Kuzano

Just read a post where a member on the forum commented that he/she wanted to buy a camera to work toward becoming professional. Camera budget ... $900.

That person literally got hammered by 2 to 1 posts about "better rethink the budget"... some proffering $9000 as a starting point.

REALLY??????

How does this type of reaction to a simple post encourage photography at any level.

I know there are some on this board who want to stifle professional dreams as a function of protecting a domain they think they alone own. I discount those people off the bat.

Does everybody really think that a person with skills and the courage to market their work (KEY word) cannot begin to sell their work and go on to created a thriving photography business.

To people like the poster in this case, I say good luck and Go For It, even if there is only $900 bucks in the bank at the moment.

The poster did not say they weren't able to spend more when it becomes necessary.

There certainly are many cameras/lens kits out there that can create work that WILL sell, and priced at $1000 or less. This is true particularly if you include used and refurbished camera's.

I'm not the friendliest guy on this forum, and not particularly well liked by some whose shit I have gotten into it with.

Like the scorpion said to the pig in the middle of the river, "It's my nature".

But come on folks. Where's the camaraderie, the good intent, and the willingness to give a fellow hogger a hand up.

Yes, you can start a photography business with any number of camera's I can think of.

The camera is NOT the deterrent. The lack of willingness to do the work is the problem. Many of the responses on this forum would deter others and kill such willingness to make the attempt. Sad!! Sad!! Sad!! :cry:

I would go ahead and make up a list of $900 camera's that will produce images that can be sold, but frankly the list is way to long.

The spirit and creativity of the individual who does the appropriate things to become a professional is the heart of success.

Most of those who poo poo'd the $900 camera budget clearly have no aspirations of becoming professional, particularly if they think the camera and the money spent on it is the key to opening that door.

Big surprise for those people....A professional uses the camera that is available when the subject or scene presents itself. I am confident that many who are professional today started out with an UNDER $1000 camera equipped with one lens. :shock:

To me, being a Professional Photographer, means creating part or all of your income with a camera and photography, no matter how much equipment you own or what you spent for it!

Like tulips Loc: Mi

I did not see the other post....but well said!

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Well put. Thanks.

skooters Loc: Flagstaff, Arizona

Great reply, thank you. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Agreed. Starting a bisiness with under $1000 today is indeed a rarity. Lets say he does not make it, most new businesses don't. What has he lost? Time and a few bucks. Go for it. At least he will still have the gear if fails.

Kuzano

It was in a thread of another context.

I would like to add here that Daido Moriyama in Japan, has created a huge and museum quality (as his shows around the world indicate) body of work, mostly black and white with Point and Shoot camera's.

Most used is a Ricoh GR. He went to a Nikon P&S and is now back to a Ricoh GR. He is in his 70's now and just completed a joint show in London at the Tate Modern Museum with William Klein.

A Ricoh GR!

Want to see many vids of his work... search Youtube for Daido Moriyama.

Then talk to me about minimum prices for camera's to become a professional.

In fact, many of Daido's cameras were gifts. One fellow said "Daido shows up using different camera's loaned or borrowed and somehow they just end up being his."

Moral to this story.. don't lend Daido a P&S camera of yours.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

as a professional I can honestly say that if you can successfully start a business with a starting budget of $900 - good luck to you.

there is much more to your start up budget than just camera equipment, most people don't even think about it. You need a marketing budget, a website (a real website not a free one or just a facebook page), business cards, direct and indirect marketing, insurance, etc.

You can PLAY professional photographer for a start up of $900, but honestly you are just going to be a fauxtog who takes pictures of your family and friends and posts them to your facebook fan page, until you start marketing and getting clients that actually pay you for your services.

Kuzano

And you're a professional because of luck, with no creativity and hard work involved. No, wait you mentioned the hard work, but you also implied in saying that larger expenditure on the first camera is necessary. Do I read you wrong?

Please keep in mind that I said the poster did not presume there were no other expenses, but rather that his/her camera budget was $900. Pretty simple if you just read it. No implication of overlooking other costs was indicated.

I will respect you by NOT asking what your first camera cost that produced the first image you sold for money. But think about the question before you apologize for the first sentence in your post.

