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01/29/2004 10:40:43 PM · #1
How many members plan to make photography their profession?

I'm curious. For me it will forever remain a hobby, something I will do for the enjoyment. I sense others here plan to be professional photographers at some point in their lives?

Edited because I did not think..... some may already be professional photographers... if so who, if I might ask?

Message edited by author 2004-01-29 22:42:07.
01/29/2004 10:42:51 PM · #2
I intend to keep it a hobby also, but I also intend for it to be a self financing hobby.
01/29/2004 10:47:08 PM · #3
if it pays enough to support the equipment, i am happy, if it doesn't still happy, if it pays enough to rebuild my darkroom, the chemicals, paper, and film for 35mm i'd be super happy...

01/29/2004 10:50:11 PM · #4
I have loved photography since I was a child and able to earn my own money for first camera, I am going to school part time to get degree in Graphic design and photography is a big subject for that degree but I believe a job or profession in photography full time might take the fun out of it. I dont know I also have thought about when I go back to work (when babies go to school) that I will try to get a job in like walmart or drugstore 1 hour photo studio or one of the portrait places for extra income till I get my degree. I do believe though that keeping it a hobby instead of profession that I will have the same passion for it as I did when I got my first camera like a kid opening presents ya know!
01/29/2004 10:58:27 PM · #5
I'm really interested in photography as a hobby, however it would be nice for it to be self-financing. I have a question in that respect and I'd like some input about this....
I work at the present with computers, which also started as a hobby and when I started fixing my friends' computers (back in the Commodore days) and charging for it, they recommended me to their friends and so on... Now I have what you would call a small business that carries that same policy, and I've never advertised my services. Have you had this experience with photography, or have you recurred to other means to make yourself known?
01/29/2004 11:02:24 PM · #6
I'm working towards it as a profession.

I can't afford to have hobbies and need to generate an income. Since I can't do lapidary work any more becaues of arthritis, this is something I can (hopefully) do that doesn't hurt.

I already have had a couple of product jobs, and am working on a magazine article.
01/29/2004 11:07:49 PM · #7
For me its just a hobby, It would take a lot to take me away from my current job. Been doing it for 6 years now and just dont see stoping it now.

That and it would be hard to make the switch with a family to take care of.
01/29/2004 11:14:36 PM · #8
I make a living at it although I did not always. In my former life I was a business executive. So it's a second career. 75% of my work/income is for illustrators and magazines - sort of custom stock abstract photography - very few of my photographs get used as whole things (or very few of my photographs are of whole things, I suppose is also true), 25% I earn from gallery and show sales. I don't take ANY commission or assignment work at all, I don't sell prints anymore although I once had a good little business on a website doing so and except for a couple of series I did a few years ago for coffee table books I don't work for anyone or to rule.

Odd, isn't it? I am FAR from being one of the best photographers here (not a self-slur, just a reasonable observation) - and yet most, I believe, do not earn a living at it.

Catherine

01/29/2004 11:17:45 PM · #9
I would, but the government won't let me.


01/29/2004 11:19:46 PM · #10
just as a hobby here, I would like to sell a few prints or have a calendar published, or something like that.

But if I had the chance to photograph wildlife and get paid gobbs of $$$ + expenses I would do it n a heart beat

James
01/29/2004 11:22:20 PM · #11
Originally posted by Gordon:

I would, but the government won't let me.


is Gordon like one of child hackers, that is not allowed to touch a computer for 20 years or something....ummmm me wonders.... did Gordon film the JFK assiation???? does he have pics of bill and monica????

James
01/30/2004 10:11:29 AM · #12
I've gone the opposite way, from profession to hobby. Though I am considering returning at some point to shooting for pay, at least on a part time basis. For now though, I just enjoy shooting what I want and submitting to the occasional challenge.

When I started out, I had a good technical and creative background, but was terribly naive when it came to the business of photography.
01/30/2004 10:32:33 AM · #13
Definitely a hobby for me. Although like most of my other hobbies (and my wife would agree) it could probably also be described as an obsession.
01/30/2004 10:48:47 AM · #14
started as work thing - brought a little Fuji so I could take product shots whilst making an ad/brochure for a client - rather than outsource a stock picture of an orange for £280.

But now an obsession outright;)

Actually considering jacking in the freelance design stuff and becoming a photographer’s assistant - making tea and wiping lenses;) working by yourself is lonely with a capital L.

01/30/2004 11:22:15 AM · #15
For me it is mostly a hobby, but really an obsession. I have somehow gotten the attention of the people at work (my pictures in my office and constant viewing of DPC on my PC)and have convinced them to let me take our product shots (Photographing beer). So far I have gotten paid in equipment,m but as soon as my camera is paid off, I will get paid for my work. Hopefully this will finance the obsession.

I don't think I would want to do it for a living, unless somebody felt they needed to have a photographer on staff, roaming around the world with his family, taking pictures of whatever pleased him, never having to meet a deadline or have specific goal. Then, I'd be their man.
01/30/2004 11:24:15 AM · #16
Originally posted by jab119:

Originally posted by Gordon:

I would, but the government won't let me.


is Gordon like one of child hackers, that is not allowed to touch a computer for 20 years or something....ummmm me wonders.... did Gordon film the JFK assiation???? does he have pics of bill and monica????

