Photography Career

[MonteMiles]

Is there anyone making a living off photography w/o a degree related to photography or art? The reason I ask is I really want to start my own photography business (weddings,senior pics, etc) but my degree has nothing to do with photography (Wildlife Sciences). Thanks

[Karl Johnston]

I see no reason why not.

[MJPhotos24]

Associates in Liberal Arts - Social Sciences; Bachelors in Physical Education Teacher Certification; Masters in Athletic Administration. Never done a photography class but it's what I do full time - of course you can do it - but it's not easy. 9/10 photographers fail to "make it" (i.e. doing it as a full business full time.

[linh811]

Associates in Liberal Arts - Social Sciences; Bachelors in Physical Education Teacher Certification; Masters in Athletic Administration. Never done a photography class but it's what I do full time - of course you can do it - but it's not easy. 9/10 photographers fail to "make it" (i.e. doing it as a full business full time.

I think the odds are much much worse. Probably 99/100 fail to 'make it.'

[sapearl]

I got a BA in Anthroplogy a very long time ago. But the college degree helped me get a very good job in a field totally unrelated to Anthro or photography. That's the job that put food on the table, paid the mortgage and put the kids through college. But it also allowed me to shoot weddings and events on the weekends, and do a fair amount of fine art work throughout the week, all during the past 36 years.

There are people who can do what you asked..... some of them are on this forum.

They are far and in between, but successful because they have a good deal of talent, great business acumen, the right connections, and offer unique services that most folks don't. - Stu

[PhotosGuy]

Since you used a descriptive title & are "Search challenged", look at the links at the very bottom left hand corner of this page. ;)

[wndrlst]

Golly, I hope so! I didn't take a single photography course in my 8 years of University. I'm just starting out, too. Momentum is building, but I'm far from "making it" yet.

[dovaka]

most of the people i know that are career photographers have no degree at all never mind one in photography. but as others have said most people never make it

[MJPhotos24]

I think the odds are much much worse. Probably 99/100 fail to 'make it.'
I guess that depends on your definition of "making it". Making a living - being the minimal, the stats that are a few years old now say 9/10. I'd bet they are a bit lower now though, and only going to get worse. "Making it" though may not be just making a living from it - it may be a certain income, a certain job, etc. in some peoples eyes - and then it becomes harder. I hear it all the time from weekend warriors how they could never make it as a full time photographer - well they're right just by saying that comment alone.

Of course - the day anyone "makes it" they should retire, I'll never make it - never be satisfied, always want to improve or learn something. Making it to the top as they say should be impossible IMO.

[mindundalk]

This might help


http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=812696

[linh811]

I guess that depends on your definition of "making it". Making a living - being the minimal, the stats that are a few years old now say 9/10. I'd bet they are a bit lower now though, and only going to get worse. "Making it" though may not be just making a living from it - it may be a certain income, a certain job, etc. in some peoples eyes - and then it becomes harder. I hear it all the time from weekend warriors how they could never make it as a full time photographer - well they're right just by saying that comment alone.

Of course - the day anyone "makes it" they should retire, I'll never make it - never be satisfied, always want to improve or learn something. Making it to the top as they say should be impossible IMO.

Since digital medium became available, taking pics is now free. It used to be you had to pay for film, and process it yourself. Only a select few had the resources to even TAKE photographs. Not much competition back then.

NOW, on the other hand, everyone and his dog and his dog's camera phone has a digicam and can take pics all day for free. Competition is higher than ever. I've noticed a lot of people, lately, with no other marketable skill but owning a digicam, 'aspiring' to be professional photogs. Maybe it's the economy, maybe it's the amount of people being laid off, I dunno....

As a small business owner myself, I think the odds are stacked big time against 'making it' as a photog.

Everyone's definition of 'making it' is different, but I'd wager the average bartender makes more money than the average fulltime photog.....

[sapearl]

The materials portion is free for those who don't print - but the time required to produce fine images has gone way up.

Previously the lab "processed" your images. You paid for their time and experience. Now YOU are the lab. If you choose to produce exceptional, unique and artistic images, then YOU are the one investing a great deal of time in the end result.

Yes, I agree there is the perception that it is free now since so many people are able to easily capture images. This "makes everybody a photographer."

But you still have to know your way around a wedding, a sporting event, model shoot, commercial product display or any other number of specialized jobs to produce superior work, ON TIME, in a manner that will turn a profit. And you still have to be able to work successfully with people. So many people overlook these last two sentences.

I certainly agree with you about that bartender and his paycheck ;).

Since digital medium became available, taking pics is now free. It used to be you had to pay for film, and process it yourself. Only a select few had the resources to even TAKE photographs. Not much competition back then.

NOW, on the other hand, everyone and his dog and his dog's camera phone has a digicam and can take pics all day for free. Competition is higher than ever.

Everyone's definition of 'making it' is different, but I'd wager the average bartender makes more money than the average fulltime photog.....

[linh811]

The materials portion is free for those who don't print - but the time required to produce fine images has gone way up.

Previously the lab "processed" your images. You paid for their time and experience. Now YOU are the lab. If you choose to produce exceptional, unique and artistic images, then YOU are the one investing a great deal of time in the end result.

