What has the evolution of your photography cycle been like?

[ClickClick]

Meaning, how did you get started in photography and the path that lead you to where you are currently at today?

For example, I started photography years ago just playing around and winning several local and regional photography shows. Was selected to show in some gallery openings and exhibits. Took a break of several years upon out of the blue I got a Rebel XT for Christmas.

The Right Place / Right Time scenario saw me offered a job as a photographer for a travel agency when they chartered their own cruises/vacation escapes. At the time I never expected to make any money from photography so when the aspect of free luxury travel was offered (with a small daily rate paid as well), I couldn't believe my luck.

I did that for going on 4 years next year. Then recently I stumbled (that is the best way to describe it other than "blind luck") into the position of doing event photography for a S. FL magazine. Which again I was surprised to be able to pick up some spare change each week (in addition to all the freebies) for doing something I probably would have done for free anyway. (Yes, I admit my business sense is terrible and I am working on it).

Through these event photography assignments, I have been approached by companies/individuals/etc.. that want to utilize me in other regards and activities. In the last two months I have seen a dramatic increase in assignments/requests as well.

Overall I went from thinking that I would never have a chance to make a dime from this hobby of mine to actually having to turn down requests/assignments.

So.... how has your own journey been and where do you see it going (or hope to be going?)

[fireman93514]

I did not have a lot of interest in photography when I was young. My junior year in high school I found out the yearbook was looking for a photographer. They sent me to a weekend seminar and turned me loose on the school. After a while they had to tell me more pictures of the football team and less cheerleaders. Hey I'm a redblooded american teenage boy what did they expect? lol.

After high school came a wedding followed by children a few yeaes later picture of the kids became important. This led to building a darkroom in the garage. I bought a used medium format and started doing installations of officers christmas parties for lodges etc. I went back to 35mm when Fujica came out with the st801 and used this for many years.

I bought my first Canon in 2001 just before a trip to Europe. I went digital about a year ago when after a trip to the Grand Canyon I missed a shot of a California Condor while reloading my film camera.

Not a real exciting photo career but I did finally have my first non-yearbook photo published. Next step? I have been thinking a 4x5 view camera might be fun to play with.

[S.Horton]

As a child, I shot and developed B/W film in my home.

I gave it up because of the work involved.

Last year, we got some SLR gear for a trip, and from there it is history.

The combination of digital plus CS3 is amazing, and the things you can do are just intoxicating.

Next step: We incorporated this month. Photography, Fine Art and Retouching will become a profession.

(And that's a big leap from what I do now)

[irish1]

Got a Canon EF camera in 1978. Took a photography class in college and learned the basics and developed my own film. Got married, had kids and took two decades off. Bought my wife a 6 MP Canon ELPH and really enjoyed playing around in Photoshop. Soon tired of no creative control over the settings and bought a XTi. More fun. Got some nice glass, took better pictures. Started hanging out on this damned forum and jumped on the 40D when it came out. Enrolled in the New York Institute of Photography. My new 70-200 2.8 IS comes tomorrow . ........ ....

help .. .. . ....

someone .. .. ...

please ..... ....................

[ClickClick]

How do you like the NYIP??? How long have been you enrolled now? Would you recommend it?

(sorry off topic)

[hooookup]

Here's my story. Every bit of it is the truth.
A friend of mine bought a camera in August of 2005. I was envious so I went out and bought a camera that same day (Rebel XT). 11 months later I had my first photo published in the July 2006 issue of Playboy Magazine. It was a double truck on Pg 74-75 of Professional Drift Racer Tanner Foust. From there I picked up another assignment for Playboy covering a red carpet event at the legendary Playboy Mansion in Holmby Hills. The contacts I made while shooting for Playboy opened the door to my career and helped me land a job as a red carpet photographer in Hollywood. I was in the right place, at the right time and met all the right people in the process. I am one of the luckiest guys working in the industry today.
-Jerod

[Riff Raff]

I. Had a film P&S as a kid and shot with it a decent amount while on vacation trips with my parents. Lost interest at some point.

II. A couple of decades later, I was buying a new computer from Dell and decided to buy a P&S digital camera along with it just for fun (Olympus C-3030).

