in full time photog


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JerrySH

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Oct 15, 2007
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am i right to say that skills are more important than certs in this field?

if so, does anyone here takes a degree or bachelor in photog just to get into this line?

:dunno:
 

Well, actually I think more than skills and certs, you need to have a good business sense and people skills.

Your people network is a source of assignments, and business sense to ensure your business is profitable.

And people like to work with people they like.

You don't have to be a fantastic photog to start off. I still find myself getting better and better haha :) with much room for improvement :)

I have not met a single client who wanted to see my qualifications, but training would help. Of the very few photogs I know who had specialised photography training, they are all doing quite well.
 

I would say that it is very debatable.

I would generally say that f1to128's post is generally the way to go, but I would only add that it is only when you have the skill set then business sense is very important.

But in Singapore, I would also agree that business networking is super important.
 

High ended client would look at your equipment first.
 

Equipment does help win our Client over to certain extend, without skills, they might just hire you once and that is about it. If you have great skills with lousy equipment, is like you wear slippers and shorts to an interview and say that you have a PHD. Will you get the Job?:think:
 

okay let me guess. It's like. Maybe people who have no or not much knowledge about photography? And they just view a photographer's fancy gear and go , "Wow. This guy has the tank. He must be good".
:)

Yes it's true that client do want to know what's your arsenal are. Sorry, they know what they want and unlike your guesses.
 

Equipment does help win our Client over to certain extend, without skills, they might just hire you once and that is about it. If you have great skills with lousy equipment, is like you wear slippers and shorts to an interview and say that you have a PHD. Will you get the Job?:think:

Remind me of the show "Kungfu" by Stephen Chow.... :bsmilie:
 

Equipment does help win our Client over to certain extend, without skills, they might just hire you once and that is about it. If you have great skills with lousy equipment, is like you wear slippers and shorts to an interview and say that you have a PHD. Will you get the Job?:think:

Even if you have lousy equipment, the images that you are able to produce should be able to speak for itself to show that you've got that PHD.
 

I've read that in the list of things you need to have in this field, photographic skills is actually one of the least important skills (but not say not important lah) you need to have. Top of the list is business skills, because well, it's a business afterall.

Excellent photographer + no business skills = failure.
Good business skills + so-so photography skills = survive.
but, excellent photographer + good business head = jackpot.

I guess this is the reason why there are quite a number of professionals, you see their work, is merely "okay" only, but they seem to survive for a long time.

But if you got a lot of certs and awards to frame up and put at one corner of your studio/office, then so much the better. I say "put one corner" so that you can make yourself a bit more "atas" by implying - Oh, those certs? Aiyah, those are nothing lah. Put there for fun only. :bsmilie:
 

am i right to say that skills are more important than certs in this field?

if so, does anyone here takes a degree or bachelor in photog just to get into this line?

:dunno:

Hmm...I personally feel that skills are more important than certs in ANY field.
 

Even if you have lousy equipment, the images that you are able to produce should be able to speak for itself to show that you've got that PHD.

Next time try going for an interview in shorts and slippers to see if you can get the Job.
 

am i right to say that skills are more important than certs in this field?
yes, most of the time, client/customers only want and remember the photos you took or created, and forget who you are.

if so, does anyone here takes a degree or bachelor in photog just to get into this line?

:dunno:
yes, sometime, corporate or gov sectors hiring in hours photographers, cert is more important.

btw, as in full time professionals, it can be as a employee or a self employed, as a employee, most of the time all you need to do is shoot well.

as a self employed, you ability to handle business well is far more important then shoot well. else you will be out of business very soon.
 

it all depends on the market segment that you are targeting at

different market segments look for different things
 

thanks for the replies, sorry for the late reply, was in camp. diff ppl have diff opinions towards this subject, just trying to find out if a cert will promise a better prospect in this line. from the replies, i feel that all of the above mentioned are quite important to a certain extent; certs, business skills, gears.

if possible, do continue with the discussion, i'd like to learn more. TIA :)
 

Having a D3X or 1DM3 does not mean that 100% he/she is a good photographer... :bsmilie:

I am refering to Medium Format photography using Mamiya or Hasselbald. MNC looks at equipments first as they want value for their money spent. I came across once as I did a project for an MNC, lucky got my Mamiya with me.
 

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