James


Nope, its just I'm officially an alien so I'm not allowed to leave the New Mexico area...
01/30/2004 11:27:30 AM · #17
Originally posted by mariomel:


I don't think I would want to do it for a living, unless somebody felt they needed to have a photographer on staff, roaming around the world with his family, taking pictures of whatever pleased him, never having to meet a deadline or have specific goal. Then, I'd be their man.


Funny you should say that, I knew a guy who did just that. No assignments, just went on long trips and shot like crazy. Sold all his work to travel publications. He'd be gone for a couple months, come back with 300-500 rolls of film. Then he'd spend the next couple of months editing and planning his next trip.
01/30/2004 11:33:20 AM · #18
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by mariomel:


I don't think I would want to do it for a living, unless somebody felt they needed to have a photographer on staff, roaming around the world with his family, taking pictures of whatever pleased him, never having to meet a deadline or have specific goal. Then, I'd be their man.


Funny you should say that, I knew a guy who did just that. No assignments, just went on long trips and shot like crazy. Sold all his work to travel publications. He'd be gone for a couple months, come back with 300-500 rolls of film. Then he'd spend the next couple of months editing and planning his next trip.


You're friend need an assistant. Maybe a protegé, to take over his job when he's done. Now that's a dream job.
01/30/2004 12:14:30 PM · #19
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by mariomel:


I don't think I would want to do it for a living, unless somebody felt they needed to have a photographer on staff, roaming around the world with his family, taking pictures of whatever pleased him, never having to meet a deadline or have specific goal. Then, I'd be their man.


Funny you should say that, I knew a guy who did just that. No assignments, just went on long trips and shot like crazy. Sold all his work to travel publications. He'd be gone for a couple months, come back with 300-500 rolls of film. Then he'd spend the next couple of months editing and planning his next trip.


was it worthwhile? did he make enough money to support himself? that takes a lot of guts if you ask me, sounds like a great way to make a living though!
01/30/2004 12:53:58 PM · #20
For me this started as a hobby with a nice point-n-shoot camera (Sony DSC-S85) and after shooting literally thousands of pictures in under a year I remembered how much I used to enjoy photography back in high school and how I'd decided to stop so that I could pursue college and religious training more (or less) vigorously (not much money to spend on hobby back then). I decided to get back into photography more seriously and see what I could turn out and after a couple of photoshoots on 35mm film my wife and I agreed on me getting the dSLR. Jumping to right now, my goal is to stay with my career for the next 20 years or so and retire early. As I do that I plan to build a nice little local business that provides pretty low priced but good quality portraits for weddings, senior portraits and family shots as well as events. I figure I ought to be able to grow a nice little niche for myself over an extended period of time and then when I retire from "the grind" I should have something that I can get up and look forward to in the morning and not feel like I hate doing it since I'll only be working for myself and able to choose the days that I setup shoots (since it won't be my only income and I shouldn't have to support youngsters anymore or pay for a house at that point). So while its not my profession, it is definitely something that I'm aiming to work into a 2nd/3rd or whatever this would be. And along the way we get some great shots of our family and friends to put up on the fridge or print, frame and put up in the house. My wife is enjoying having so good quality shots from our daughter's first year that she can scrapbook with so we get all kinds of benefits and since I've owned a couple of businesses before I get to keep my hand in on all the monotonous yet satisfying parts of starting a new business (like that sense of accomplishment when I know I've filed all the forms I need to or gotten a letter of recommendation from a previous client).

That's my situation: started off looking for some self-expression and I'm moving into earning a little over the long haul hopefully (as well as getting better about capturing those good shots).

01/30/2004 02:25:26 PM · #21
Originally posted by jxpfeer:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by mariomel:


I don't think I would want to do it for a living, unless somebody felt they needed to have a photographer on staff, roaming around the world with his family, taking pictures of whatever pleased him, never having to meet a deadline or have specific goal. Then, I'd be their man.


Funny you should say that, I knew a guy who did just that. No assignments, just went on long trips and shot like crazy. Sold all his work to travel publications. He'd be gone for a couple months, come back with 300-500 rolls of film. Then he'd spend the next couple of months editing and planning his next trip.


was it worthwhile? did he make enough money to support himself? that takes a lot of guts if you ask me, sounds like a great way to make a living though!


I just met him because I worked at the lab that processed his film. He'd bring in all his film at once. We usually ran it overnight. I did ask him about it once, he said it was hard getting established, but once his clients were established, he made damn good money at it. This was before digital was really viable commercially (mid 90's). Still, it'd be a great way to make a living if you liked travelling a lot.
01/30/2004 03:33:33 PM · #22
wow that's cool. definitely sounds like a hella fun way to make a living, that's for sure! :)
01/30/2004 03:46:52 PM · #23
I just ordered a bunch of my own prints so I could make a portfolio. I doubt I will ever be a full time photographer--I'm having too much fun teaching storytelling and other classes here at USU--but I would like to be the next David Muench or Tom Till in my spare time!
02/03/2004 08:59:34 AM · #24
Hey friend,
i'm David greeting you over there usa.
i am amale aged 25yrs old aphotographer as my job in uganda {east africa}i would like to improve my photography/job.I request your advise.thnx.lukady2002@yahoo.com
02/03/2004 10:49:51 AM · #25
I have always dreamed of making photography a profession, but the time required for career and family have made it difficult to pursue even as a serious hobby. But, as the stress and risk of work increases and the rewards level out, I am wondering if I shouldn't starting building my skills in hopes of photography being my second career.
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