Maybe a bit ironic with all of the talk about the photography business dying....

My business is photography. Over the past year, I've partnered with another studio where we help each other out as we're available (of course we pay each other, or at the very least, trade work).
My girlfriend is the director of a company that needs photographers to shoot/print and sell at events just about every weekend (and the company provides every piece of equipment you'll need as well as paying quite nicely for the time involved considering that you need to provide nothing but your body and a bit of people/photography skills....I do it when I can). Generally, there are anywhere from 2-6 events that we need covered on any given weekend. That said, we all have a very difficult time finding competent photographers who are available and able to work.
I bring this up because the studio I partner with has 3 weddings coming up this weekend that I'll be helping with as I'm available. Earlier, the owner asked me if I could try to come up with anyone else who could second shoot or possibly do video as she had people on staff who can either run video or do photography.....I couldn't round up a single person. My GF also finds herself in a bind unable to find reliable photographers to work her gigs for the upcoming events in June.....but this has been an ongoing problem.
We post the "photographer wanted" postings, get lots of replies but it seems that just about everyone is unable/unwilling to work the hours.....everyone has day jobs that get in the way or they just don't want to lose the vast majority of their weekend (and I can relate, it stinks to work Friday and Saturday evenings/nights when you have a job you're already working throughout the week).
I guess the point of my story is...we need photographers and yet we can't find them. On one hand, this makes me feel that the business is very much alive because when it becomes actual work, the people out there claiming to be photographers seem to drop like flies.

P.S. If you're an up and coming photographer in the Central Ohio area....I can potentially get you work (maybe not glorifying work but paying work none-the-less)....PM me

If you have an ongoing and persistent problem, then you are simply not paying your second shooters enough. Good wages will always attract the right talent.

sspellman wrote in post #15940004
If you have an ongoing and persistent problem, then you are simply not paying your second shooters enough. Good wages will always attract the right talent.

This.

Bingo.

I've had similar issues finding people to shoot some events I can't attend that I need coverage for. The ones who tend to complain the loudest are also the worst at sticking to deadlines. Your ability to shoot an event well means nothing if you can't deliver a culled set of images within the time period required.

Not necessarily. I've heard of companies that put out a job position, and got a few takers. None of them suitable. They were advised to try lowering the wage, and put out the job vacant position again. They got many more takers - of which a number were suitable.

Apparently the guy who suggested lowering the wage said that many people underestimate their value and with a wage so high simply decided not to go for the job as they believed they wouldn't be suitable, or have a chance.

I know some companies where one or two of the higher paid people aren't worth half of some of the staff getting paid a fraction of their wage.

Raising your wage might give you more candidates - but I think there's often more to it than simply $'s. (Raising your wage might also only give you more people to 'sift through' as well)

Good luck with your endeavor.

jra wrote in post #15939928
We post the "photographer wanted" postings, get lots of replies but it seems that just about everyone is unable/unwilling to work the hours.....everyone has day jobs that get in the way or....

Out of curiosity - do you state the hours required on your advertising. It might not hurt - as it would cull off some of the people that aren't suitable to start with.

Just a thought. Once again good luck with your endeavor.

sspellman wrote in post #15940004
If you have an ongoing and persistent problem, then you are simply not paying your second shooters enough. Good wages will always attract the right talent.

I don't disagree....there's almost always a price point to garner the services of just about anyone. That said, we are offering market (and above market) wages for our area for what we're looking for but it still seems to fall short....in the end, we obviously can't afford to charge clients anymore than the market will handle and we must budget from that (and we always strive to achieve full market price).

IMO, I think the problem may lie in that we are searching the middle ground. We are looking for people who are working their way up but not established in their own business.....and I think this may be what is causing our biggest issue. On one hand, it's a great opportunity to gather experience (plus some pay) but on the other....it's just not worth giving up the weekend when there's another job that pays the bills. So much of the "middle area" is occupied by photographers who only do this for "fun" on their own terms.....and there's nothing wrong with that.

jra wrote in post #15940054
IMO, I think the problem may lie in that we are searching the middle ground. We are looking for people who are working their way up but not established in their own business.....and I think this may be what is causing our biggest issue. On one hand, it's a great opportunity to gather experience (plus some pay) but on the other....it's just not worth giving up the weekend when there's another job that pays the bills. So much of the "middle area" is occupied by photographers who only do this for "fun" on their own terms.....and there's nothing wrong with that.

I think you're right here. I think the majority of people just want to shoot what's fun to them - so things like landscapes, sports, concerts or whatever where you can enjoy the event and leave when you want. When you start having to deal with people, maybe shoot in a certain style, and work unsociable hours it becomes more like work.

At the same time, the full time photographers are probably already busy with their own work!

jra wrote in post #15940054
I don't disagree....there's almost always a price point to garner the services of just about anyone. That said, we are offering market (and above market) wages for our area for what we're looking for but it still seems to fall short....in the end, we obviously can't afford to charge clients anymore than the market will handle and we must budget from that (and we always strive to achieve full market price).

IMO, I think the problem may lie in that we are searching the middle ground. We are looking for people who are working their way up but not established in their own business.....and I think this may be what is causing our biggest issue. On one hand, it's a great opportunity to gather experience (plus some pay) but on the other....it's just not worth giving up the weekend when there's another job that pays the bills. So much of the "middle area" is occupied by photographers who only do this for "fun" on their own terms.....and there's nothing wrong with that.

The "market wage" is irrelevant. Either you meet the needs of your clients, or you don't. You can afford to charge clients more than the market if that is what it takes to meet their needs. Their is no point to charging less if you still have unhappy clients.

Higher wages will get you above the "fun" photographers and into the realm of reliable emerging professionals who have the right skills but need more experience.

Hi Jason, I live in Medina ohio. Where is most of your work ? I'm always looking for more work.
Mike

If it's an up-and-coming professional, maybe an ad targeted towards the specific desires of such people is what's needed. Not just ducats per hour but also permission to use the images in their own portfolios and other business bennies.