chelesphotography Loc: Greenville, NC

I wanted to ask if any of you get paid to do photography and if you do what type of photography are you doing. also are you happy that you picked this type of photography to do? I do horse events better described as trail rides. We set up on the trail and take their picture as they ride by. I love love love to do this but it isn't the best money making job. Thanks for all your input!

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I wish!

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Very seldom am I paid for photography. Generally my photos (along with other photographers' work) are used on my website and for in-house client presentations.

Other wedding vendors in my area occasionally ask for permission to use my shots in their ads, but I do not charge them. Keeps referrals coming!

Nikon Magi Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

I mainly do People/Animal portraits. I really enjoy it and who doesn't want a picture of themselves with their pets? I also do the occasional wedding (better money but can also be more stressful).

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

Right now, I do the occasional newborn, or families,have done weddings, and engagement sessions. I did work doing youth sports for 5 years, but really don't want to do that any more. Now I mostly just show in a gallery on occasion.

AlisonT Loc: Louisa, Virginia

I do art festivals. If your work is "arty" and you're not into doing weddings it is the best game in town. It does require a lot of travel, a lot of hard work, and there is a lot of competition.

roxiemarty Loc: Florida

I have a dear friend that lives in Louisa! Small world! I agree about the festivals, but I think it would take alot of money to get ready for... Is your work framed, on board, and what about display? So many things to think about.

AlisonT Loc: Louisa, Virginia

It does have expensive startup costs, tent, walls, weights, something to put it all in. There are ways to make it cheaper and a lot of used equipment around. A lot of photographers have bunches of matted prints for sale but I have only framed under glass in my booth and then also sell unmatted prints by order. Glass is the hardest to get. A lot of glass suppliers are refusing to give wholesale contracts to artists. I do a class in Louisa where I go over all the various display options and how to apply, everything you need to know, and then I pull the tent and walls out and we put up and take down the display in the backyard. That is probably the most important part to check out. It is very physical work putting up the display and taking it down.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Well, I know that many of the best on here swear that you need to shoot only one thing, but...

We (my business partner, 3 other shooters that we subcontract, and myself) shoot about everything.
Weddings, (much to the amazement of many on the hog, we LOVE them, just booked 2 more last night, and have 5 more quotes out. Portraits (2 last week) Events, just got final payment for a 50th birthday party in 2 weeks, and very occasionally pets.

Absolutely love them all, and we end up making a lot of friends that continue to hire us for future family photos or events. I think I enjoy the people part as much as the photography. It says a lot when we get pummeled with Christmas cards every year from so many people we worked for in the past. I still don't think that's normal, but we sure do get a lot. When we are dead and gone, the only thing that matters is how many lives we've touched.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

I an a boudoir and pin-up photographer but also take portrait, family and senior sessions when time allows. I love my clients and feel very blessed that I get to do this as my full time job.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

Just remember--nobody ever had more talent than Mozart--and he starved to death--quality work is very important--but so is promotion.
Stan

Mickey Jetpur Loc: California

Allison, can you explain what the start costs would be for tent set up at a festival. What material do you hang your pictures on in the tent? I plan to sell prints on canvas and metal, as well as 4x6. I'm just getting started, so any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

chelesphotography Loc: Greenville, NC

I would love to do boudoir photography. Not sure how to get started or what it would require.

Mrsmoses Loc: Oregon

I also do the horse events but I do barrel racing, rodeos, horse shows and farm shoots. I started out doing the trail rides and any thing horse and as I got better and braver I started with the other events. I now am the official photographer for several horse events, county fairs etc. People will always want any good photo (and some not so good) of their beloved animals. You are not going to get rich but it does give you "drinking" money and pay for some more equipment (the want for new is always there). I made enough to pay for my Nikon D4 and still have spending money.

AlisonT Loc: Louisa, Virginia

That's a tall order :-) You will need a tent. Tents range from pop-up tents like they sell at Costco but don't get the cheapest one to Trimline tents sold by Flourish. I don't recommend the pop-up tents. They don't last long and they are water resistant, not water proof. Your best bet to get a quality tent is to find someone selling a used one. Expect to spend about 5-600 dollars for a used Trimline. For used tents check out http://www.artfairinsiders.com/ and you will find a lot of info there about pros and cons of the various display options. You will need weights although I got by a lot of years with 8 gallon (not 5) water bottles. Now I have Eaton Canopy weights which are awesome but expensive. For walls, some people build their own using hollow core doors. Buyable options are propanels and mesh panels (also sold by Flourish). If you don't have a dedicated vehicle (van) you will want to go with the mesh panels. They fold up to almost nothing. I don't like them as much as the pro-panels and you can get knockdown propanels which will fit in a regular vehicle. For hanging you use either curtain hooks on the mesh panels or velcro hangers for the pro panels. You will find a lot of info on artfairinsiders. Also check out this page - http://artshowphoto.com/contents.htm for the resource list which has just about everything you need.