You just made yourself on of the deterrents with the first sentence in your post. So, hoglike. SNOT!!

doduce Loc: Holly Springs NC

Annie's points are also well made. I didn't see the original post, but if, as <kuzano> said, OP said he/she "...wanted to buy a camera to work toward becoming professional," it is OK. As he/she gets into it and finds out both the technical and business challenges, the goals, perspective and budget will undoubtedly change. I say go for it. Learn all you can cuz in the end, you'll just be a better person and photographer.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

I don’t know that budget was the only concern expressed regarding the post in question. My concern was based on experience and a lack of general data. First I’m assuming the poster was referring to “optical” zoom as I’m not familiar with optimal zoom. In any case the camera body as well as the lens choice would depend on a lot of factors none of which were expressed or shared by the poster. I’ve provided the original post below and ask in all sincerity how you would begin to offer any advice of value based on the information provided. I’d also ask that if one was truly ready to make the leap into photography as a profession wouldn’t you expect that they would understand what information they need to provide to gain any useful data? BTW I don’t disagree with what you have posted but I do think it’s a bit unfair to characterize the response that the poster received based on the information provided.

Quote “I am getting ready to buy a good camera, I am thinking of a DSLR, I want a great optimal zoom. I take semi professional photos . I want to expand and be a professional photographer, and do a lot more photos.
What camera would you suggest ? I am going to spend under $900.00.” End Quote

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

I will not apologize for being honest, lmao... starting a business (any business) on a start-up budget of $900 is foolish and almost impossible when you look at what is needed and involved in being a real, honest and LEGAL business in the United States.

I'm a professional photographer (100% of my income coming from photography alone) because of a number of factors that all came into play.

#1- I do have talent and skill as a photographer
#2 - I market to my target market, I don't try to be everything to everyone.
#3 - I invest in myself and my business.
#4 - I market like a son of a gun (ya I said that twice but that's a huge part and expense to being successful in any business)

Do you think calling me names (Snot) has hurt my feelings or made me change my views on trying to start a REAL professional photography business with a budget of $900 to not only buy your equipment but pay for marketing and make sure you have all your legal ducks in a row?

I can’t call myself a professional hairdressers simply because I went to the beauty supply store and purchased a pair of $100 scissors, sample example applies to photography.

Kuzano

Yes, that's the post. And my point was somewhat more to the negativity of the posters who slammed immediate posts on the money needed to be spent on the camera.

Clearly the intent of my post was misinterpreted by some who actually don't know how to read well, before beginning to create a response while reading and miss the point of what they read.

This is a common UHH fault... Hell, I do it too.

Spend a little more time on comprehension folks.

I guarantee, it will improve your photography, if it becomes your nature. You will spend more time examining the subjects of your photos.

I swear, some may even be typing negative responses to photo questions on their computers, and then go looking for applicable posts to copy and paste their prepared responses into.

Again, Hell, that's what I do.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

Okay, you bring up reading and comprehension. Having read and comprehended what is there to comprehend would you conclude that with $900 the poster is ready to jump into a profession? I would suggest that if the poster is looking at portrait work I don’t think $900 would even begin to get them started, again not enough information to be helpful.

Kuzano

How soon we forget. I did not call you SNOT. You called me SNOT a number of months ago on a post I made. Since then, whenever I post a response to you, or a thread you have posted heavily in, I sign my post SNOT, as you dubbed me.

How do you possibly run a successful business with such a short memory or attention span :thumbup:

Your post was good, but both of your responses misunderstand that the original quoted post was not about a budget, but about camera price.

For that I may (haven't decided yet cause I am a SNOT) apologize as my original title should have said BUY PROFESSIONAL CAMERA ON A LIMITED BUDGET?.

I did enjoy your current post (sort of as I am a SNOT-your words) as it points out many considerations for being a professional, particularly the four points. All Caps and Apostrophes on that.

You did however miss a fifth point. 5)You are extremely proud of yourself.

That's absolutely necessary to become successful anything. Some people call it self worth or self image, which both fall somewhat short of true. It takes being proud of ones self, beyond others normal definition of one, to make a hit in any profession.

That's the kind of image you get when you see Tina Turner dance to "Proud Mary".

OTOH, my sister was somewhat offended by your reference to hairdressers as she is retired from the trade and considered it a very good profession while she practiced in her on shop. Made as much money as many Professional Photographers by the way.

So, it's been fun, but my sister really just mentioned something about who is the bigger..... well, you know?