Comments on: Photography: For Money or Love? http://withinaclick.com/2010/04/photography-for-money-or-love/ Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:49:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Christopher http://withinaclick.com/2010/04/photography-for-money-or-love/comment-page-1/#comment-530 Christopher Mon, 10 May 2010 16:58:58 +0000 http://withinaclick.com/?p=2059#comment-530 While I don't shoot for money (and have never aspired to, in spite of my education and professional background), I really appreciated your post about the choices people make as photographers. I KNOW I have no business shooting commercial work, and shoot for my own amusement and art only. that's my choice, thankfully. I do worry about how some of the haphazard quality and/or business practices of "weekend warriors" effects the value of truly professional work, done by people with consistent skills, proper gear (with backup for gear failure) and reasonable business ethics. It's fine to donate your time/work/shoot for love, and that should be encouraged. On the other hand, a lack of professional standards/skills should not be tolerated when charging people for a service, and more than it is by any other skilled trade, in my opinion. While I don’t shoot for money (and have never aspired to, in spite of my education and professional background), I really appreciated your post about the choices people make as photographers. I KNOW I have no business shooting commercial work, and shoot for my own amusement and art only. that’s my choice, thankfully. I do worry about how some of the haphazard quality and/or business practices of “weekend warriors” effects the value of truly professional work, done by people with consistent skills, proper gear (with backup for gear failure) and reasonable business ethics. It’s fine to donate your time/work/shoot for love, and that should be encouraged. On the other hand, a lack of professional standards/skills should not be tolerated when charging people for a service, and more than it is by any other skilled trade, in my opinion.

]]> By: C-Towner http://withinaclick.com/2010/04/photography-for-money-or-love/comment-page-1/#comment-526 C-Towner Wed, 05 May 2010 02:41:17 +0000 http://withinaclick.com/?p=2059#comment-526 A great take on the subject. I have had numerous discussions with amateurs and professionals, and everyone sees the market differently. I think that anyone blaming their lack of success on other photographers taking their clients or market share, etc, then they are not trying hard enough. The market changes by the minute, and the successful photographer is the one who is able to provide their skill in a way that the client WANTS. I would love to make some money off of my photos. I will not stop shooting what I want to, and if I cannot make money off of that, then thats okay, I won't. I am currently in the works to take my existing work and marketing it to local businesses. For me, that is a win-win. If I can find someone who likes what I already have, then they get something they want, and I got paid for doing something I loved! Doing things for free is a great way to do what you want, because otherwise, you wouldn't waste your time on it! A few months ago, I helped my brother put together a collection of photos for his engagement: places him and his fiance have been to over the years and were special to them. I was so happy and excited to do this for my brother and his fiance, money was no concern at all. I spent a great deal of time traveling to different locales, braving ice storms and blizzards in some cases to get the shot. When it was all done, he wanted to pay me, and I just shoot his hand and told him it was no big deal. Seeing them happy with what I was able to create for them, that was more payment than I ever imagined! I am not saying the "free" method is for everyone, but I love to spread good will, and doing things like that for free can make a big impact on people's lives and will make them remember the photos as more than a service provided. A great take on the subject. I have had numerous discussions with amateurs and professionals, and everyone sees the market differently. I think that anyone blaming their lack of success on other photographers taking their clients or market share, etc, then they are not trying hard enough. The market changes by the minute, and the successful photographer is the one who is able to provide their skill in a way that the client WANTS.

I would love to make some money off of my photos. I will not stop shooting what I want to, and if I cannot make money off of that, then thats okay, I won’t. I am currently in the works to take my existing work and marketing it to local businesses. For me, that is a win-win. If I can find someone who likes what I already have, then they get something they want, and I got paid for doing something I loved!

Doing things for free is a great way to do what you want, because otherwise, you wouldn’t waste your time on it! A few months ago, I helped my brother put together a collection of photos for his engagement: places him and his fiance have been to over the years and were special to them. I was so happy and excited to do this for my brother and his fiance, money was no concern at all. I spent a great deal of time traveling to different locales, braving ice storms and blizzards in some cases to get the shot. When it was all done, he wanted to pay me, and I just shoot his hand and told him it was no big deal. Seeing them happy with what I was able to create for them, that was more payment than I ever imagined!

I am not saying the “free” method is for everyone, but I love to spread good will, and doing things like that for free can make a big impact on people’s lives and will make them remember the photos as more than a service provided.

