Financial advice .

[loozhengyuan]

I am a sec2 student , which is currently into photography . I just got to it a year ago , and still learning much . However , im constantly grounded by my financial limits at this age to equip myself with better lens and stuff . Most of these stuffs came from my savings and my parents money .

My aim of this post is to enquire if i am able to do a photography service during the upcoming June holidays . This money earned will greatly benefit me , and also to bring more lens and accessories to my gear list . I want to know what jobs is eligible for me this age , and given the following equipments , so i can earn something decent and build up my portfolio (which is now empty other than my random shots) .

NIKON D90
NIKKOR 18-200mm VR2
MANFROTTO 190XPROB + 804RC2

I hope you people are able to assist me the right way to head . Thanks in advance . Cheers .

 

[theRBK]

my advice to you is:

- join your school photographic club/society if there is one and learn and experiment with your fellows, shooting school events and other activities
- your equipment is very versatile and of pretty good quality already... learn to squeeze all possible quality out of it before buying more
- don't feel the pressure to get better and more expensive equipment, and thus the need to find money to buy and buy... it will never end
- go out and enjoy shooting in June... shoot with your equipment as much as you can and you will learn more about photography

 

[pokiemon]

I am a sec2 student , which is currently into photography . I just got to it a year ago , and still learning much . However , im constantly grounded by my financial limits at this age to equip myself with better lens and stuff . Most of these stuffs came from my savings and my parents money .

My aim of this post is to enquire if i am able to do a photography service during the upcoming June holidays . This money earned will greatly benefit me , and also to bring more lens and accessories to my gear list . I want to know what jobs is eligible for me this age , and given the following equipments , so i can earn something decent and build up my portfolio (which is now empty other than my random shots) .

NIKON D90
NIKKOR 18-200mm VR2
MANFROTTO 190XPROB + 804RC2

I hope you people are able to assist me the right way to head . Thanks in advance . Cheers .

there are a few ways you can earn an income through photography.
1. you can generate some income from stock photography.
2. unofficially, be someone's assistant for assignments. think market rate is about $20 an hour (at least that is what i would pay) to build up your portfolio.
3. go and check out services wanted of cs forum and with some luck, you may find an opportunity. http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=75

having said the above i have to highlight this - you do not need money to buy equipment so that you can build up your portfolio. the attitude to learn, acquiring the basic knowledge and understanding of your equipment are more important than having all the lenses and not knowing what to do with it.

 

[loozhengyuan]

my advice to you is:

- join your school photographic club/society if there is one and learn and experiment with your fellows, shooting school events and other activities
- your equipment is very versatile and of pretty good quality already... learn to squeeze all possible quality out of it before buying more
- don't feel the pressure to get better and more expensive equipment, and thus the need to find money to buy and buy... it will never end
- go out and enjoy shooting in June... shoot with your equipment as much as you can and you will learn more about photography

My school have a club . But i seriously dunno how to approach it . Adding on , its very difficult to bring your dslr to school . Its the constant phobia of your camera getting missing .

Im still missing a flash which i believe most people who do this industry DEFINITELY have it . Im embarrassed enough to keep asking from my dad to buy this and buy that . Time to buy things using the money i earn myself .

And also , do i get paid on the spot ?

 

[loozhengyuan]

there are a few ways you can earn an income through photography.
1. you can generate some income from stock photography.
2. unofficially, be someone's assistant for assignments. think market rate is about $20 an hour (at least that is what i would pay) to build up your portfolio.
3. go and check out services wanted of cs forum and with some luck, you may find an opportunity. http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=75

having said the above i have to highlight this - you do not need money to buy equipment so that you can build up your portfolio. the attitude to learn, acquiring the basic knowledge and understanding of your equipment are more important than having all the lenses and not knowing what to do with it.

I signed up on iStockPhoto already and my application is pending . However i heard from others that its not easy to earn from this as a beginner . While , who knows if i dont try , which i am trying .

Your assistant suggestion is very very informative . Im very happy to have heard this . At least there is somewhere i can turn to . Definitely , i hope when holidays come , i hope there are alot more opportunities for me .

