ChasingBlueSky 0 #1 October 28, 2004 I'm getting very tired of sales, IT and sitting in an office all day long (which is the reason I have job hoped so much the last few years). I have been contemplating what I wanted to go back to school for (I dropped out midway thru my last semester in college because I was offered my dream job as a journalist/broadcaster)....for the longest time it was going to be aviation but due to the current long term job outlook and the travel schedule, I will only keep that as a hobby. I've done photography off/on for many years going back to grade school and had a chance to do some real work as a photographer for a few weeks two summers ago. Despite the long hours and having to stand for 12 hours at a time, I enjoyed it.....ALOT. I want to finish up my undergrad and I have been contemplating an MBA for the last six months. I came across this school here in town, near my current job: http://www.artic.edu/saic/programs/depts/undergrad/photo.html What I am curious on...are there any full time photographers on here...and I don't limit that to just skydiving. In fact, I don't think I would even want skydiving to be my main subject to photo (I would love to get back into journalism as a photographer). What are you thoughts, etc. Being in education sales, I ask people all day long about their dream job, what will make them happy, etc.....I think I finally asked myself those questions and I believe that photography may be that path. Surprisingly, I am getting a ton of support from those around me (family/friends)....so it has been on my mind a lot. Any advice would be appreciated._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedformula 0 #2 October 28, 2004 being a photographer myself , (part time now) I can tell you that the only money to be made outhere is doing weddings, and they suck !! big time too!. photojournalism is cool if you can land a good newspaper, other than that you have to hassle and freelance, good luck Paul Keeping it real 22x7 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Viking 0 #3 October 28, 2004 I agree with the poster above. I have been taking photography class' going on 4 1/2 years now. I realized a while ago that unless you can bug the shit out of people without it bothering you, do weddings (i hate them) or make a really name for yourself doing shit hot stuff in the studio, there is no way to make a living doing just photography. DO NOT QUIT YOUR JOB!!!!! You will miss that income when you want to take a photo trip somehwhere. I plan on finishing out my degree by next semester and then jumping right into Radiology and getting my licenses there and then using that $45k-$55K starting pay to get my skydiving photography going. But i don't think i will ever do just photography unless i become the next Mike Mcgowen or some such nonsense.I swear you must have footprints on the back of your helmet - chicagoskydiver My God has a bigger dick than your god -George Carlin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #4 October 28, 2004 I understand the hating weddings part...I used to be a DJ and did weddings for extra cash. ugh, I need to think this out some more...I really would love to do this full time as a photo journalist. Thanks for the advice. I'm still going to check out the school just to see what they say._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #5 October 28, 2004 Have you seen this, btw? http://www.calmis.cahwnet.gov/file/occguide/PHOTOGRA.HTM_________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blazetailman 0 #6 October 28, 2004 wow that link to the survey on jobs for photographers was quite optimistic. In California advertising photogs have been diminishing. I worked in the Sacramento and San Fran area and during the dot bomb a lot of the studios closed. This might be a Cali thing but with the advent of digital cameras, desktop pub, slow economy I can hardly call myself a fulltime photog. I've been in the biz since 96 and have watched it decline since not grow. People are more likely to have an employee with a low cost digital camera take a snap shot instead of having a pro take it.www.canopyflightcenter.com www.skydivesac.com www.guanofreefly.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SabreDave 0 #7 November 2, 2004 I make my living as a photographer mostly and a little bit of freelance writing. I have worked for daily newpapers and I have worked for magazines. I love my job and would never give it up!! Weddings?? Yeah they kinda suck but I shot 5 this year. IN total I netted $6,000 before taxes and after expenses. My total time commitment including running to the lab etc??? About 15-20 hours. Rough figures are about $333 an hour. It is easy work once you learn how. Commercial photography kicks ass. I charge $1,000 a day + expenses. It has not been hard for me to find work. I do not advertise at all but sometimes I do contact companies I think could use me and send them samples of my work etc. I work less than 35 hours a week and have a alot of fun doing it! Some of the photogs out there that are succesful totally suck-ass!!! If you are good, you can do it.SabreDave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayhawkJumper 0 #8 November 3, 2004 Photography is my part-time job, along with film school. I've worked for 2 newspapers, freelanced for lots of magazines, and a yearbook. I've also shot senior portraits, passport photos, advertising photos, and of course weddings. And out of all those, I can say that weddings are the biggest money makers. And they can suck if you aren't prepared for a very stressful and unforgiving shoot. You need to at least 2, hopefully 3 of every piece of equipment you own. I went through 3 camera bodies one wedding, they just stopped working, then started working fine again afterwards. From what I have seen, small towns are the easiest to make it as a full time photog. If you establish yourself as the best, all the high school kids will come to you for senior pictures, which is about $500-$2000 per kid. And then weddings are a big plus, if your the best in town. If you are in a bigger city, you'll have to really promote yourself in advertising. Really, you just need a lot of capital to get going, to buy medium format equipment, a full studio, and lots of advertising. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shunkka 0 #9 November 7, 2004 i do (partime) sport photojournalism sometime it`s a blast, sometime it`s ok, somtime it`s a shit when a passion become a job it`s totaly different ------------------------- "jump, have fun, pull" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #10 November 7, 2004 Quotei do (partime) sport photojournalism sometime it`s a blast, sometime it`s ok, somtime it`s a shit when a passion become a job it`s totaly different Care to expand on that?_________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newshooter12 0 #11 November 7, 2004 I work at a television station in my home town as a photographer/editor... videographer or photojournalist if you want to be nice to me. Free lance can be a pain from what i've heard. it can be decent money, but you have to cover everything yourself. you know... health ins, car, gas, and all the equipment. Yeah the hours can be long and odd compared to most of the people i know and jump with, but it's a steady income with a nice 401k plan, etc... We've got 2 Photographer/Editor positions open here if anyone is interested. They go fast and rarely get advertised.I've always loved still photography, but kind of stumbled on tv news videography as a way to make a living. aka. finance skydiving and my student loans. lol. Matt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedformula 0 #12 November 9, 2004 QuoteFree lance can be a pain from what i've heard. it can be decent money, but you have to cover everything yourself. you know... health ins, car, gas, and all the equipment. Yeah the hours can be long and odd compared to most of the people i know and jump with that's just some of the hassles, then you also gotta add , access to events, acquiring credentials to games, etc, etc. too much butt kissing involved at the beginning after a while you find your phase and youre ok, but you gotta prove yourself first. this business is tuff man. screw that , I just do it for fun and get enough gigs to pay for my gear, which by the way doesnt come cheap, some of lenses outhere cost more than my truck. regards Paul Keeping it real 22x7 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
