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02/16/2007 08:28:27 AM · #1 |
Hoi folks,
I just have a question for the folks that are professional photographers as a genuine part time business.
I have gotten the necessary paperwork, tax number, and fictitious name for Whiskey Spring Studios and I was just wondering......
I have little or no interest in doing the wedding photographer thing, I don't want to spend all weekend sitting on my ass at every craft show in the tri-state area, and the whole shutterstock thing seems to result in abysmal sales, or at best, a mere pittance.
I realize that I will have to pay my dues to a certain extent by doing the arts/crafts circuit for at least this spring/summer/fall to get some sort of local recognition, but I am hoping to get set up with coffeeshop and gallery sales over the long haul.
So.....what my questions are:
Are there others of you out there who have real lives and don't have or want to spend the time trying to make a career out of photography?
Do you have suggestions as to ways that I may pursue this without it taking over my life as I still have a family, and now, a real job?
Have any of you been able to do it this way and even support a moderate rate of improving your equipmernt covering some or all of the costs with sales?
I am willing to give this a go for about two years before I pack it in as not being a viable idea, and I think that keeping my hopes up for anything more than supporting my habit on these terms is unrealistic.
Thoughts?
ETA: I have actually sold a few of my pictures and I feel like I have a good handle on what sells in my area......and there is ample subject material for said genre.
Message edited by author 2007-02-16 08:29:52.
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02/16/2007 08:38:47 AM · #2 |
Hey Jackson. I still have my day job - primarily for the health care and other benefits (well the salary doesn't hurt either). I'm a graphics designer 40 hours a week. I work from my home, though, so am able to fit lots of photography bits and pieces in between and around my graphics jobs. I have done some weddings and will continue to for special clients -- but I am NOT going to be a "wedding photographer". I earn a nice second income as a portrait photographer. I have families and individuals to my home studio and occasionally location shoots. I charge comparable rates to the full-time pros in my area and offer the same types of high-end prints, choices & frames that they offer. It isn't easy at first to get the clients coming in often enough to earn a steady income, but after a couple of years word of mouth will take care of most bookings. I still give out business cards EVERYWHERE I go. Anyone who will talk to me gets one. I've never tried the craft fairs - but I understand its a nice source of extra income and a great way to get your name known in your community (and a place to give out more business cards!!). If you stick with it, you will find a photography niche that works for you! Good luck.
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02/16/2007 08:54:07 AM · #3 |
Hey Jeb,
I think we are on the same page ;) (gallery's, shows, resteraunts, etc)
You won't see me doing weddings nor craft shows either..(no disrespect for those who do - it's just something I don't have time/inclination to do -)
I think getting the foot in the door is the hard part &
choosing the portfolio for the resteraunt/gallery &
keeping an eye open for the call for submissions ...
what may sell at the craft fair will not go over well with the trendy bars
(landscapes with barns vs abstracts ... different clients )
I don't see this as a real moneymaker (thats daytime job ) but with the seed money it has started to be self sufficient ..
& I'm finding the more i can do myself (matting/framing/glass cutting) the more 'profit' stays with the company for better tools with the side benefit that the perceived value goes up
long range plans is to retire & still take pictures ..
maybe then i'll do craft fairs
as an aside : a co-worker made a statement to be that made sense " there is no REAL money in the unique item, only in the providing a service, portraits, weddings, and commercial photos" ... not to say you can't make money but 'just' enough is what i'm looking for ..
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02/16/2007 09:02:17 AM · #4 |
i wish i could give you a secret formula, but i can't. the only way i've ever found to make money at something is to really work at it--and that means being committed to it in such a way that people know they can count on you to do whatever it is you want them to pay you for.
if you are going to do portraits, you've got to build a nice portfolio and be able to work with other people's schedules. and you need to make sure you have the equipment necessary to get the job done.
if you are going to do stock, you've got to settle on the type of stock you want to shoot, then commit to shooting so much a month. in stock, making money is a matter of both quality and quantity.
if you are going to sell fine art, you have to not only develop an saleable inventory, but you also need to hone a style that can be immediately recognizable (that is, if you want to make really good money). you also have to be ready to put in the time it takes to promote yourself.
the only people i know of making really good money part time are those that do weddings really well. they spent the time learning how to do weddings the right way, and they worked their way up to being able to price them decently. they did pay their dues, though, developing a portfolio that sells their value.
my dad taught me, "you can have the greatest dog food in the world, but if you can't get it to the dog, it doesn't matter." i've been self-employed for 20 years, and i've found that saying to be true no matter what i was doing. you've got to be good, reliable, and known to your market.
hope this helps, good luck! |
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02/16/2007 09:43:34 AM · #5 |
I started this as a serious hobby 2 years ago and didn't know what I wanted to shoot or what I wanted to do with it. Now, thanks to the challenges and other things I have tried, I am starting to get an idea of what pushes my buttons.
I have done a little event, some product, some portraits and for the last 3 months, some stock.
I have found I am not particularly interested in the event stuff, but don't mind the product & stock work as a means of honing my skills and earning some lens money.
I have no ambition to go full time, but to make it a self-funding hobby passion. I have mainly accomplished this by showing anyone who is mildly interested what I do. This has resulted in some interesting paid gigs while broadening my portfolio.
In the end I would love to end up doing some small galleries, but in the meantime I'm having fun, learning and not spending too much money on it.
good luck
obviously can't do that strike thing yet - got it ...thanks
Message edited by author 2007-02-16 20:41:46. |
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02/16/2007 10:00:26 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by MichaelC:
obviously can't do that strike thing yet |
Use the square brackets "[" and "]" instead of the greater-than and less-than signs. It's UBB code, I believe, similar to a few HTML tags. UBB is for girls, but I've learned to accept using it.
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02/16/2007 11:04:56 AM · #7 |
My friend I work for the Federal Government as my real job and do photography on the side as a legit business. Regarding weddings, I do them but my passions are abstract art and what not. I only do weddings cause they teach me more about people photography and provide a nice income to buy more toys. Never limit yourself to one type of photography you must dabble in all types such as family, abstract, commercial & stock, weddings, etc. By doing so you discover your strengths and things you need to work on not to mention it SOOOOOO opens up other creative outlets you never new you had TRUST ME!!! No two photographers are the same so your own identity is for you to discover my friend and I suggest you read the book entitled "Photography Your Way" which will shed some light on what I am saying. Lastly, become a student of the art by reading as much as you can for this will also help steer you in the directions that most suit you. Remember, photography is a democratic medium that allows you to expand in ways other art forms cannot. Good luck with your business feel free to hit me up with any questions I could talk about this stuff all night.
Lance
www.justisphoto.com
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