Oh btw , what is the market rate for a beginner photographer to shoot a sports event for 3hrs ? I want to engage one later during the competitions . Thanks .

 

[pokiemon]

I signed up on iStockPhoto already and my application is pending . However i heard from others that its not easy to earn from this as a beginner . While , who knows if i dont try , which i am trying .

Your assistant suggestion is very very informative . Im very happy to have heard this . At least there is somewhere i can turn to . Definitely , i hope when holidays come , i hope there are alot more opportunities for me .

Oh btw , what is the market rate for a beginner photographer to shoot a sports event for 3hrs ? I want to engage one later during the competitions . Thanks .

hmm...i would pay $50 an hour with a performance bonus of $150 if he does a good job. i dont discriminate by whether he is a beginner but rather by what he delivers.

i can't speak for the rest but i would normally pay my assistants on the same day after the job and bear the credit risk myself.

yes i have to say a flash is a basic requirement. i would also advise you to get a good flash but second-hand. used sb600 or sb800 is going for about S$300-$400.

 

[theRBK]

My school have a club . But i seriously dunno how to approach it . Adding on , its very difficult to bring your dslr to school . Its the constant phobia of your camera getting missing .

Im still missing a flash which i believe most people who do this industry DEFINITELY have it . Im embarrassed enough to keep asking from my dad to buy this and buy that . Time to buy things using the money i earn myself .

And also , do i get paid on the spot ?

donno how to approach as in how to join the club? go talk to the teacher-in-charge... I'm sure they are most willing to help... there are some teachers who have much experience in photography... and some of these school photography clubs (donno if it applies to your school) even have equipment you can experiment with...

the trick to learning photography is to buy as little as possible until you know definitely what you are looking for in the equipment... borrowing equipment to experiment is great as you don't have to risk buying something which in the end you might not need or is unsuitable for how you like to shoot...

 

[loozhengyuan]

hmm...i would pay $50 an hour with a performance bonus of $150 if he does a good job. i dont discriminate by whether he is a beginner but rather by what he delivers.

i can't speak for the rest but i would normally pay my assistants on the same day after the job and bear the credit risk myself.

yes i have to say a flash is a basic requirement. i would also advise you to get a good flash but second-hand. used sb600 or sb800 is going for about S$300-$400.

LOL ! I was thinking it would be 20bucks per hour . So thats the assistant rate . Any higher than that ?

Oh the flash is painful . Can you distinguish the priority importance of the following equipment ?

1. 50mm F1.8
2. Speedlight

Oh and is it possible to go doing assisting without flash ? And do you think a battery grip and monopod at this point of time useful ?

 

[loozhengyuan]

donno how to approach as in how to join the club? go talk to the teacher-in-charge... I'm sure they are most willing to help... there are some teachers who have much experience in photography... and some of these school photography clubs (donno if it applies to your school) even have equipment you can experiment with...

the trick to learning photography is to buy as little as possible until you know definitely what you are looking for in the equipment... borrowing equipment to experiment is great as you don't have to risk buying something which in the end you might not need or is unsuitable for how you like to shoot...

Your words inspired me to rental services . Oh and my school doesnt have equips , sadly . Well thanks anyway , for the help .

 

[pokiemon]

LOL ! I was thinking it would be 20bucks per hour . So thats the assistant rate . Any higher than that ?

Oh the flash is painful . Can you distinguish the priority importance of the following equipment ?

1. 50mm F1.8
2. Speedlight

Oh and is it possible to go doing assisting without flash ? And do you think a battery grip and monopod at this point of time useful ?

if you are serious about covering events, get a speedlight over 50mm f1.8.

i dont believe in battery grip and monopod. todate a fully charged battery is enough to last me one event at 1000 shots. more important is an external battery pack for your flash (abt $120 for second hand) as it uses a lot of power!

monopod is useful if you are shooting sports or in areas where you are in limited space. you can do without a monopod. sorry i am not a fan of tripod. if i am really short of cash and need to raise funds, i will sell my manfrotto.

