Serious about photography?

[Roger Hicks]

All counterfactual conditionals are true. But here are three questions.

1 For those who earn(ed) a living partly or wholly from photography, how many of you reckon you could earn/have earned more from something else? For example, I have a law degree; studied accountancy; and am a qualified teacher. Even teaching would probably have paid more than what I chose. Then again, "what I chose" embraces, to a large extent, "what I damn' well feel like doing, which doesn't include working hard at things I don't like doing."

2 For those who earn/have earned their living elsewhere, how many of you reckon you could earn/have earned more from photography?

3 Do you regret your choice?

Number 3 is of course the kicker. And for what it's worth, my answers are 1, Yes, 2, Not applicable (at least since the age of 31, which answers the question), and 3, No. At least, not usually.

Cheers,

R.

[srtiwari]

In my case, I thought often about not going into my current profession, and instead choosing whatever happened to be my passion du jour - Photography, Golf, Music ,etc. Luckily for me, I did not give up my day job for any of these. But do I regret it anyway ? Of course, I do !

[SciAggie]

My point of view is that making my primary income at something other than photography is what allows me to be serious about MY photography. I do make a fraction of my annual income from photography, but that involves work that I WANT to do and I am interested in doing.
My answer to your second question reflects the first; I could make more money from photography, but I would have to do work I don't want to do and put up with people and situations I had rather not deal with. I have found a sort of niche of clients that like what I do and that, in general I enjoy working for.
Lastly, I am happy with the situation. When work is aligned with my goals, that's good - when it isn't I am content as a serious hobbiest.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by srtiwari

In my case, I thought often about not going into my current profession, and instead choosing whatever happened to be my passion du jour - Photography, Golf, Music ,etc. Luckily for me, I did not give up my day job for any of these. But do I regret it anyway ? Of course, I do !

Well, there are degrees of regret. The fact that you say "luckily for me" suggests to me that you don't really regret it all that much.

But of course there's always the regret that you'll never know.

Come to think of it, I'd add that some of the really great photographers of my acquaintance are/were so obsessed that I have never regretted not being as serious as they are/were about photography. The list includes at least two suicides, plus the only living person I know, or have ever heard of (a war photographer), who has ever been prononced DoA (Dead on Arrival at a hospital) twice...

Cheers,

R..

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by SciAggie

My point of view is that making my primary income at something other than photography is what allows me to be serious about MY photography. I do make a fraction of my annual income from photography, but that involves work that I WANT to do and I am interested in doing.
My answer to your second question reflects the first; I could make more money from photography, but I would have to do work I don't want to do and put up with people and situations I had rather not deal with. I have found a sort of niche of clients that like what I do and that, in general I enjoy working for.
Lastly, I am happy with the situation. When work is aligned with my goals, that's good - when it isn't I am content as a serious hobbiest.

Makes eminent sense, but too hard to incorporate into the original question! Thanks!

Cheers,

R.

[rbiemer]

#1 doesn't apply to me.

#2, though is interesting to think about. I know I could have made more money in several other careers than the one I chose.
I'm a chef, have been working in commercial kitchens of one kind or another for most of the last 35 years.

At the beginning of the path I've taken, I did make some detours into fields where I made significantly more money. At the cost of being very quickly bored and then miserable. (If I had been supporting a family instead of just me, I would have made different choices.) So, back to the kitchen I went.

Would photography as a career have been a better choice for me? Don't know but I do know that what I love and rely on about being the amateur that I am is that it never feels like a job.

#3, No.

Rob

[Doug]

I've dabbled at earning a living in photography (retail photo, portraits, weddings, architecture, document highway accidents, sold some "art" prints) but like SciAggie never made the move to give up "day jobs" (meteorology, engineering, aerodynamics, law enforcement, rental property management).

I'm sure I would not have had more income from full-time photography. Though I studied photography later at university, it was from an intense interest, not an obsession... which would probably have been necessary for it to have been successful as a main profession. I don't regret it, as my life has been rich with varied experiences, and work that I've enjoyed... especially after I became my own boss.

