Professional Photography or Life-long Hobbyist

11/05/2007 09:46:53 AM · #4

I am currently working through a slow and careful transition from serious amateur to professional. My goal from a money standpoint has been to match the pay from my job in corporate I/T, but reduce the stress and constant worry over having my job outsourced to a different country. I would offer some thoughts, but the approach could vary greatly depending on the type of photography you will do. Selling fine art landscapes vs stock images vs portrait work might all have different implications.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

11/05/2007 11:40:56 AM · #5

Based on what you've posted to DPC thus far (what little there is of it) you're a LONG way from making this decision at the moment. My advice would be to relax and enjoy your hobby to its fullest, pursuing it with as much dedication as you can muster, until you have a much better sense of what your limits may be. Professional photography is a cut-throat business. It's NO way free of stress. I speak as someone who earned his living as a pro for 25+ years...

R.

Louis

Nikon D800

11/05/2007 11:44:02 AM · #6

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Based on what you've posted to DPC thus far (what little there is of it) you're a LONG way from making this decision at the moment.

He (

b4cchus) doesn't have anything in his portfolio and hasn't entered any challenges...

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

11/05/2007 11:45:06 AM · #7

Originally posted by Louis:

Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Based on what you've posted to DPC thus far (what little there is of it) you're a LONG way from making this decision at the moment.

He ( b4cchus) doesn't have anything in his portfolio and hasn't entered any challenges...

I think he's referring to the forum posts.

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

11/05/2007 11:47:19 AM · #8

Originally posted by jhonan:

I think he's referring to the forum posts.

Oh... :}

11/05/2007 11:48:24 AM · #9

Originally posted by jhonan:

I think he's referring to the forum posts.

Right. This is someone who's JUST beginning his photographic journey, apparently.

R.

De Sousa

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

11/05/2007 12:00:22 PM · #10

Maybe these are silly questions, but:

1. How much do you think a regular good photographer can earn ($USD) in a month?
2. What are the most profit segments for a regular good photographer? (Adv, Fashion, Weddings, Stock, Selling Prints/Artwork, other?)

PS: Consider �a regular good photographer� someone competent doing his job and not a famous top photographer.

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

11/05/2007 12:01:24 PM · #11

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

It's NO way free of stress.

I did not intend to suggest that running a photography business is free of stress or to minimize the effort that professional photographers put into their careers. I was simply pointing out that I want a career that is meaningful to me and that does not have the same debilitating level of stress that I have in my current work. Without knowing me, I'm sure that difficult to assess. I would certainly be willing to discuss over a beer, but I'm sure you don't really want to have to read about the current challenges in my life/career.

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

11/05/2007 12:19:39 PM · #12

Originally posted by De Sousa:

I honestly don't think a "regular good photographer" is enough to become a successful professional these days. There are literally dozens or portrait and wedding photographers listed in the yellow pages or on the Internet for my area, but there are only 4 that have build successful and sustainable businesses. You have to be more that "a regular good photographer" and you have to be more than "a regular good business person".

AJSullivan

11/05/2007 12:21:16 PM · #13

Im shooting for a career, so im making the investments now (school, equipment, seminars, etc)

AJSullivan

11/05/2007 12:22:20 PM · #14

And also - how are you at business in general? You can be a great photographer, but if youre a shitty businessman, you won't make anything.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

11/05/2007 12:23:37 PM · #15

Originally posted by Nusbaum:

You have to be more that "a regular good photographer" and you have to be more than "a regular good business person".

This last point is worth stressing; if you are going to be a successful, independent (self-employed) photographer, business/marketing skills are actually higher on the "must have" list than photographic skills. Seriously...

R.

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

11/05/2007 12:32:54 PM · #16

Originally posted by De Sousa:

1. depends on talent, drive and sales ability.
2. See below

A friend is a company photographer for a big company. He shoots events, media stuff, marketing stuff... I'd guess he makes about 60K/year. I posted a entry level opening for this position here a couple months ago that started about 30K/year.

Another friend has gone pro. he sells fine art (mostly at art shows and street fairs), but probably makes more putting on classes and workshops on how to do the shots. he has also opened a shop where the have a studio you can rent, and they do printing and put on classes on anything photography. Not sure how much he makes but he drives a mercedes!

I know a couple other people that shoot weddings, events, do portraits, and do commercial for hire stuff here and there and they haven't quit their day job.

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

11/05/2007 12:49:38 PM · #17

Originally posted by De Sousa:

It will depend on your market. A good fashion photographer in NYC should make a lot better living than one in North Dakota.

The photographer I used to work for in Michigan did pretty well. He was married with 2 kids, had a big house on a lake and drove nice vehicles. He shot mostly editorial and commercial stuff.

glad2badad

DJI Mavic Air 2

Sears 55mm f/1.4 M42

11/05/2007 01:11:19 PM · #18

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

... The photographer I used to work for in Michigan did pretty well. He was married with 2 kids, had a big house on a lake and drove nice vehicles. He shot mostly editorial and commercial stuff.

You forgot to mention that his wife is a doctor and pulls in a six-figure income! J/K (although it is possible). :-P

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

11/05/2007 01:32:16 PM · #19

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
... The photographer I used to work for in Michigan did pretty well. He was married with 2 kids, had a big house on a lake and drove nice vehicles. He shot mostly editorial and commercial stuff.

You forgot to mention that his wife is a doctor and pulls in a six-figure income! J/K (although it is possible). :-P

No, she did the books and ran the office.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/05/2007 01:43:37 PM · #20

I prefer *not* to quit my day job. I've been a computer programmer since I was 16 (and dreamed of being one since I was 12). I love it.

However, I've also had a camera in my hands since I was 13 and greatly enjoy photography.

The trick is ... keeping photography "fun". I do lots of weddings, and greatly enjoy doing them. But if I quit my day job and starting to shoot weddings full time, I think they would quickly turn into a "job" for me and then I would get tired of it.

So I like keeping them both and I like keeping them separate. Programming pays the bills. Photography puts the icing on the cake. :-)

timfythetoo

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

11/05/2007 01:50:59 PM · #21

We just stepped into the world of payed photography. We sold our first round of prints from a senior portrait shoot with another order coming up this weekend. Aimee and I used to be semi pro jugglers. We made enough to pay for new gear and travel around the US to various festivals. We hope photography will do a similar thing. Pay for new gear and also start a savings account (I am a stay at home dad rightnow so savings are small). So I guess we are looking at being semi pro photographers.

hankk

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

11/05/2007 02:19:24 PM · #22

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by Nusbaum:
You have to be more that "a regular good photographer" and you have to be more than "a regular good business person".

This last point is worth stressing; if you are going to be a successful, independent (self-employed) photographer, business/marketing skills are actually higher on the "must have" list than photographic skills. Seriously...

R.

Just to clarify, business and marketing skills are two different sets--business includes the accounting/financial (how much to charge, do I buy a new camera this year, etc.) Marketing is completely different.

A quick and dirty view is that marketing skills affect the number of customers you get, and business skills keep your expenses in line.

klkitchens

Pentax K-1

Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 AF

11/05/2007 02:21:44 PM · #23

Originally posted by hankk:

And photography skills affect the number of got customers you keep. :)