FT Photographers needed...

[Klitz]

We are hiring full-time photographers... Applicants must own their own camera system, consisting of at least 2 pro bodies, 2 flashes, and a telephoto f/2.8 lens...
• Portfolio required
• At least 2 year’s worth of paid experience event coverage
• Own transport would be a bonus

Paying rates start at $2500 monthly... If interested, pls pm...

Thank you,
Senior Photographer Lim

[KNIGHT ONG]

Upzz .. quite a good pay for photographers ..

[snowspeeder]

A great start for those who meet the criteria!

[nolifesg]

Originally Posted by snowspeeder A great start for those who meet the criteria!

2 pro bodies...

[ellery]

The pay is about the norm for photographer who is can shot.

The requirement for own gear is not normal for most commercial photography places. Even work is now so lousy price market that at bottom level the earning per job may feed you but not pay for your equipment upkeep and replacement.

The term pro body is a tricky one - is the meant is the top of the line model for cannon and nikon ? What then the photog need to have forked out at least 20K before he can work for you for 2.5K p/m a little pathetic - that person might as work work full time for himself and probably earn more.

[ortega]

yeah, sad isn't it?

[Jed]

Originally Posted by ellery The pay is about the norm for photographer who is can shot. The requirement for own gear is not normal for most commercial photography places. Even work is now so lousy price market that at bottom level the earning per job may feed you but not pay for your equipment upkeep and replacement. The term pro body is a tricky one - is the meant is the top of the line model for cannon and nikon ? What then the photog need to have forked out at least 20K before he can work for you for 2.5K p/m a little pathetic - that person might as work work full time for himself and probably earn more.

Hey Ellery ^.^

Good to see you still kicking about.

I thought about posting when I saw this, but didn't want to maybe hijack the thread. My main response was to Knight Ong's post rather than the original, but essentially you've pointed out what I wanted to say. I wouldn't say S$2500/month is grossly unfair, but I certainly wouldn't go anywhere near calling it "good" either.

As Ellery says, you're being asked to put in maybe S$20k worth of equipment (at least) for that job, to earn a return of S$2500/month. Given your outlay, running costs, tax...

Let's not sell ourselves short as photographers - value your creativity and skill.

Put another way, in eventing you could at a vague estimate be taking 5000 pictures a month. That puts your equipment, time, effort and skill down at S$0.50 a frame.

[Klitz]

Hi guys, I have already decided on at least 2 applicants after receiving alot of offers. I am sorry i am unable to reply to everyone but we will have to see our requirements first...

[advrider]

good luck for you.

[KNIGHT ONG]

Originally Posted by Jed Hey Ellery ^.^ Good to see you still kicking about. I thought about posting when I saw this, but didn't want to maybe hijack the thread. My main response was to Knight Ong's post rather than the original, but essentially you've pointed out what I wanted to say. I wouldn't say S$2500/month is grossly unfair, but I certainly wouldn't go anywhere near calling it "good" either.

Hi Jed, nice to see that you are 'active' again. Consider current market, at least he is giving start at $2500/month. They are some who fetched less then 2k a month! But then if you wanna factor everythings in as wat ellery listed then there will be no end for it. Get it started for some, our experiences are different and they will certainly climbs up ... let the market decides .....

[Jed]

Originally Posted by KNIGHT ONG Hi Jed, nice to see that you are 'active' again. Consider current market, at least he is giving start at $2500/month. They are some who fetched less then 2k a month! But then if you wanna factor everythings in as wat ellery listed then there will be no end for it. Get it started for some, our experiences are different and they will certainly climbs up ... let the market decides .....

Heya Knight,

Well to be fair I don't know the market in Singapore being out of touch, but when I left I knew what it was and I'm assuming inflation has taken its toll since then too. Like I said, I don't think S$2500 is *bad* per se, just I wouldn't personally call it *good*, although I suppose some people might use the word more loosely than myself.

What I'm calling for really, is for people to start valuing their own abilities, and believing that their own work is worth more than the basic sum that's on offer. If you don't believe your work is better than that, then [1] no one else will and [2] you won't get paid that.

What I've felt most markedly as a difference between the Singapore and the UK is the perception that in Singapore photographers tend to get viewed as camera operators (and regarded and paid accordingly) rather than say, creative artists with a decent level of skill and expertise, and maybe even some talent. If you don't get the distinction that I'm trying to make, then change camera operator for machine operator.

A photographer is among other things, an artist or a journalist (for want of a better phrase) that just happens to use a camera as his tools and his medium.

[ellery]

Originally Posted by KNIGHT ONG Hi Jed, nice to see that you are 'active' again. Consider current market, at least he is giving start at $2500/month. They are some who fetched less then 2k a month! But then if you wanna factor everythings in as wat ellery listed then there will be no end for it. Get it started for some, our experiences are different and they will certainly climbs up ... let the market decides .....

Knight,

My comment was based on some one with just bearly enought experience to get the job done. If there was no "restriction" on pro bodies and requirement for use of own equipment with 1 spare set... then this salary is ok. Once you count in the fact that you are using your equipment - there is wear and tear, there is damages and repairs - most times when you use your own and there is no agreement on who pays for repairs well it will be out of your pocket. Your replacement gear will have to paid by yourself - at most you can use the gear for 3 to 4 years before that there will be a need to upgrade. So that salary amount becomes less than expected.

Still it is up to each one to decide what is good for them. Best to always try for a win win situation - just accepting to do full time work will come back to haunt you when you get worked 6 to 7 days a week 12 to 16 hours a day. Go talk to people in the commercial photo area you soon see the light. There is a difference between shooting for yourself and for a paymaster.