea. Simply great! I love the hair "W" :)
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10/29/2004 04:54:33 PM · #8 |
I like the idea :-) cool stuff, great quality shots as well...it's all about the lenses! The 300D is most capable, just needs a good piece of - glass. :-)
I can attest 100% to the fact that the number of good/acceptable photos will greatly increase with time and practice. Most pros I know have a really high acceptance rate of .. to guess..I'd say 75% +.
P.S. when you get good, it's usually the subject that wrecks your photos ;-)
Message edited by author 2004-10-29 16:55:16. |
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10/29/2004 05:11:53 PM · #9 |
| well I guess what I meant was that on these event shoots ill shoot 400-500 shots that day... get home, and weed out the blurred, outta focus ones and then go thru and pich what I feel familys and parents would want to buy, run along and get like 15 or 20 of a family or kids then write up a proof code for that family and brief them on how to go to the site and view proofs |
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10/29/2004 05:25:06 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by gusto:
well I guess what I meant was that on these event shoots ill shoot 400-500 shots that day... get home, and weed out the blurred, outta focus ones and then go thru and pich what I feel familys and parents would want to buy, run along and get like 15 or 20 of a family or kids then write up a proof code for that family and brief them on how to go to the site and view proofs |
oh yea, I got all that, I was just basically saying that the more time you spend shooting and experimenting now, the sooner your photos are going to improve :-) |
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10/29/2004 08:13:41 PM · #11 |
My wife and I just started getting more serious about photography as a business. We are taking a multi-pronged approach:
1. We use DPCPrints!
2. We shot a few friends' and relatives' weddings and found it quite fun. We just charged someone for their wedding for the first time.
3. We started a new website at Smugmug.com: right here. and when we take photos of people or weddings or what have you, we'll put them up there for folks to purchase.
4. I'm starting to gather my photos so I can submit them to magazines and other publishers
5. Once I get enough photos and have a track record, I'll submit my photos to a well paying stock agency.
6. I'm also beginning to submit my photos to juried exhibitions. Actually, with my day job as a professor at Utah State University (I like my job), I'd like to explore further the artsy side of things. This is where I really want to be relative to weddings, etc.
7. We are giving our cards and prices to local orchestras and other groups for photos at gala concerts, when the kids are all dressed up. I saw a long line of kids lined up last week at such an event. At $15 a shot, this guy was making money!
So that's our plan, keeping in mind that I already have a job I don't really want to walk away from just yet, so I'm in no real hurry.
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10/29/2004 08:41:36 PM · #12 |
I'm not in the biz anymore, but was for a while. I never got an art degree but did photography all through high school for the yearbooks and art magazines. We developed our own film and made our own prints. By senior year the photo staff was in the dark room for four periods a day. In college I did art photography and more art/poetry magazines.
After graduating college and spending 5 years in IT, I decided to get back into photography. I assisted for an excellent wedding photographer in downtown Chicago and also worked for a photo studio developing film and making color prints. I did that for a year and then decided to start my own business. I got everything set up, placed ads, made business cards, bought a portable studio kit, then found out a week later that my husband and I were moving to Virginia because he was transferred. I tried to get work as a photographer in Virginia, but it wasn't in the cards. We ran into financial trouble and I went back into IT to get a quick job.
So I never got to the point where I could live off my income - would have been nice though. Good luck to you if you decide to take the plunge. |
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