Originally asked in this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=1869746#post1869746
That's getting off topic, so here it is. How do you get started?
That's getting off topic, so here it is. How do you get started?
My still photog friends get $500 for a sitting or $1500 / day. Their investment in gear is about 1/10 what mine is. The amount of time they spend on a project is about 1/20 of mine. They all drive newer cars and have nicer homes and take more vacations than I do. They all work less than I do. If I was still freelancing for the networks Id even have less to live on, Id be gone all the time, and I wouldnt own a single frame of anything Id shot.
Most of my still photographer friends own all their own negatives and make a good living selling stock shots and authorizing reprints. One of my good still photographer friends back in Seattle runs a single man shop, works out of his home, shoots mostly wildlife and thoroughbred horses, and had nearly $2,500,000 (thats right two and a half million) in sales last year through 3 galleries (Seattle, NYC, and Leavenworth a tourist trap - WA), magazines, thoroughbred horse raising clients, and the internet.
How many videographers do you know that came close to that? This is a tough business, and unless you are lucky and talented enough to be in the top 5%, making a living is tough. Freelancing is extremely tough. Just Shooting video is no way to get rich. Boneheads that shoot 30 minute infomercials for $3000 make it hard on all of us and they should be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail.
A friend of mine recently had a Bat Mitzvah for his daughter. They paid the still photographer nearly $5000 to come and take photos of the family, the service, and the party and supply them with a scrapbook album and some framed prints for the parents and grandparents. An hour after the party was over the stills were uploaded to a printer that compiles the album, provides online proofs, organizes delivery to the clients and does the shipping. The only thing the photographer has to do is cash his check. His total time commitment to the project was about 10 hours. They offered the poor schmuck that shot the video $500.
devilot said:Sorry if this is too OT, but do professional photographers get better pay/jobs if they have better credentials? And what constitute credentials-- an art uni? I mean, aside from a portfolio and past works that have been published or whatnot... just curious.
Chip NoVaMac said:That seems to be the $64,000 question. Having taken Photographic History classes in college, I scratch my head at some of what is considered by what passes as "art" that demands the $'s. But there I am talking of fine art photography.
As to "studio" work, it is all about style and vision. Most can pick out an Arbus, Karch, or Avedon. And that is how they sell themselves.
Cooknn said:It might be cliche but it still holds true - it's not what you know, but who you know... Capitalize on existing relationships and those will lead to referrals. Once the ball starts rolling the money starts coming in
bousozoku said:I've become attached to one high school sports team locally and it's given me the opportunity to photograph them and others at tournaments. Plus, others have invited me to photograph their teams. It's not exactly lucrative because I want everyone to be able to afford photos.
seenew said:I know what you mean-- last summer I shot photos for a horse instruction camp that my girlfriend was helping to counsel, and at the end of the week I found out that several of the girls were there with financial aid, so I felt bad charging anything too high. I ended up cutting my original price by two thirds, and still not everyone was able to get a CD.
bousozoku said:I had an incident at a wrestling tournament where the school's principal had hired some sports photography company while the coaches knew me and wanted me to photograph their team. After being hassled by the company's photographer, I found that they were charging more for a 5x7 than I was charging for a 13x19 at my highest price. What's worse is that I don't think they sold too much since they didn't know how to shoot wrestling. However, they had the technology--touch screen customer view and choose printers and L-series Canon lenses. Still, there is something to be said about being good rather than just having good equipment.
But making a million on stock photography is like making a million being a rock star: Many, many people try, only a few break through and establish the reputation, the contacts (or the right agent) and the sales to create that kind of income.njmac said:I also found some interesting topics at http://www.garryblack.com/asksto.htm.
This photographer sells stock photography and makes over a hundred grand a year. He tells the story of how he got into stock photography on his site. He was very persistent and I'm sure taking great photos didn't hurt.
CanadaRAM said:It also helps if you establish a niche market where there are buyers with money and not a lot of competition -- like cooknn has. Shooting sports teams and schools is a really hard way to make a living.
edesignuk said:My boss got some pics of his young daughter taken...only set him back about £4k and for that you still don't get the RAW 'negatives', so if he wants anymore he still has to go back to the guy and shell out cash. Insane. Awesome payday for the photographers one day of work though.
edesignuk said:My boss got some pics of his young daughter taken...only set him back about £4k and for that you still don't get the RAW 'negatives', so if he wants anymore he still has to go back to the guy and shell out cash. Insane. Awesome payday for the photographers one day of work though.
rjphoto said:That's like $7000 US!!!! That's not right!!!!
I'm not charging enough.
Those pics must be awsome. I need to see that. Think you could get us a look?