It's not just freebie weddings...

[cosworth]

I've been back from the Caribbean for two months now. I've been trying pretty damn hard to get some paying work. Movie sets, fashion, product etc. I've had mostly the music scene wanting stuff done. I don't demand exorbitant prices, I am not fussy. Hey I gotta get my name around.

That being said, there are many "calls" for shooters in my city. the trade papers, online etc. and I'm starting to think I might go back to selling software. Seems everyone and their dog in this town is trying to build a portfolio and flooding the low hanging fruit.

I'm not one to really complain, I have to find my "niche" and get known there. I got another email reply to a request:

"
It appears that from your samples that you have an incredible experience appropriately suited to our goals. My fear is that you are looking for pay position that we can not afford at this time.
We are a small operation with large goals in the coming few years, but we are looking for giving exposure to artists we work with as compensation for works done in the short term. As you know, projects like this are very hard to get off the ground to start. I would like to speak with you further if your interests correlate with ours."

I need to aim higher and dig harder obviously. A job like this I'll refuse on principal. I'm worth $XXX per day and I won't cater to this "build your portfolio" crap when I already have one.

When you start getting this crap back when you are either new or new to your area and your name isn't thrown around that hard, don't get down. Your time will come. I'm certain mine will if I keep at it.

[breal101]

Cosworth, I've been in this business for some 30 years now. Business always has it's ups and downs, we develop a thick skin over time and a "what, me worry?' attitude seems to help.
That being said, I have never seen things this bad. Work has always seemed to fall out of the sky for me but lately it seems to fall elsewhere. I thank the stars for my loyal clients. But I know at least four established and talented photographers who have folded up the tents and moved on to something else. I can barely remember what it was like to beat the streets for work but I think I will be finding out soon.

[vidnik]

I usually respond with, thanks, but no thanks and a hearty, "I feel bad that your outfit is in such dire need, perhaps we could help with a fund-raiser on a percentage basis"

[ssim]

It certainly is a buyers market, unless you are buying camera gear.

I've run into a couple of occurrences of places like this. One of them went so far as to copy me the email that one photographer had sent them and was willing to do the job for a simple credit. I'm sure they were not aware of what they were writing at the time but they asked if I had a more competitive bid on the job. WTH.... I thought to myself how can you better that. No credit I guess.

There is going to be a time (hopefully) when people realize that simple little credit is worth very very little. I have not gotten any jobs where the people called and said "hey I saw a photo credit on a shot you did, we'd like to hire you".

This whole weekend warrior vs full time shooters really was beat to death in a recent thread in this forum. I don't know if we will learn anything new this time around.

[cosworth]

True a dead horse rots somewhere. But as breal mentions, it seems to be the norm right now. Business will see the fruits of it soon with people who produce GREAT images being sought out after this flood of weekend warriors subsides.

I am literally a freshly minted shooter and hope that others who graduate from weekend warrior learn quickly. I don't have 20+ years yet, but getting my name out there slowly and surely is what anyone else who isn't truly established needs to do.

I'm obviously looking at taking work elsewhere either as I mentioned or with a shooter/lab that's local to me just to keep tight on my game and get out there. My wife and I have good projects going and getting to the point where I turn down work is far off. Hastening the arrival of said day is my goal.

I like the fundraiser idea though. Rule of thumb for me now is usually to avoid gigs that involve any dot.com businesses. They are basement operations %99 of the time.

[Tixeon]

I have 35 yrs full time & 10 yrs part time in this business & it definitely has it's ups and downs. In my experience those ups & downs (unfortunately) usually run on a 10 yr cycle. How well you do depends on whether you catch the cycle or the cycle catches you.

[ebann]

So much for dreaming... I'm keeping my day job...