Still don’t understand how photographers are doing this

playwithlight said

The bar to being a professional photographer that makes a living from photography is set very very high..

I think this depends on what you need as a living. Sole income? Yeah. But that’s mostly about business, not photography.

Meaningful partial income? It’s possible to make money even now but it involves doing a lot of relatively humdrum work where portraits are concerned — corporate things — and a lot of small odd jobs.

Lee River said

David Bijli said

Repzee Photography

‘ The way to make money as a photographer is to shoot things and people that other photographers don’t want to shoot for free’

^This.

/\ 100%

And if you really want to be paid for shooting models, there are quite a few newbie proper male models who might pay for a decent portfolio. I say proper as there are clearly some male models who aren't here to model at all...

With almost everyone and his dog in possession of a device of some kind that takes pictures and many of those pictures given away for nothing or at best a name under, who does actually pay someone to take photographs at all these days?

I'm a relatively new photographer after modelling for 10 years, I've had a few bookings from local bands that want gig images and local businesses like bars and pubs that need events photographing, maybe start with your local area and do some networking, It's not fantastic money and as well as a day job in travel on top of my modelling I'm making ends meet but I'm starting local to build up contacts and now have a local band who book me to photograph their gigs, it's a small start but a start no less.

Everly Rose said

I'm a relatively new photographer after modelling for 10 years, I've had a few bookings from local bands that want gig images and local businesses like bars and pubs that need events photographing, maybe start with your local area and do some networking, It's not fantastic money and as well as a day job in travel on top of my modelling I'm making ends meet but I'm starting local to build up contacts and now have a local band who book me to photograph their gigs, it's a small start but a start no less.

Events photography is easier for getting paid because at one level it is not really photography. 

Which is not to say that there's no art or quality to it -- of course there is. Just that it is a staffing problem as well -- it is "turn up and do the hours" work, and clients tend to be able to understand that. You bill a rate. 

Gig photography: most bands won't pay. So if you're getting paid there, nice work!

Venues rarely pay and I think covid has kind of ended the "get in free if you're shooting" expectation (rightly so).

Promoters: they should always pay, IMO, but many of them pay in "guest list".

Theatre pays a bit better in my experience.

All of this is a great way to start getting paid for photography, which is the best way to ensure you continue to get paid for photography ;-)

Cosmonaut said

With almost everyone and his dog in possession of a device of some kind that takes pictures and many of those pictures given away for nothing or at best a name under, who does actually pay someone to take photographs at all these days?

People who need you to be there for a set number of hours generally pay. People who have the "can you turn up and take some photos?" expectation... yeah, no.

For events you could team up with the DJ/AV person or someone actually providing an obviously physical service at the event. They don't turn up with their stuff for nothing, they often get asked to recommend others, and they are much better at pricing out stuff by the hour, dealing with insurance, getting fed (!), etc.

It does work out as a longer day that way, though, because they arrive early and leave late. Best to find something you can occupy yourself with for a few down hours.

Edited by Unfocussed Mike

So if you look at this from the perspective of a model, a decent model has more photos than she can choose between for her portfolio.  There are plenty of photographers who are more than happy to spend a few hours in the presence of a pretty girl practising their favourite hobby and pay for the privilege.  I only work TFP if the photographer is offering something really special and standout and they choose to work only on a TFP basis- ADWsPhotos is a good example of the kind of port that would tempt a model to collaborate.  EdenGarden has provided my husband and I with full weekends including food and drink in exchange for modelling services, and the photos taken have always been stunning- Stan and Jan even did a 6 month old shoot for my daughter as TFP.  Afrofilmviewer has paid me for every shoot I've done with him, despite the fact his photos are amongst the best on my portfolio and we have always have a great time too.  I could list many other photographers who have paid me AND produced standout images which I will treasure forever.  

Without sounding big headed, I take my craft seriously, I'm extremely reliable, I work very hard and make sure that I'm pleasant to work with and be around, so I don't see why I would pay for images that the photographer can also use.  

If you want to make money at photography then make an amazing portfolio and sell your talents. Like any other industry, you get paid what you’re worth. Money doesn’t come running to you, go get it.

Unfocussed Mike said

Everly Rose said

I'm a relatively new photographer after modelling for 10 years, I've had a few bookings from local bands that want gig images and local businesses like bars and pubs that need events photographing, maybe start with your local area and do some networking, It's not fantastic money and as well as a day job in travel on top of my modelling I'm making ends meet but I'm starting local to build up contacts and now have a local band who book me to photograph their gigs, it's a small start but a start no less.

