Suggestions for turning a profit

[david_munson]

Alrighty....here's my big question of the week. I'm posting this on a few different forums to see what kind of answers I get. And, please, if there is some ancient thread regarding matters such as this which I have neglected to find in my searches, please direct me to it.

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I'm a photography student in college. As such, my bank account is worn ever thinner by my photographic habits. Clearly, my photography is going to have to start paying for itself before long. So here's the big question- how? At current time, being in college and all, I can't exactly turn full-time pro just yet. I've investigated everything from stock to weddings to art galleries and would like to hear some input from others. Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

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-Dave Munson

[david_f._stein]

Flame me, shame me but here is my take on all this. Good question. What interests you? Depends on where you live. The most practical, people I know of who make real day-to-day money in photography are commercial photographers who shoot the CEO portraits and corporate brochures, the photos needed to accompany magazine articles, the new store openings and so on. While you are still young enough to be humble, try to work as an assistant to a real, live working commercial photographer. You will learn the business and then that day comes when you have to cover something. Product photography-best left to the pros and you won't be getting out in the world. Fine art-awfully difficult. The craft fair circle-big upfront expenses. Newspapers-low pay for stringers. Individual portrait work-clients can be high maintenance and demanding; legal considerations. WORK WITH SOMEONE GOOD AND PRACTICAL AND LEARN FROM THEM.

[ellis_vener_photography]

There is an old joke in professional photography circles that is

probably truer today than it ever has been. Here is the joke:

 

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"How do you make a million dollars in photography? Start with

two!"

 

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I've been doing it as a full time professional, and even though I

do okay, I goota be honest and point out that there are about ten

thousand better ways to make a decent living these days.

 

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Consider doing it only if you have a strong entrepeneureal bent,

like working for yourself, are willing to bet years of your life, get

along well with people, are an avid self promoter, have solid

financing and a business plan you can stick too...AND (and it is a

very important "AND") this is the only thing you really want to do

and are willing to sacrifice a lot of what other people consider a

normal life to achieve this ambition.

[struan_gray]

My feeling is that the easiest way to be paid for photographs is to

submit them as a package with an article to local or specialist

magazines. Publications covering the local area for tourists, as well

as adventure sports rags and other hobby magazines are often crying

out for well-written text accompanied by competently exposed and

focussed colour photos. They may not be as lucrative per image, but

they are often more flexible about submission formats and many will

welcome contributions from an enthusiastic nobody.

[c._w._dean]

I made a lot of money in college with photography but that was in an

ancient time (1960's) -- I suspect that what worked then is no longer

valid but here goes: Sports teams, game action shots (best sold to

parents) , dances, parties, club groups, faculty members children,

drama student portfolios, drama productions, weddings, engagement

portraits etc., any event that lends itself to photographic mementos.

Check the local business permits as well as the school policies

because if you don't have all these covered, someone is likely to shut

you down quickly. Other posters are correct, the bulk of the

purchasers of professional photography are for business and commercial

use and most of those doors will be closed to you.

[david_goldfarb]

When I was in grad school I tried shooting actors' headshots, being

in New York where actors are legion and are generally poorer than

photographers (maybe--lots of artists contending for that status), the

infrastructure of labs dedicated to this work is there, and the work

is potentially more interesting than weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and such.

I found I could do okay with this, but eventually academic life took

over, and it would really have taken at least a year of aggressive

hustling for jobs to develop a steady clientele. That is probably

true if you're trying to break into any new market.

 

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Other possibilities along these lines are copy photography for artists

and libraries, particularly if you do large format, and event

photography for your university. A good friend of mine has done both

of these as a student to support his LF landscape habit.

[doug_paramore]

Dave: I would do the type of photography where you can sell the

prints alone, without any framing or matting. I do the art shows, but

it took me a while to build up a good stock of prints, purchase my

display frames and canopy, etc. I have more than $1,000 in my canopy

and display panels and covers. I am afraid to count up what I have

invested in frames and mats, plus all the extra prints. You need at

least a dozen large prints, plus many smaller ones to do a show. I

would do activities as C.W. suggested, where you can shoot the

prints, deliver them unframed and take the money and run. The custom

labs have package prices for dance and ballgame pictures in volume.

The price is reasonable and you still have room to make a decent

profit. This will mean the use of smaller format negs instead of the

beloved 8x10. You may be able to sell a few prints through galleries,

but it is slow going. There is always room for a good photographer to

shoot activities, club meetings, PR pictures. Once you get a few jobs

under your belt, I feel that the jobs will begin coming to you. As

Ellis stated, you will have to be willing to give up a lot of

evenings and weekends if you want to make it work.

 

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Regards,

[david_munson]

Thanks for the quick responses. I've actually put a lot of thought

into doing headshots for actors and musicians here, as Ohio

University has very prominent theatre and music programs. The ample

frats and sororities on campus also seem to hold some potential.

I'll have to test the waters a little when I head back to school at

the beginning of January. In terms of formats, the largest camera

I'm currently taking to school is my trusty Mamiya 645, so it's not

like I'll have to push my 8x10 or 4x5 aside to do these things (heck,

I love my Nikon). As far as sacrificing my nights and weekends- no

problem for me whatsoever. As one of the seemingly few sober

students on campus, I always have plenty of free time that I'd

happily devote to alternative photographic endeavors.

 

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Thanks again for the suggestions....I'll be interested to hear what

others have to contribute in the next day or so.

[bill_smithe2]

Dave,

 

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I will give you the same advice I recetly gave to my son. Study

hard, get good grades, go to Law School, (don't practice if you want)

but then you can do anything that you want. IF photography does not

work out, you have a great education to fall back on.

 

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Make lots of money and practice photography as a hobby.

 

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For what it is worth, that is my recommendation.

 

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Happy Holidays,

 

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Bill