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I have no other marketable skills, so it has to be photography for me. Fortunately, I love photography

[shimokita]

1) Did earn my living from photography and photography related activities... moved on from that opertunity and did make more money elsewhere.

2) Since the move to "elsewhere", no chance that I would earn as much money back in P/P-related activities. Which is okay...

3) Regret, not really. Since I did both and still do photography (having moved on from "elsewhere" in the last few years...)

Elsewhere isn't a good place or a bad place, just a different place. I count myself fortunate to have had the opertunity to live in multiple places.

and it never has been about the money...

Casey

[Roger Hicks]

Then there's the late Brian Gould, who bought the Gandolfi camera firm. I knew he had a background in manufacturing, so I asked, "What did you make before you made cameras?"

He replied, "Money."

He didn't regret the switch either.

Cheers,

R.

[maddoc]

1) does not apply for me

2) If being one of the very few succesful photographer, I would have easily made more money than "elsewhere". However "elsewhere" allowed me to receive my monthly pay-check, to live in a foreign country and take photos of what I want.

3) No because I know that I don`t have the talent to promote myself to such a degree that I could easily make money in the photography business.

[Ade-oh]

1. Not really applicable. I've earned a little from photography over the years but mostly when I do photography 'professionally' it's to illustrate my own writing.

2. I doubt it.

3. Categorically no. Most of my photography is for my own enjoyment and I doubt I would enjoy producing pictures to someone else's requirements on a regular basis. For the same reason, I've never wanted to be a staff writer or journalist. As a freelance I can focus on subjects which interest me.

[FrankS]

My parents went through turbulent times during the war, moved to Canada with nothing, and worked hard to establish a life here. I chose a safe and stable profession that I knew could support a family, and I do photography on the side as a hobby.

[ruby.monkey]

1) N/A.
2) No.
3) No. I enjoy photography in part because my livelihood doesn't rely on me selling the results. Working that shutter helps me let go of any worries I may have, rather than exacerbating them.

[Damaso]

I know for a fact I would make more money doing just about anything else. But where's the fun in that?

[oftheherd]

1. My professional use of photography was in law enforcement, and related to whatever crime might be under investigation, not as a full time crime scene photographer; and as an adjunct teacher. I have remained in the law enforcement and security field since. I think I am making more than I would have with photography.

2. I am pretty sure I could not have earned more as a dedicated crime scene photographer, and even more sure I could not have earned more money in other aspects of photography, including teaching.

3. No. I enjoy the field I am in. I enjoy freedom of photography as a hobby. Making more money has been beneficial to me and my family. I'm not rich, but wouldn't want to make less either.

[Paddy C]

Originally Posted by Roger Hicks

All counterfactual conditionals are true. But here are three questions.

1 I've made a grand total of a few hundred bucks from a portrait I took last fall. That's all I've ever made. Thought it was kinda neat however.

2 About 12 years ago I became intensely interested in photography. At the time I was just starting a graphic design education. On a few occasions I've wondered if I should have "tried to become a photographer" or make the switch. (not saying I have the talent necessarily).

Interestingly, I've had the chance to work with photographers in my career and I see that the photography gig is a lot like the design gig:
a. bit of a tough slog
b. doesn't compensate you as much as you would like or think you should be compensated
c. has some great creative projects that remind you why you went into the field, but a lot of monotonous work for average clients

At the end of the day I came to realize I would be trading one career for a very similar one with no real improvement to my life. I also think, given some hard work, some good breaks, etc., I can probably make more money in the design racket than the photography one ultimately.

3 No. But I don't recall it ever being a real choice. A bit of a daydream yes, but not something I really ever started to ponder seriously.

[Pickett Wilson]

I've made a living with a camera all my adult life. About 40 years. I'm sure I could have made more money doing something else, but have never done without because of my career choice. Don't regret a minute of it. Would do things exactly the same way if given another chance.

[250swb]

Its difficult to answer the questions in that order and as yes or no.

I have earned my income from photography in the past, but gave it up because the cashflow was erratic while the money was good. Now I don't earn much from photography (thats a bonus) but not having photography as my income allows me to be more serious about it. I don't get camera fatigue, I never have to press the shutter for somebody else.

