Photography as a Fulltime Gig

[Richard]

I did some freelance work for a sports magazine and it didn't pay much at all... so it had me wondering.... What does it really take?

I've been thinking about how much one can make as a professional photographer. I guess because I don't do it as a living, I just don't see how a photographer can make a living doing this fulltime nowadays. With digital cameras being so cheap and easier to make prints (home photo printer, etc..) more and more people are investing on buying nicer cameras and photo printer for daily use.

So my question to the ones that do it as a full time gig... how are you doing it? What niche have you found to get the dollars rolling in? Do most generate income on weddings? portraits? Senior Pictures?

Anyways, just wondering how the professional photographers here that do it fulltime make it happen.

[bondarnes]

It takes a lot of marketing and old fashioned hustle to make it in today's market. I have a full schedule this month (six to ten senior sessions per day and a couple of weddings) due to one senior promotion, so I don't have time to give you details right now. I will try to get back to you later.

[katiexjo]

I've read that the main thing that a photographer must have is "drive"...I am learing about that right now, and I've also heard that it takes about 18 months to 2 years before a business starts to turn a profit...would you say that is true for you.

~KJ

[bondarnes]

My situation was a little different than most in that my "day job" was newspaper photography. I photographed a few weddings and other locaton work in my free time. I was given the choice of Saturday shift at the paper and no weddings or no job. When I chose the latter and opened a studio I already had equipment, props, and stuff and had to pay 14 months rent in advance so I didn't have a lot of additional overhead. I would say that I was not profitable for at least three years, but I had no business background and had to learn everything the hard way. There was no TPF

In my opinion you need a good marketing plan in order to be successful. Olan Mills has proven time and again that good photography is not the key. PCA has shown us that a face in front of the camera is what puts cash in the till. Even in todays turbulent market there are many that won't settle for mediocre photography and are willing to pay a fair price in order to get exceptional images. Unfortunately that segment has dwindled considerably in the last five years.

I will admit that it is tougher to make it in today's climate, and if I were starting out today I'm not sure that I would go the "studio" route.

[Ropinamoment]

Don, if your not sure you'd go the studio route, then what route would you go?

I'm in a pickle myself right now on whether to take my photography full time. I'm not keen on doing studio settings, but everyone here seems to think I should have a studio anyway. I'd love to know what route you think is best.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by Ropinamoment

Don, if your not sure you'd go the studio route, then what route would you go?

For a serious high schools seniors business you almost have to have a studio and that is over half my business, so I would have to give that up.

With proper lighting I could do family portraits on location at a nice park, by the creek, in their yard, or in their home, no studio needed.

Children and babies can also be photographed without a studio either outdoors or in the clients home.

Weddings don't require a studio either. As for the pressure I could contract a talented primary shooter and either be a second shooter or the photographers assistant.

Some commercial work requires a studio, but most can be done on location. I would either rent a studio or just turn down the jobs that required a studio.

Sports photography is almost always done on location, but doesn't really produce the income I would need.

[Richard]

Don, looks like you've found a good niche in the high school seniors. Do most of your work come from word of mouth or do you advertise in the school paper? What is your average time that you spend on a shoot? Do you do some fashion and glamour shoots as well?

[Ropinamoment]

So Don, you feel that there is a good market for the non-studio photographer?

All my business right now is exactly what you described. My husband wants me to get a small studio for days that it's raining, and to have a store front and office since I don't have room for an office at home. My kids photograph so much better in their own enviroment than in a studio. I've quit going to a studio for pictures. There is no place in our small town to rent a studio.

Don, how do you think someone wanting to tap this non-studio market would go about marketing themselves?

By the way, Thank you for letting me pick your brain. Richard, I hope I'm not hijacking your thread. If so, please boot me in the butt and tell me so. :)

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by Richard

Don, looks like you've found a good niche in the high school seniors. Do most of your work come from word of mouth or do you advertise in the school paper? What is your average time that you spend on a shoot? Do you do some fashion and glamour shoots as well?

Our first senior promotion we call Youth Salute and the senior leaders from each high school are nominated to be in the salute. It is a lot of extra work, but it is great publicity because we put together a display that travels to two large malls and then to banks and then into the high schools. We usually get around 175 nominations and will photograph and display 150 or more in the exhibit.

Besides the salute we direct mail to around 3,000 seniors at least five other promotions throughout the year. Our goal is to photograph 400 seniors each year, but we haven't quite made it the last few years. I haven't found school newspapers to be very effective unless they get home for the mom to read. We encourage word of mouth advertising by offering free wallets to any senior that gets a friend to come in a for a session.

I have two dressing rooms so I book staggered two hour sessions, but will be photographing two seniors at the same time. So while one is changing outfits I am photographing the other then they switch.

