Anyone here ever wanted to become pro PG but gave up?
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Yes there are but if you think those who can afford that kind of money will come to you just because you think you are good, I suggest you try harder. You have absolutely no bloody idea how this thing works.
So how does "this thing" work?
You also mentioned being hardworking, sociable, nice... is no guarantee to be successful.
Then what else is needed? I think newbies and those who are interested will like to hear from the experienced ones so that they will learn and consider.
Rather than always having this useless bickering back and forth -- one group will seem to over-trivialize what it takes to be a pro, and another group will say you don't know anything about turning pro, without elaborating anything much.
I think we need to deal with specifics for such posts to be useful.
to run a photography business,
you will spend most of you time RUNNING a business.
only have little time to do the shooting.
so which elements has more impact in your business?
to be successful in this trade,
is not only depends on how good your shots are.
is how good you able to sell your photos
sum it up:
good photo ≠ good business
salable photos = good business
Sometimes to only way to truly know how deep is the lake, is to swim toward the deep end at our own peril.
Of course i remember! It's the usual tit for tat because nothing could be resolved.
Nah, I was referring to post or posts related to this thread, not the past ones which don't spell out anything clearly.
Anyway, this post rot to another nothingness like the rest. It's not my intention to continue. It's tiring. Cos at the end, we'll just come back full circle and nothing's resolved. The issue we're discussing is not even related to the original question posted by TS. And he's missing or can't even be bothered.
You want specifics, here's some specifics to think about.
Minimum photographic skills:
Ability to take any shot under pressure that a client hires you to take. The shot will need to be of saleable quality and the client must feel that it meets their requirements for what ever purpose it is intended for. This means forget about "golden hours" and other advantages you may have as an amateur. If the client wants and is paying to have their precious whatever photographed at midday, midnight or any time in between you will be there and can deliver the goods.
Ability to interpret a clients often limited description of what they want, in to the image of their dreams. This is essential if you are not dealing with industry professionals and even with industry professionals there's plenty of "well you know, like the maddona shot" or like the shot in the paper last week etc... To deal with this one must have the perquisite abilities of extreme patience, understanding, communications skills and ESP often help.
Ability to push yourself to produce great images despite any handicap thrown at you such as weather, client induced issues, tiredness or simply not wanting to be there.
A thorough and I mean thorough knowledge and understanding of such essentals as exposure, compensation, perspective, composition and how to use them.
Knowing where to get the best prints done, in a timely and cost effective manner, where to source varous value addons such as quality framing, albums, archival materials etc.
Business knowledge:
This is the minimum you'll need.
A good working knowledge of your local taxation system and what you can and can't claim, depreciate or otherwise write off.
Marketing skills. Promotion is one of the most important skills you will need to succeed.
Accounting / Cost Management skills: Absolutely essential if you are to make a profit. This should be mandatory for anyone who's thinking of entering the industry. Controlling outgoings while maximising incomming monies means you'll earn a decent wage each week. If you have no head for business, hire someone who does!
Control GAS. Gear Aquisition Syndrome has probably killed more professional photographers than anything else. It's easy to rack up massive debts in professional photography by buying all the latest toys. Don't! A lens will last 8-10 years if serviced regularly and a body at least 5 years. Make the most of your gear and don't throw it overboard because the new Mk Vx967 Nikikwanonshinkiwhatsamajigger is 5% better on paper than the old model.
Be Realisitic in your setup. A massive studio with 2 million bucks worth of lighting looks cool but unless you have the clientelle to support it it's a millstone around your neck and the fastest way I know to financial hell I know of, next to GAS. Conversely a toilet sized studio will dismay all but the most budget minded clients. This leads us to the biggest secret of all...
Do your market research and find out the true state of the market before you jump in. Spend the time and money to really find out what's in the local waters before you jump in and become shark feed. It's that simple.
The above are by no means complete but are just a few of the literally hundreds of things you really do need to know before turning professional.
Marketing, marketing, marketing. Which includes networking, good social skills, networking, I don't know being able to smile, networking, being at the right place, have I mentioned networking?
There's no problem taking the best pictures in the world, if no one knows about you and your work.
When you start out, no one will.
I'd like to say that you get one job, take nice pictures, and it snowballs from there. But it doesn't work that way unless you're very very lucky.
Generally it's, you get one job, take nice pictures, and, erm, that's it.
So, can you keep finding work as an unknown, until some day a year or quite probably more, down the road, where people DO start coming to you.
Because until then, you're going to have to go to them.
And how good (or not) you are at that is more important than how good you are as a photographer. I'm kind of living proof of that.
The oft cited quote I give is, a good marketer with average photography skills will make a better living than an average marketer with good photography skills.
I'd go so far as to say an excellent marketer with poor photography skills will make a better living than a poor marketer with excellent photography skills.
That's one reason you see a boatload of "average" stuff out there.
There's no problem taking the best pictures in the world, if no one knows about you and your work.
When you start out, no one will.
I'd like to say that you get one job, take nice pictures, and it snowballs from there. But it doesn't work that way unless you're very very lucky.
Generally it's, you get one job, take nice pictures, and, erm, that's it.
So, can you keep finding work as an unknown, until some day a year or quite probably more, down the road, where people DO start coming to you.
Because until then, you're going to have to go to them.
And how good (or not) you are at that is more important than how good you are as a photographer. I'm kind of living proof of that.
The oft cited quote I give is, a good marketer with average photography skills will make a better living than an average marketer with good photography skills.
I'd go so far as to say an excellent marketer with poor photography skills will make a better living than a poor marketer with excellent photography skills.
That's one reason you see a boatload of "average" stuff out there.
and know some good DI people who can haul your a#$ out of the fire for when the chips are down and the clients want to make changes/think you misinterpreted the brief/want to try something else but don't want to re-shoot/the weather goes to h%#&/etc...
:thumbsup: I find this the most sensible reply rather than just sarcasm. The right mix of business skill, passion and talent are essential but unfortunately even with all this, it does not guarantee a successful business but a calculated risk. Sometime luck do play a part too.
But I have to admit, when weighing the importance...business skill does come on the top of the list.
back to TS abandon question, there should have tons of professional giving up their dream and that is the same for every trade not exclusive to photographer only.
Here is quote from one my favorite photographer... it is true...
Quote directly from Cheryl Jacobs' blog...
Those words are so true... if you learn and understand what she says, there is a lot you can do to make it work to become a photographer.
Good Luck.
Hart
Quote directly from Cheryl Jacobs' blog...
Those words are so true... if you learn and understand what she says, there is a lot you can do to make it work to become a photographer.
Good Luck.
Hart
Decided to give this thread another chance... Great...
I think Ian and and Agetan have posted/forwarded very good advice, instead of some who give ambiguous or demoralizing answers.
I think Ian and and Agetan have posted/forwarded very good advice, instead of some who give ambiguous or demoralizing answers.