Steve

[_larky]

"2 For those who earn/have earned their living elsewhere, how many of you reckon you could earn/have earned more from photography?"


Whilst at college I did freelance press photography, I was offered continual work, and eventually a full time job. I also had the chance to go to university to get a degree in photography, looking to move toward a press type of field.

Then Princess Diana passed away, and whilst covering some of the local public reactions for a local rag, I had a tin of tomatoes thrown at my head. It missed. That had an impact on me, and I started to realise that that style of photography was not where I wanted to be. Didn't want that lifestyle either. All the guys I worked with were old and miserable.

Could I have made a living at it, yes.


"3 Do you regret your choice?"

No. Because I've discovered that something you do for the love of it, should stay clearly away from what you do for a living. Unless you are one of the very lucky ones.

[functus]

I fit in category number 2.

I could possibly have earned more money doing photography. But it would have meant engaging in photography as an industry rather than as a passion -- endless team photographs, formulaic brochure shots, etc. I am neither good enough nor devoted enough to be a photojournalist or art photographer. Instead, I get to work at a relatively lucrative job (don't tell my ex-wife) during the day which gives me the resources to only take photographs of things I want to take photographs of.

So -- no regrets.

[Ade-oh]

Roger, out of interest do you feel that you have actually earned your living (since the age of 31) from doing photography or from writing about photography? Both are equally honourable but - I would suggest - are different careers.

[barnwulf]

1. A long time ago I earned my living from photography. I did OK but I could have made more in some other field but I didn't care. For several of the last 10 years I made some income from doing landscape photography and selling my work in a gallery, but it was not enough to live on. I loved doing photo work and still do.

2. I have known some people that made a fair amount of money in photography but I just wasn't interested in doing what they had to do to make a substantial amount of money.

3. No I don't regret my decision about photography. I have enjoyed photography, made some money with it and have photographed most all of my adult life and I happy that I did what I did. I also worked as a motorcycle mechanic for a few years because I loved motorcycles certainly not because anyone can make much money doing it. Jim

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by Ade-oh

Roger, out of interest do you feel that you have actually earned your living (since the age of 31) from doing photography or from writing about photography? Both are equally honourable but - I would suggest - are different careers.

I've often thought about this, and I've come to the conclusion that they're not really separable. I couldn't earn money from writing about it without doing it -- and, of course, I have to illustrate books and magazine articles. That's why I phrased the original question as 'partly or wholly'. Some of the books I've written and illustrated are not about photography: Hidden Tibet, or Battlefields of the [American] Civil War, or The Airbrushing Book, or cook-books. The same goes for magazine articles (e.g. on travel by Land Rover) and I've also (comparatively rarely) done purely photographic jobs, i.e. pictures, no words. The latter are a lot more like hard work as far as I am concerned.

The replies so far suggest to me that most of those who earn their living partly or wholly from photography are not much motivated by money, though some may make a reasonable amount of it. As for what 'photography' is, in this context, it's hard to ignore Geoffrey Crawley. As he once said to he, "Can you imagine giving up photography? Because I can't." He was not a great photographer -- but if he wasn't, what was he? It takes a very long time to sum up all the things he did. I think he was even an expert witness in something to do with the Kennedy assassination, never mind the Cottingly Fairies.

Finally, a quote from George Bernard Shaw, speaking to Henry Ford: "Ah, well, there is the difference between us, Mr. Ford. You think only about art, and I think only about money."

Cheers,

R.

[auldbob]

Like another member here, my main career was in law enforcement, and I do not for a moment believe that I could have made more money from photography, certainly not enough to pay a mortgage and raise two children. When I retired from law enforcement, photography was to have been my second career, but once again, expectations exceeded income.
However, it did open an unexpected door by making it possible to open a gallery which displayed the work of up and coming young photographers (and occasionally my own) and was in it's way more satisfying and exciting.
It also led to a wide circle of contacts within the photographic world, and when the gallery closed I found that I have been offered more work as a photographer than I can cope with, a situation that I find extremely satisfying.
I think that the journey to get here has probably been far more rewarding, both financially and artistically, than had I spent the whole time in photography alone.