]]> By: fmgbain http://withinaclick.com/2010/04/photography-for-money-or-love/comment-page-1/#comment-524 fmgbain Mon, 03 May 2010 19:07:30 +0000 http://withinaclick.com/?p=2059#comment-524 @robczn, @brad simply, we compare our output against our own expectations of perfection, and the fair of failure when expected to deliver due to lack of knowledge and/or skill will devastate us. However, this article has my answer. I'm fascinated by the idea of free. I'm an active and focal supporter of open source software, I belong to a free hosting organization called couchsurfing, if you're ever in Johannesburg, South Africa, you can come stay at my house, for free. Why ? I never really though about it but I love to give. It's what makes me special, to answer Brad's "The Future is X-Rated" post, and I never realised it. In my family and friends I give free love and affection, my neighbourhood I give free time and community service in my residents association, software in open source software, a place to stay for travellers, if it was safe in my country, I would likely pick up hitch-hikers as well, a multi-millionaire, fund every silly wacky awesome idea that can make people smile or raise hope and spirits. I'm waffling, I'm sorry. I'm going to start something similar to Help portrait, not really sure what yet, but I know I want to do something free. Give people access to photography in a easily accessible free way. Any ideas ? let me know :) Henti @robczn, @brad simply, we compare our output against our own expectations of perfection, and the fair of failure when expected to deliver due to lack of knowledge and/or skill will devastate us.

However, this article has my answer.

I’m fascinated by the idea of free. I’m an active and focal supporter of open source software, I belong to a free hosting organization called couchsurfing, if you’re ever in Johannesburg, South Africa, you can come stay at my house, for free. Why ?

I never really though about it but I love to give. It’s what makes me special, to answer Brad’s “The Future is X-Rated” post, and I never realised it.

In my family and friends I give free love and affection, my neighbourhood I give free time and community service in my residents association, software in open source software, a place to stay for travellers, if it was safe in my country, I would likely pick up hitch-hikers as well, a multi-millionaire, fund every silly wacky awesome idea that can make people smile or raise hope and spirits.

I’m waffling, I’m sorry.

I’m going to start something similar to Help portrait, not really sure what yet, but I know I want to do something free. Give people access to photography in a easily accessible free way.

Any ideas ? let me know :)

Henti

]]> By: manda http://withinaclick.com/2010/04/photography-for-money-or-love/comment-page-1/#comment-521 manda Mon, 03 May 2010 17:26:00 +0000 http://withinaclick.com/?p=2059#comment-521 having recently been laid off from a job/profession i have never really enjoyed, i am again faced with what i want to be when i grow up. obviously my thoughts turn to photography but i have similar qualms. if i could just shoot whatever i want and people would buy it, that would be great - but we all know it doesn't work that way :) having recently been laid off from a job/profession i have never really enjoyed, i am again faced with what i want to be when i grow up. obviously my thoughts turn to photography but i have similar qualms. if i could just shoot whatever i want and people would buy it, that would be great – but we all know it doesn’t work that way :)

]]> By: abe http://withinaclick.com/2010/04/photography-for-money-or-love/comment-page-1/#comment-520 abe Mon, 03 May 2010 04:48:09 +0000 http://withinaclick.com/?p=2059#comment-520 I just did my first paid shoot and was pretty excited about it. In fact, I still am. However, I do realize there is a reason that I only charged what I did (which wasn't much) and that is because I am limited in the scope of what I can provide. It's not because I don't think I'm good enough. The minute I think that...I'm not. However, knowing your limits is important, and letting your client know them is as well. My client chose me based on some pics she saw that I did for a friend. When I told her that I might not be what she was looking for if she wanted a certain style, she replied "You are EXACTLY what I'm looking for." This spoke volumes to me and really boosted my confidence. Am I the next Zack Arias? Hardly...but could any of us be? Definitely. Just know your limits. Good stuff B. :) I just did my first paid shoot and was pretty excited about it. In fact, I still am. However, I do realize there is a reason that I only charged what I did (which wasn’t much) and that is because I am limited in the scope of what I can provide.

It’s not because I don’t think I’m good enough. The minute I think that…I’m not.

However, knowing your limits is important, and letting your client know them is as well. My client chose me based on some pics she saw that I did for a friend. When I told her that I might not be what she was looking for if she wanted a certain style, she replied “You are EXACTLY what I’m looking for.” This spoke volumes to me and really boosted my confidence.

Am I the next Zack Arias? Hardly…but could any of us be?

Definitely. Just know your limits.

Good stuff B. :)

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