Photographer: Best Get Rich Fast Job?

Let's see some links, you're gonna throw those terms around, I want to see your work.

Photog wrote:

Let's see some links, you're gonna throw those terms around, I want to see your work.

If you can't figure out he knows what he is talking about from what he has posted, you aren't a photog, Photog. Some people prefer their anonymity when posting here.

Everybody claiming that the overhead for professional photography is high, stop. Overhead is not the same as an initial investment. I get that a top sports photographer might walk around with a $30,000 lens, but that doesn't make it "overhead." It is a capital expense, overhead is things like rent and your electric bill.

Jaminsotherbestfriend wrote:

Everybody claiming that the overhead for professional photography is high, stop. Overhead is not the same as an initial investment. I get that a top sports photographer might walk around with a $30,000 lens, but that doesn't make it "overhead." It is a capital expense, overhead is things like rent and your electric bill.

The "investment" never stops Mr. Dweeb.

here's the thing I've heard from those in the wedding photographer business, more time is actually spent doing the things needed in running a business than actually taking the photos. I forgot the hours mentioned but there was way more work hours devoted to the business aspect of it.

Jaminsotherbestfriend wrote:

Everybody claiming that the overhead for professional photography is high, stop. Overhead is not the same as an initial investment. I get that a top sports photographer might walk around with a $30,000 lens, but that doesn't make it "overhead." It is a capital expense, overhead is things like rent and your electric bill.

$30K is worth the investment based on the $600K T&F and XC sports photographers make per year.

The secret to being a good photographer is capturing the right MOMENT. When your target's eyes are conveying a moment that you think should live in time. Each photograph represents a permanent etching. You want it to be powerful.

It's not about your skill in using Lightroom. It's about the MOMENT. If a moment cannot conjure up at leas 50 different opinions, it's not worth it.

Photog? wrote:

Photog wrote:

Let's see some links, you're gonna throw those terms around, I want to see your work.

If you can't figure out he knows what he is talking about from what he has posted, you aren't a photog, Photog. Some people prefer their anonymity when posting here.

Anyone can master the basic language and concepts, it's the artistry that matters.

I've seen people hauling $7000 worth of bodies and lenses around Europe taking photos anyone with a $200 point and shoot could take. They don't know how to frame a subject, they pick the wrong light, etc, etc.

Photography isn't about the camera. The camera is just the tool.

The OP is just the tool.

Fixed it.

I did some research about a year ago on this. It was the second worst job for earning money because the average photographer sends 82% of their working time looking for jobs.

markschultz25 wrote:

The secret to being a good photographer is capturing the right MOMENT. When your target's eyes are conveying a moment that you think should live in time. Each photograph represents a permanent etching. You want it to be powerful.

It's not about your skill in using Lightroom. It's about the MOMENT. If a moment cannot conjure up at leas 50 different opinions, it's not worth it.

Wedding photog isn't just about random photography. You're not going to be sitting in the background taking 1000s of photos. You have to FORCE the moments. Tell people how to act. You get the bride and groom to pose in cheesy poses holding their chin, etc... It's a people person job. You have to do all these cheesy "classic" photos. The bride gorging on weeding cake, etc... The bridal party in the sunset. If you are not a social animal, it is going to suck. If you have the right personality (sales person), you'd do better at other jobs which require those skills. Like selling houses/real estate.

Photog wrote:

Photog? wrote:

If you can't figure out he knows what he is talking about from what he has posted, you aren't a photog, Photog. Some people prefer their anonymity when posting here.

Anyone can master the basic language and concepts, it's the artistry that matters.

I've seen people hauling $7000 worth of bodies and lenses around Europe taking photos anyone with a $200 point and shoot could take. They don't know how to frame a subject, they pick the wrong light, etc, etc.

Photography isn't about the camera. The camera is just the tool.

That was covered earlier in the thread. The part about developing the skills. You have to have decent equipment and also have the skill. Artistry is part of the skill set.