Events photography is easier for getting paid because at one level it is not really photography. 

Which is not to say that there's no art or quality to it -- of course there is. Just that it is a staffing problem as well -- it is "turn up and do the hours" work, and clients tend to be able to understand that. You bill a rate. 

Gig photography: most bands won't pay. So if you're getting paid there, nice work!

Venues rarely pay and I think covid has kind of ended the "get in free if you're shooting" expectation (rightly so).

Promoters: they should always pay, IMO, but many of them pay in "guest list".

Theatre pays a bit better in my experience.

All of this is a great way to start getting paid for photography, which is the best way to ensure you continue to get paid for photography ;-)

Gig photography is well and truly dead..  Bands/Management/promoters/Venues no longer have a dedicated photography budget, nor do they need one as far too many people willing to shoot bands and give away their images just for a free ticket and the kudos factor.  I even know a few well established gig photographers who are now paying to tour with bands.

I had many happy years in the pit for the first 3 and touring, but I’m glad I got out when I did.

Rob Stanley muly local band has paid me to shoot them many times so I guess it's networking and making freinds I tries really hard abd they offered me to do it I wouldn't say it's a dead market I know many gig photographers

I would question whether being paid to shoot models is really what you want to do anyway.

I have done in the past, it was usually people starting out modelling or those that wanted to build a portfolio in certain areas that I didn't want to tf with. But honestly, I really didn't enjoy it because you're ultimately shooting what they want not what you want. It's also, realistically, not the top level models that will be open to paying you. So in the end it is a job, and not one that is necessarily as enjoyable as you think it's going to be.

I only did it for around a year before quickly deciding it wasn't for me.

The images are also only a part of it, you have to be very good with people or it often doesn't matter how good your work is. Most of my work ended up being word of mouth and repeat customers.

I'm also going to add, many of the models did highlight the fact I was female. Whether right or wrong it does give an edge.

So in addition to my earlier comment of providing something people want to buy, it's actually a lot more than that. And is very far removed from paying for or even tf-ing with very good and experienced models.

AmarissaCeleste I do love praise.

Many thanks. And yes I do.

Been paid for images too.

Been lurking on this thread. Wasnt going to say anything as there's some ok advice on here and the OP hasn't responded in ages which to me telling in itself.

Like many posts on here, the OP sounds frustrated but also vague.

Got a website?

How well do you use your social media streams? I see you joined Twitter last year. You have no followers and follower no one and have no posts.

Do you use traditional networking?

Understand being frustrated at other people "doing better" but again...we don't how these people are marketing themselves to make money...so *shrug*

The problem with model photography as a business in my eyes is a lot of people just post and hope. Be it models or Photographers.

Afrofilmviewer said

Been lurking on this thread. Wasnt going to say anything as there's some ok advice on here and the OP hasn't responded in ages which to me telling in itself.

Like many posts on here, the OP sounds frustrated but also vague.

Got a website?

How well do you use your social media streams? I see you joined Twitter last year. You have no followers and follower no one and have no posts.

Do you use traditional networking?

Understand being frustrated at other people "doing better" but again...we don't how these people are marketing themselves to make money...so *shrug*

The problem with model photography as a business in my eyes is a lot of people just post and hope. Be it models or Photographers.

Partly this too... some of the worst 'quality' photographers I have seen make a decent living from it (usually in the wedding or family photography market) and some of the best I ever seen just do it as a hobby and make nothing (usually in glamour or art nude model photography).

Why?

Because the not so great technically ones promote the living hell out of themselves and I assume they are also blessed with a very likable personality leading to a good raport with clients.

Sometimes confidence, a good promote schedual and the ability to sell holy water to the devil is all it takes and then as a side effect of their constant work they have overwhelmingly large portfolio (quantity over quality), lots of word of mouth (from the friends they made along the way) and are 'heavily experiance' (even if experiance has lead to photographic progress) which can impress a lot of general public who have no idea what makes a photographer 'good'.

However the sheer amount of hours it takes of promoting yourself to get anywhere near that point is a full time job in itself and costs money (they have to spend it to make it, the fact their adverts are everywhere you look didn't come to them for free).

Ask yourself this. Why would anyone pay you when they can get the same quality of work from any number of photographers on here and be paid for their time?