They say, better late than never! So here is today’s post, a short one to end the week as you’ve probably had enough of my ramblings so far (I am just pretending that someone actually reads this stuff, see how this parenthesis is just getting longer and longer, I am just drifting to see if anyone is following, so if you have read this far, thank you and please accept my apologies…).
I know there are many of you out there who think about doing photography professionally (as in full-time). Yes it sounds great to get paid to take/make pictures, but it ain’t all glamour, sex and rock-and-roll (well if you are into landscape and nature photography, there is none of that to start with, that’ll teach for chosing a subject that offers none of that). Anyhow, behind the art of photography, there is a huge business component. While some people do enjoy that side, I am certain that many photography enthusiasts don’t have that in mind when thinking of professional photography.
For all of you who really think that this is your calling, please make sure you take a look at Richard Wong’s blog “The field Report” at http://fieldreport.wordpress.com/. It is an endless mine of information and resources that will help give you a better assessment of what you need to make it in this profession.
Now if I haven’t discouraged you, I wish to send you to another link, a post by Canadian photographer David DuChemin on “how he got to the why”, why it’s all worthwhile after all.
MOROCCO 2012 TOUR
Ottawa Workshops 2012
Click here to visit Craft And Vision.
I think that nowadays almost every creative work involves a business component. If a creator intends to sell his services than to succeed he should know some business concepts. There are many other people who could offer the same services, so one should compete with them to get an attention of clients. And only the strongest survive.
This principle applies to any kind of work. Business is everywhere: in science, in arts and crafts. It’s an inevitable component of any creative work. Times when artists were maintained by aristocracy has gone, now they need to find ways of making money on their own.
It’s not a business that pushes me away of photography, but inability to earn money as a landscape photographer. In country, where I live, there aren’t commercial landscape photographers, because of the low demand for landscape photos (compared to wedding photos).
Victor, thank you for taking the time to leave your thoughts. I totally agree with you on the need to be able to stand out from the crowd of photographers. However, many aspiring photographers, have the false impression that professional photography is all about going to beautiful places and having fun making great imagery. The reality as you pointed out is much different. Hence it is important to determine, for oneself, whether we REALLY want to deal with the business aspect of photography (whether you enjoy it or not is another matter altogether) or if we should rather just enjoy making images “for fun”. Another implication of my post is that, in the hopes of “making it”, most of us try so hard that they get away from what first brought them to photography. I will be posting more on this subject in the upcoming days.
Don’t worry.. I’m sure there are more than a few readers out here. It’s just that your posts require more than the usual “wow.. beautiful!”, so that’s going to eliminate a lot of commentators, unfortunately. Your writing is thoughtful and relevant to anyone serious about this subject, so keep up the good work.
I think many people have a romantic view of working in some creative field, but that rapidly goes away when they face the reality of making a living at it, while others seem to master the business end quickly even though their work is never what I would consider all that good. To master both is a real and rare accomplishment.
Thanks Mark, I really appreciate the support. It can be discourageing at times not to know if people care about what I write. In the end though, I really enjoy the exercise, and if it can help even one person, it will be all worth it for me.
Some one threw you out on Twitter is how I ran across you and I did enjoy your post and the reply’s. All I would add is that in today’s world it seems like filling some Niche is how to make it. I recently met and saw the work of this gentleman who specializes in ancient rock art photos and he had some real neat stuff and he is selling them also-Yea for him. Wish I had a link to his stuff, sorry.
Keep up the good work.