Is photography a good career?

S

Seamless_1

New member
That's a hard question to answer. Perki's work is very good, I've seen some of it and the foundation upon which Perki's success is built was laid down in another economy. There are the resources to draw upon to weather the ups and downs. That doesn't sound like your situation.

Without a child to support, I would say go for it, but with a child and this economy, I wouldn't jump in and depend on it. It would be good to 'Have a day job.' as they say and grow into it. It's unlikely that you will earn what you both need working for some other photographer unless you are very good in your own right and are subcontracting, such as being the second shooter for weddings for an already successful wedding photographer/studio.

The best advice I can offer, if photography is really a passion, is to work it part time and build a business to the point where you can make a transition to photography full time.

In terms of potentially rewarding careers, photography would be hard to beat if you have the drive, can take the risks and put in the effort it takes to make it a self-supporting indulgence. However, there are risks, uncertainties and a lot of time involved in earning a living as a photographer and that will effect the quality of your time with your son.

That's about all that can be said without knowing about the market your in, that's a big factor and what you can do with a camera. In my market, a lot of us have been hit very hard and some established studios have closed. The budgets for weddings are being cut way back and event budgets are being scaled way back, or events cancelled. About 80% of my bookings for the first 6 months of the year cancelled in December. In order for events, the budget cuts were:

1. Photography.
2. Catering.
3. The events themselves.


For weddings, the first budget item to get cut back seems to be the photography and then catering. I don't know of any weddings being cancelled, though.

I'm in a very competive market and there are a lot of very good photographers to compete with. In another market, things could look different for a photographer and that may be the case in your situation. Only you can determine that.

Vance
 
No. I graduated from college with an associateʻs degree in professional photography. I advertised around town in the local newspapers, Craigslist, etc. I got 3 clients, and then the economy hit and Iʻve had no clients since. I have a website and sell my work on Redbubble. Iʻve applied for numerous jobs at various studios such as Sears and JC Penny. Right now I work as a photo technician at CVS Pharmacy developing photos. Doesnʻt put bread on the table, but itʻs good.
 
In the near future?.. So I take it you already own all the camera equipment needed, one or two DSLR's of a high spec, a few high quality lenses, a good tripod, light meter, flashes, filters etc.. Plus photo editing software.

And I assume that you are capable of using that equipment properly, understand ISO, aperture, shutter speeds, white balance, metering etc.. Can effectively use Photoshop and your monitor is calibrated?.

And I assume that you have the skills needed to run your own business?, fill out tax forms?, deal with customers?. Half of photography as a job is taking the images, the other half is running a business.

Because if you do not know any of this, or you do not even own the equipment then the 'near future' is going to realistically be 2 to 3 years before you have the skills and training in photography skills and business skills needed to accomplish this.

And even then you have to find the work.. And there is not a lot out there for a new photographer.

I'm just being realistic.

.
 
I've been happy with it, earned enough to own two houses, send two kids through college with no loans and be comfortable. It was a struggle in the beginning, but worth it.
 
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