Converse to what you say, is clients often want to know your equipment is expensive else they won't hire you. They use your equipment as a cue that you are talented. Kind of like when someone hires an attorney who drives a new Mercedes over the attorney driving a 20 year old Toyota. The Toyota driving attorney may be way better but if the client doesn't know their reputations they will hire the Mercedes driving attorney. Some photographers are so well know they can get away with anything, like when Terry Richardson shot the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue with an old Yashica T4 point-and-shoot film camera. Of course he did that to buff up his reputation even further ("I'm so great I can shoot with anything.") Which is true, a talented photographer gets great looking photos from any camera. But when you are a low-level newbie entering the business you are an unknown quantity. Even when clients can view your work on a website they still get uncomfortable when they see amateur equipment, they don't feel they are getting the "high end" treatment they (think) they are paying for. Kind of a double-bind.

Not an endorsement of Richardson, the guy is a total douche:

Why yes, you are wrote:

markschultz25 wrote:

What other relatively low overhead job pays those kinds of returns in a single day?

Low overhead? Are you an f'ing idiot? Yes, yes you are.

The OP asks a question apparently hoping to become better informed, and you call him "an [sic] f'ing idiot." How tactful. Just keep shooting people down with nastiness despite their trying to learn something.

markschultz25 wrote:

Wtfunny wrote:

a) how many weddings do you think this guy is going to shoot in a week?

He could theoretically shoot 7 a week with ease. His job doesn't confine him to one location. That's the beauty of photography. you can travel where the money is and get your name out on a regional level.

Most weddings are held in Sat and Sun. How many of those are there per week?

If he's shooting 7 days a week, who's invoicing people, marketing and developing new product/service ideas, bookkeeping, answering email and taking phone calls, meeting with potential clients, etc, etc? Who's editing images, culling and keywording, printing, sorting portfolios and uploading images to the server for clients to browse, etc, etc?

The overhead of setting up the shoot is virtually non-existent with today's camera technology. No expensive lighting needed.

a) overhead isn't restricted to lighting

b) very few serious and high-end wedding photographers don't have (or have access to) a solid lighting rig

c) as with most vocations, the level of expertise required is much higher than people not involved in the activity imagine. Think how great it would be to an Olympic medalist or win an NBA championship ring, eh? Why isn't everyone doing it?

Very few guys are over 6'7. That's why very few are winning nba championships. Unless you want to argue that the height itself is a talent...

markschultz25 wrote:

Very few guys are over 6'7. That's why very few are winning nba championships. Unless you want to argue that the height itself is a talent...

A better analogy than the NBA one would be musicians. Lots of people play instruments; some even write songs. However becoming a self-sufficient musician who makes a career out of it requires talent that not all people have, even if they buy the best equipment.

I also agree with what was said earlier about the social animal stuff. When it comes to shoots, whether it be weddings, model stuff, or family portraits, a good photographer needs certain social skills that not all possess. You need to make people feel confident, both in themselves and in you. This is especially true with models. When I worked for agencies doing comp cards and the like, I found it very important to be able to walk the line between making a model feel beautiful and confident without crossing a line of inappropriate behavior. It needs to be fun and stress-free, yet the results have to be perfect. Everyone knows each other at the top level in every big city, and word-of-mouth is extremely important. When you are known to be able to put a model at ease and create a positive, productive atmosphere, you get more work.

Photography hasn't been so hot in 50 years as a money making tool today because of Social Media, iPhones, and MacInoshes.

Thank Syrian Muslim Steve Jobs wrote:

Photography hasn't been so hot in 50 years as a money making tool today because of Social Media, iPhones, and MacInoshes.

The cheap slr prices and general increased interest in photography due to cellphones/instagram/facebook selfies and the like has been a mixed blessing. On the downside, there has been an increase in getting a friend to shoot a wedding instead of a pro, but there has also been an increase in people wanting to go beyond what they've figured out on their own, and choose to take lessons. I started doing workshops in my studio on the side around 2006 or so, both for understanding and using an slr as well as high-end beauty retouching techniques for those looking to get into aftermarket retouching, of which a lot of money can be made if you have the patience and skill. I know a fair amount of high-end retouchers that work out of places as far away as India and Argentina. This business in particular has taken off as slr photography has become more and more accessible to the masses.

It also helps if the photographer is goofy looking and not too serious since that will put the subjects at ease better.

If your look alone is enough to get random kids cracking a smile, you're going to get some great photography with lots of smiles.