usaellie101 Loc: Spring Hill, Florida

Ok we have many pro here but mostly hobbists. Everyone and their mother hears "Wouldn't it be great to make a living doing what you love?"

I personally know of many photographers who have lost their livelihood due to the mass explosion of good ametures with all the cameras that have flooded the market in the past ten years. Now the photo editing programs are easier than ever. I have been to many weddings, birthdays and occassons where years ago you would 100% of the time see a pro photographer. Now with a bad economy and everyone trying to cut corners, the guest of the weddings are now taking the pictures. I do and so do many others. I know a guy who used to be the main photographer at a major tourist park in Florida and he was laid off due to lack of sales. Another photo studio in my area closed for the same reason.

Yes, I am very aware that not everyone is an "Artist" but even in the Art world the "Starving Artist" is making a comeback. This, of course, is a big shame. We do not have enough funding for the various programs that were available for Photog/artist to showcase their work. Galleries have closed and Museums are now charging very high admission prices.

So! If anyone has a REAL world answer as to how a photographer can make the mega bucks, some of us are talking about here ...I'm sure the rest of us would like to know. Until then I'll keep shooting and enjoying what I do and hopefully eat and Pay bills as well.

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

I agree on this. A good friend of the family is a pro photographer and he is starting to lose a lot of business due to the digital era. He has upgraded to digital everything but it still has hurt. It's sad to see but that is the way of the times.

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

We will see many go because of $$ hard times and with the new cameras doing everything for you.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

They are amazing toys...I mean tools! Haven't seen a camera do the concepting, composition, posing & lighting ...yet. I think those and experience are the main differences between a real pro and an amateur. The buying public sometimes doesn't see that sometimes.

randymoe

I think some people do realize the difference, between a snapshot and a studio shot.

I will disclose my little secret. In big markets (like cities) there are always tons of new realtors and they all need a head shot for a new business card.

Go to the big shops and talk up studio shoots. These people are always driving around. Have them come to you. I sometimes line up 10 for a short morning. I have them come 4 per hour. I set up a simple portrait lighting setup with white background.

They dress up. The women help with makeup. I shoot each person 20 quick shots. Give them a CD, flash drive or email. Charge $50 each, cash on the spot. Makes for a quick nice morning, and fun for everyone. I even get repeat business when they change their hair or suit.

Not Art. Down and dirty. But nobody else is doing it.

Hustle, people, and I mean that in a good honest way.

BigDaveMT Loc: Plentywood, MT

That's some very good advice Randy.

If you're serious about earning a living as a photographer, start looking for new and innovative ways to market yourself. As artists, we look at everyday scenes and find new ways to present them. We need to do the same on the business side.

Google "guerilla marketing" and you should come up with some interesting and low cost methods to to promote yourself that can be adapted to a photo business.

Church directories are big business and if your house of worship hasn't contracted with one of the big studios that do this nationally, they might be willing to give a parishioner a shot.

GW Loc: Idaho

I always found that one needs to offer that special something no one else does. Like when I did weddings I gave a special free B&W package for free along with regular pics...

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

And most don't care. Too often they find a poor picture acceptable rather than pay for a quality photo. Also, they may not know the difference if the two photos aren't side by side. Besides that, point and shoots are getting better every year.

Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

Realtors in my area have set up their own cameras to take pictures; they also take walking pictures of houses they intend to sell to put them up on the internet.

Steve221221 Loc: Metro Detroit

Not only true with photography but with audio recording (my specialty). What used to require a full studio with $100,000+ in equipment can now be done in a home project studio < $5,000 digitally.

snowbear

Not personal experience, but I have heard from many, many pros - the main thing you need to succeed as a professional photographer is a solid business plan. Have a marketing strategy, know your market, and be flexible.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Different "Pros" who have spoken to our camera club have said, in some words or other, that one way go is workshops, several are publishing. One of our members has published, if I heard and recall correctly, somewhere around 35-40 books

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

There is a professional photography organization - been around for many years and is not easy to become a part of. It is called ASMP which stands for American Society of Media Photographers. These guys are not generally making their income doing weddings or head shots or real estate (btw in what city are there currently thousands of realtors?).

ASMP are architectual, food, glamor, advertizing, sports, shooters so
if you are curious and you wanna see what the pro's are doing and how just go to www.asmp.org search for a city near you or search by subject and took a look - knock your socks off most of them will I promise.

PS ASMP litigates, lobbies, and fights for the rights of all photographers.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

In our area, one of the "High-End" portrait studios in town was started by the owner of an investment company who is not a photographer. He handles the business & marketing and hires very capable photographers.

randymoe

It is often personality, perseverance and sales closing ability that make a business.

Many will tell you what you cannot do.

Many will tell you it has already been done.

Many are wrong.

I am sure the Chicago area has 10,000 wannabe realtors that have no idea how to shoot a head shot.

Then, there there are the actors...