The fashion photography market

[rajat]

Lately, I have encountered two schools of thought:

1) I'm not content with my job as far as satisfaction goes and I've been seriously contemplating trying my hand at fashion/advertising photography.

2) I've met people who are in one way or another related to the professional photography market and have been telling me that it is now tougher than ever to break in. That digital has devalued the photography market as a whole and that professionals are fighting for a lower dollar than ever before. And that if I have a good thing going with my day job, I shouldn't give it up.

I'm 25 years old and currently work as an engineer at Apple. I know that most of you won't read the rest of the post and tell me to just keep my day job and shoot on the weekends :) but this is what's been driving me to consider this. I'm working at a company which I thought would make me happy but all I think about is photography. I feel that if I don't try this now, I'll regret it when I'm older.

But I also want to be realistic, I know saying you want to be a fashion photographer is like saying you want to be an actor in Hollywood, there's no guarantees. But my question is, is it harder now than ever? Or is that top echelon of the professional market not as hurt by the advent of digital, flickr and craigslist?

When I say the top echelon, I mean people along the likes of

www.rrpix.com
www.tarunkhiwal.com
www.farrokhchothia.com

Are these people being hurt by the advanced amateurs armed with their dSLRs? Or clients at that level expect something that only these people are delivering?

Thoughts?

[John Mireles]

Are these people being hurt by the advanced amateurs armed with their dSLRs? No. No. and No.

But there is tremendous competition to work at that level. You really have to have something unique to get to that point. You have to plan on many years to get there. Take Richard Reinsdorf - he's been working at it longer than I have. I remember when he was just an eager go-getter with his first rep - that was back in 1990.

Don't be surprised if it takes you ten years to get your first serious fashion gig. If you're lucky, maybe five. Problem is you need to eat every day. (Well, almost everyday.)

John

[rajat]

Hey John,

Thanks for the response! I definitely realize that it takes extra hard work and some luck to get there. I guess my confusion comes in the fact that it seems that across the board, especially looking at fashion photography and stock photography, the work is being devalued because a lot of amateurs are coming up with stuff that is "good enough."

But I guess from your response, it sounds like for the level I'm speaking of, it's always been tough, and it's just as tough these days, but not necessarily so because of more saturation now than before.

[John Mireles]

Well, it used to be you could build your way up from smaller jobs to the bigger jobs. Nowadays, there are a lot more guys going after the smaller jobs. Getting to the smaller fashion jobs is like getting to the minor leagues - you still have to be pretty darn good.

Weddings and portraits are different. Anybody can call themselves a wedding photographer so you're seeing a much bigger impact.

In general, the lower down the food chain you go in photography, the more impact competition from the masses you'll see.

John

[Kaya75]

Hey i was in the same boat a couple of years back - i'd "made it" graduated in computer science and information management and was working in a "freedom" job designing / leading projects in large information systems for the NHS i was earning big and trotting along nicely but i didn't wake up thinking oh yeah - i woke up thinking nothing at all. I had a word with the board and took "gardening leave" for 3 months i set up a web based design company with the aim to get into photography. - i saw it as the only thing i'd consistently been good at - straight A's and distinctions, i'd studied part-time sometimes full time in my late teens in-between "stuff"

It was a big leap - but i was 30 no wife/ no more-cage / no kids but a serious relationship and a rent that was it. i'm 18 months down the line just got my 5d and some glass, my design business an't making massive buck i cleared 14k last year there have been times when i have had to choose between milk or bread but my i've stayed afloat and out of debt. my relationship is on the rocks as i have no cash / time to work with it, all my bills or red and luckly i have a pretty understanding landlord.

i work maybe 60 hours on a short week and avg 19 hours a day 7 days on a long week - but i get up in the morning and can't wait to get involved with the day ahead.

My surfing instincts of no regret and facing the big nasty sets that life throws at you head-on helps a lot - if stress gets to you forget it, if money rules your live forget it - if you are looking for a easy ride forget it - but if you seek you will find.

it's 2:45 am i've just finished converting 185 raw images to jpg and they have to be post processed, web optimised and 12 sent for proof by 12 noon tomorrow and then uploaded for the 28th of feb - my pay £295 - i'd have earned that in a 2 days (14 hours) in my old job - but the thing is i can't wait to wake up tomorrow and get delivering.

i spent 3 months as a postman over summer and a day last week i was shovelling 25 ton of sand for 60 quid just to put food in the fridge - but i love it.

My advice to you would be pay your debts off, save half your wages for the next year and get a 2nd shooters / assistants job in the mean time - if you can't afford to save 50% of your wages and work a 2nd job you can't make it work anyway. but if you really really want it you will :) don't undersell yourself and make friends lots of friends :) oh try and stay in with your "profession~" i.e IT eng - it;s fast paced i kknow but a few drinks with your old work mates once every couple of months helps a lot :)