III. After three years of shooting with the C-3030, I decide that I really want an off-camera flash (since basically everything I did was indoor flash photography). Unfortunately the C-3030 has no hotshoe. I end up purchasing the Olympus C-5050 and, a month later, the FL-40 flash. It served me well for another three years, though I did end up having to stick a hairpin in the on/off switch on the flash to make it stay on while shooting.

IV. In April of this year, I get a bonus at work and decide to go whole hog into a DSLR setup. The Rebel XTi + Grip arrives shortly afterward, along with the 24-70 f/2.8L and 85mm f/1.8 lenses plus a 430EX speedlight.

V. I realize that I'm in photographer heaven now, and essentially sign over the contents of my wallet for the next couple of years to Canon. The 50mm f/1.4 is paid for. The 70-200mm f/2.8L IS is not... and I'm sure there'll be more. My wife sort of understands. :lol:

[Perry Ge]

Started hanging out on this damned forum and jumped on the 40D when it came out.

HAHA so true. I almost bought one last night, and I blame this 'damned forum'.

My dad was into photography, and got me a cheap vivitar P&S film camera when I was young. I loved it, and used it, before he got me a cheap canon P&S film camera. They then bought me a nikon coolpix P&S, and the extra controls really got me into photography, so I started borrowing his Nikon SLR. Loved it, got my own Elan IIe and started doing darkroom work. They got me a 400D and a few photography books as a gift (after much begging on my part) and I have never looked back since. Since then, my money has slowly been draining away from my bank account.

[PhotosGuy]

"How did you get started" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=174508)

[JeffreyG]

I grew up shooting my Dad's AE-1 with just a 50mm.

We have a good family friend who had nice Nikon gear and his own darkroom. I worked with him a lot and learned much. I eventually got my own Nikon so that I could borrow lenses, and I borrowed a 24mm for a trip to Europe. That lens seemed so crazy wide to me back then.

In about 1990 my grandmother (in her 80s) got some EOS gear because she could not see to focus anymore. I inherited that stuff which is how I wound up in the EOS digital realm. Only her 50CM remains in my kit.

[Mike R]

Took a 110 pocket camera on my honeymoon (26 yrs ago) and was real disappointed in the pics. I went an bought an AE-1 and was hooked ever since.

Since the AE-1, I have owned a Minolta 7Xi, Digital Rebel and a 40D (which gave me an unrecoverable Err99 at a basketball game last night. Today it was shipped to Canon Service.

Jump ahead to 2007, I approached a school about shooting their sports program. They said YES. They then gave my name to the HS football team of another school, different town, and when they asked, I sed YES. They now want me to cover their JV and V basketball and baseball seasons. The great word of mouth advertising I have received has been great and has led to other work, But each day I say to myself "I will not do weddings!"

[Mike R]

Took a 110 pocket camera on my honeymoon (26 yrs ago) and was real disappointed in the pics. I went an bought an AE-1 and was hooked ever since.

Since the AE-1, I have owned a Minolta 7Xi, Digital Rebel and a 40D (which gave me an unrecoverable Err99 at a basketball game last night. Today it was shipped to Canon Service.

Jump ahead to 2007, I approached a school about shooting their sports program. They said YES. They then gave my name to the HS football team of another school, different town, and when they asked, I said YES. They now want me to cover their JV and V basketball and baseball seasons. The great word of mouth advertising I have received has been great and has led to other work, But each day I say to myself "I will not do weddings!"

[artyboy]

don't know if its fated to be in this hobby...
my dad's friend brought his heavy-duty black SLR and it caught my interest - i was only about 9 then but was fascinated. scrimped and saved at 11 to get my first true camera - a Keystone 108 if i remember correctly (110 film). got a Konica compact (still remember it had a 35mm F/2.8 lens) when i started work. advanced to a Canon Epoca (the 'tube') bridge camera followed by my first SLR - a Canon EOS 1000F (first Rebel). then upgraded to a Nikon F801S (N8008S in the States) and later tried out digital in the form of a Canon G4. eventually upgraded to DSLR with my current gear. such a long history and gear progression from childhood until now (i still wonder how it lasted so long) and its an irony that i'm now considering giving up the hobby :(