Let me hear it, Tell me about the photographers life.

[timmyquest]

I'm 18 and about to enter college, i have no idea what i want to do with my life...ok i have a few ideas but i'm not sure what exactly i want to do.

I wont lie, i want to earn a good living, i dont need to be rich but i want to be able to buy a big TV if i want to, to take my family to colorado, not have to worry if i'll be able to pay the mortgage...i've lived that life, my family hasnt gone on vacation since i was 6. You can say what you want but not having money takes a toll on a family (not always, but there are exceptions to everything).

I've heard horror stories in this field, if you do get hired by a company the pay is low, if you dont you must freelance, and no matter how good a picture may be people may not want it. And in any case fighting for a good spot is cruicial and often a pain in the butt.

On the other hand i know you can make HUGE amounts of cash chasing celebs around...but it's not like anyone can just go take quality pictures of celeberties and quiet frankly thats not something i'd like to do.

I know i have the talent, or at least will especially after some schooling. The thing is i dont know if i really want to do this.

Any input?

[IndyJeff]

By all means do as I do....motorsports photography. In this field you get to travel to various race tracks, get in the garage and pit areas, of course you have to walk there, and some tracks even give you lunch. Then you get the best part, you get to stand in a turn with no shade anywhere near you. You drink water like a camel and sweat like a pig. Ok I know pigs don't sweat. Then after the day is over, you get to go back to the hotel room, take a shower go out for a nice dinner and a few drinks then back to the room to watch TV have a martini and fall asleep. You then get to get up about 6am so you can get to the track for a 1pm race and not get caught in the traffic and stand in the heat again, all day long. The best part, you might even make some money. Ahhhhh what a life.

Oh and don't forget, you get to walk damn near everywhere at the track. Sore feet, sunburns, back aches, occasional slight hangover, heavy arms, lack of sleep if you go out with a group the night before. What more could you ask for. I love it!!!!!! It just can't get any better than this.

[timmyquest]

hmmm...i'm not real sure how to take that :?

[IndyJeff]

Timmy, I still get damn near as excited as the first time I ever shot a race. I love it and wouldn't turn down a chance to go to a new track ever.

[timmyquest]

Timmy, I still get damn near as excited as the first time I ever shot a race. I love it and wouldn't turn down a chance to go to a new track ever.

K :lol:

[defordphoto]

Photography is art. Any of the field of the arts is very difficult to become very successful. Most are not. Like any of the arts you need to have those inbred skills where you live and breathe your art without even thinking about it. It takes no effort. It just is.

But, there are many different facets of photography. You can get into the media where you grunt and shoot with little art involved. You can shoot technical with clinical art skills at best.

Mostly, it's timing. Just being in the right place at the right time. No, that does not mean buying a camera and sitting at home (on your laurels) waiting for the phone to ring.

You can shoot high school sports and sell prints to Mom and Dad. Weddings. Sports. Products.

For me it's been a lifelong hobby that I shoulda/coulda done something with, but I decided to keep it separate from my worklife. My photography is my escape from work and life. I have always feared it becoming anything more than that, and then it might become a job and the fun would rush out of that balloon.

So, you're at a point in your life where many decisions made in the next 4-5 years will determine a large part of your life's journey. I wish you the best in your decision and whatever you do.

And, by the way, I love my job, which is not in any way related to photography.

[defordphoto]

Timmy, I still get damn near as excited as the first time I ever shot a race. I love it and wouldn't turn down a chance to go to a new track ever.

I could not agree more with everything you said. I love shooting motorsports and have taken a new love for the Jet Sprint boats that run here in the Northwest.

We get to stand out on the track. Yes, on the track completely exposed to super fast, screaming, methonal sucking boats running 120mph-plus and pulling 5-7g turns not more than 30 feet from where you stand.

Sometimes a little water. Sometimes a few pebbles and mud tossed at you and your thousands-of-dollars of camera equipment.

From 8:30am until 3:30-5:00pm with a 30 minute lunch break that you stuff down your throat, wondering, forgetting what you ate. No, don't tell me what it was. I'll deal with the heartburn later.

Standing and shooting and swearing your arms are three feet longer at the end of the day. And everything else you said above.

Yes. It does not get any better than that. I am in my own personal heaven shooting motorsports.