Yes, I agree there is the perception that it is free now since so many people are able to easily capture images. This "makes everybody a photographer."

But you still have to know your way around a wedding, a sporting event, model shoot, commercial product display or any other number of specialized jobs to produce superior work, ON TIME, in a manner that will turn a profit. And you still have to be able to work successfully with people. So many people overlook these last two sentences.

I certainly agree with you about that bartender and his paycheck ;).

I don't know anything about the photography business, I barely know how to take pics, but I do see a lot of people with digicams, currently laid off or out of work, aspiring to be professionals photographers simply because they have a digicam. As you've stated, it is much harder than one thinks to 'make it' as a professional, but the amount of people aspiring to be 'professionals' has certainly risen.

[golfecho]

Its been said in dozens of other posts - going into the photography business is GOING INTO BUSINESS. The best thing you can do is to take classes or in some way understand the ins and outs of being a business person. Marketing, cash flow, overhead, etc.

I think your real question was "Can a person become a respectable/excellent photographer without taking any related classes". Completely different question, and the answer is yes, if you have the passion and work towards it. Going into business is a totally different question.

Great photographers have failed in business, and medeocre photographers have succeeded wildly. Know and understand the difference.

Welcome to POTN by the way . . .

[Biffbradford]

Its been said in dozens of other posts - going into the photography business is GOING INTO BUSINESS. The best thing you can do is to take classes or in some way understand the ins and outs of being a business person. Marketing, cash flow, overhead, etc.

I think your real question was "Can a person become a respectable/excellent photographer without taking any related classes". Completely different question, and the answer is yes, if you have the passion and work towards it. Going into business is a totally different question.

Great photographers have failed in business, and medeocre photographers have succeeded wildly. Know and understand the difference.

Welcome to POTN by the way . . .

Okay. Can you rattle off a few names so we can study? :D

[Karl Johnston]

Chase Jarvis being one of the latter. Not trying to knock him or anything but there are many photographers who blow his style out of the water and yet he's hugely successful because his brand and business is so elegant.

Get someone to handle the business for you, and do the photography, is what I'm finding is the best way. Become autonomous is my goal for 2010...80/20 ratio; 80% of your profit comes from 20% of your work, not the other way around.

[CanonGolfer]

To me it seems like the people that have a DSLR and want to be pro photographers lack the heart and desire to make it happen. If you fail to me it's only because you didn't give it your all and were too afraid to take that risk. Sure some people might be blessed with the luck or the fortune to start a business and make it work, but how many of us are that fortunate? Everything I have done/accomplished in my life has been through the blood, sweat and tears that I have put into it, and I'm sure we all have the scars to prove the road we have traveled.

[linh811]

To me it seems like the people that have a DSLR and want to be pro photographers lack the heart and desire to make it happen. If you fail to me it's only because you didn't give it your all and were too afraid to take that risk. Sure some people might be blessed with the luck or the fortune to start a business and make it work, but how many of us are that fortunate? Everything I have done/accomplished in my life has been through the blood, sweat and tears that I have put into it, and I'm sure we all have the scars to prove the road we have traveled.

When I first applied for a small business loan, back in 2002 when they were practically giving away money, the lender told me "statistically, 19 out of 20 small businesses will fail in the first 3 years...."

[CanonGolfer]

When I first applied for a small business loan, back in 2002 when they were practically giving away money, the lender told me "statistically, 19 out of 20 small businesses will fail in the first 3 years...."

Unfortunately that is so true, and with this awesome economy we are in the odds seem even lower somehow. With that in mind unfortunately there are certain things that are out of your control i.e. economic standings and what not but if your product is good enough and people want it bad enough they will pay for it no matter what. I have just seen too many cookie cutter photog studios now a days that don't really offer anything fun, new or exciting for the people and those ones are probably the ones that fail.

[philwillmedia]

As has been said many times in this thread and others, the problem is that too many people who have their first digital camera all of a sudden think they are now a photgrapher.
They are NOT. They are people with cameras who know how to push the shutter button.

More often than not they are getting their A's all mixed up.
That is, they're getting confused between ambition and ability.

[sebmour]

No degree and I am living from my photography business!

[Utah7]

No degree and I am living from my photography business!

Likewise - and making a more then comfortable living from it.....

[Karl Johnston]

Likewise - and making a more then comfortable living from it.....
Tell us how you did it...:D

[Utah7]

Tell us how you did it...:D

pm sent via face book:D

[CanonGolfer]

Can I know the secret to success?

[MLphoto]

If you think school has anything to do with your photo talent then you shouldn't be considering it AT ALL. I have friends and know people who make a really good living taking pictures. One of my friends has a huge house, 7 cars including 2 lamborghini's, and gets everything he wants... he makes really really good money. He never went to photo school, he just bought some gear in the late 90's really enjoyed it and taught himself... He only specializes in car and model photoshoots. I also know people who are wedding photographers and are making 100,000+ just in the summer.

There are millions of people who think they can pick up a camera, take a picture of a flower or somebody, make the same looking website like everyone else, and then ask questions... If you want to go into this field professionaly and get paid make your photos different in a way, make yourself look different.