 

[loozhengyuan]

if you are serious about covering events, get a speedlight over 50mm f1.8.

i dont believe in battery grip and monopod. todate a fully charged battery is enough to last me one event at 1000 shots. more important is an external battery pack for your flash (abt $120 for second hand) as it uses a lot of power!

monopod is useful if you are shooting sports or in areas where you are in limited space. you can do without a monopod. sorry i am not a fan of tripod. if i am really short of cash and need to raise funds, i will sell my manfrotto.

Since so , i can conclude that monopod and grips are for sport users which i believe im not quite at that stage yet . Given the state of equips , can i cover events with 18-200mm and my pop-flash (probably with diffusers , etc) ? Would people mind , just for assisting or some simple stuff ?

 

[cabbySHE]

Dear pokiemon,

just a bit confuse over here, your rate of $50/= per hour is it for engaging an assistant
photographer who actually shoots to supplement you or a photogrpaher's assistant whose work are to carry equipments, set up , move light stand, pack and unpack equipments, run some errands etc.

sorry for unable to comprehend.

 

[pokiemon]

Oh btw, what is the market rate for a beginner photographer to shoot a sports event for 3hrs? I want to engage one later during the competitions. Thanks.

haha. my understanding of the above is ts is looking for a main photographer who is a beginner. so i would pay $50 per hour + performance.

also let me clarify - between an assistant photographer and assistant-to-photographer.

former - second photographer aka back-up photographer covering the event. how else to build up your portfolio.

latter - assistant to photographer carries equipment, run errands etc.

i would pay $20 per hour as a second/back-up/assistant photographer. i also get my assistant photographer to carry equipment and run errands. haha.

 

[loozhengyuan]

Since so , i can conclude that monopod and grips are for sport users which i believe im not quite at that stage yet . Given the state of equips , can i cover events with 18-200mm and my pop-flash (probably with diffusers , etc) ? Would people mind , just for assisting or some simple stuff ?

And is it okay to shoot in RAW ?

 

[catchlights]

I signed up on iStockPhoto already and my application is pending . However i heard from others that its not easy to earn from this as a beginner . While , who knows if i dont try , which i am trying .

Your assistant suggestion is very very informative . Im very happy to have heard this . At least there is somewhere i can turn to . Definitely , i hope when holidays come , i hope there are alot more opportunities for me .

Oh btw , what is the market rate for a beginner photographer to shoot a sports event for 3hrs ? I want to engage one later during the competitions . Thanks .

istock is one of the highly recommended stock image agencies, it also the hardest to get in, and the image rejection rate is the most highest. and yes, it takes a few years to see results.

 

[loozhengyuan]

istock is one of the highly recommended stock image agencies, it also the hardest to get in, and the image rejection rate is the most highest. and yes, it takes a few years to see results.

If so , where else can i seek to sell stock ?

 

[ArcticFox]

Hi,

I am in Secondary 2 too! You have my respect for having the thought of earning money yourself to get better gears.

I agree that stock-photos is a good way to earn money especially if you have not much experience in being hired.

All the best

 

[loozhengyuan]

Hi,

I am in Secondary 2 too! You have my respect for having the thought of earning money yourself to get better gears.

I agree that stock-photos is a good way to earn money especially if you have not much experience in being hired.

All the best

Thanks , but i know its very very hard to sell it . People say it can take up to years to get your money . I dont have the time to wait till then . I prefer , like what pokiemon said , to do assisting photographer first to build up my portfolio , then go covering my own events .

All the best too , appreciates your support .

 

[catchlights]

If so , where else can i seek to sell stock ?

I'm saying if you can get into istock, you can get into anywhere without much problem, and if your images can sell in istock, it will able sell everywhere.

you can go into istock forum, all the first hand information is already there.

 

[loozhengyuan]

I'm saying if you can get into istock, you can get into anywhere without much problem, and if your images can sell in istock, it will able sell everywhere.

you can go into istock forum, all the first hand information is already there.

Ahhhhh i get you . Oh just asking btw , would it be okay if i do backup photography job with a 18-200mm and a pop-up flash ?

And do people do these jobs shooting in RAW .