I have not found glamour or fashion photography to pay what I need to make. I do some occasionally just to practice, but it is not a market that I persue.

[bondarnes]

Originally Posted by Ropinamoment

So Don, you feel that there is a good market for the non-studio photographer?

All my business right now is exactly what you described. My husband wants me to get a small studio for days that it's raining, and to have a store front and office since I don't have room for an office at home. My kids photograph so much better in their own enviroment than in a studio. I've quit going to a studio for pictures. There is no place in our small town to rent a studio.

Don, how do you think someone wanting to tap this non-studio market would go about marketing themselves?

By the way, Thank you for letting me pick your brain. Richard, I hope I'm not hijacking your thread. If so, please boot me in the butt and tell me so. :)

There is a market for non studio photography and I don't know how long it will be until the pendulum swings back the other way.

As far as rainy days just back the car out of the garage and use it. or find an area in your home that you can set up as a temporary studio. You may soon tire of setting up and taking down, but that will do for the time being.

If I were going to start a photography business with no studio I would name it Locations Photography by Don or something like that so there is no misunderstanding from the start. And I would price my work higher than the local studios and market my location portraiture as original art. No two will ever be alike. But even though each original art piece is different, most people would recognize it as being my style.

But first I would invest in some serious photography education so that my work would justify my price. This is not the sort of education you can get from a college or a technical school. You almost have to study individually with a master whose work you admire.

And I think that we are still close enough to Richard's original thread that he is still getting his question answered.

[jasonhuang]

Originally Posted by bondarnes

There is a market for non studio photography and I don't know how long it will be until the pendulum swings back the other way.

As far as rainy days just back the car out of the garage and use it. or find an area in your home that you can set up as a temporary studio. You may soon tire of setting up and taking down, but that will do for the time being.

If I were going to start a photography business with no studio I would name it Locations Photography by Don or something like that so there is no misunderstanding from the start. And I would price my work higher than the local studios and market my location portraiture as original art. No two will ever be alike. But even though each original art piece is different, most people would recognize it as being my style.

Don! I totally agree with you! The days of the studio are fading as more and more people want high quality photos! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like a lot of people are seeing how easy it's becoming to "get in" to photography and how great quality pictures are slowly becoming the standard. But, they don't want to pay for the studios that won't move or go on location. That leaves a large market for those of us trying to land clients that want just that: on location professional photography.

Take, for example...Frisco. Again, correct me if I'm wrong...but I heard a stat the other day that there are more kids under the age of 5 than there are kids in grades 1-12...in Frisco. What that means to me is there are so many families wanting to document (with quality) their kids growing up without sacrificing being behind a camera the whole time. (If a father with a dslr wants to take pictures of his kids all the time, that means he's in none of the pictures.)

Here's another interesting (but probably exaggerated) stat:
Every weekend there are 2000 brides getting married in Dallas.
Every weekend, there are 4000 birthday parties in Frisco.

Haha.

Anyone want to discuss a business venture with me?

[Ropinamoment]

Don, Thank you for your thoughts.

My current cards say: Ropin' A Moment - Personalized, On-site Photography

The last two years, I've spent two days a week online at work looking over people's work that I admire and finding out their techniques. I've also entered online contests and critques to find out how to better myself. I think I'll do alot more research on photographers from this area too. I really don't know many other than the ones right here in our small town.

[Richard]

Ropinamoment... you are definately NOT hijacking my thread. As Don stated, all my questions are being answered and you are asking good questions.

Don... thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and secrets.

[HotHolly]

Ditto to Don. He knows his stuff. Photography is such a small facet of a photography business, its not even funny. Marketing and good business sense has a big deal to do with it. Our small biz assoc has been helpful in creating our biz plan and our expansion. Don and other photogs that have been at this a while have also been incredibly helpful. Main word of advice - dont skip the business side of your business. ;o)

[CobyPhoto]

Originally Posted by jasonhuang

Don! I totally agree with you! The days of the studio are fading as more and more people want high quality photos! Correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like a lot of people are seeing how easy it's becoming to "get in" to photography and how great quality pictures are slowly becoming the standard. But, they don't want to pay for the studios that won't move or go on location. That leaves a large market for those of us trying to land clients that want just that: on location professional photography.

Take, for example...Frisco. Again, correct me if I'm wrong...but I heard a stat the other day that there are more kids under the age of 5 than there are kids in grades 1-12...in Frisco. What that means to me is there are so many families wanting to document (with quality) their kids growing up without sacrificing being behind a camera the whole time. (If a father with a dslr wants to take pictures of his kids all the time, that means he's in none of the pictures.)

Here's another interesting (but probably exaggerated) stat:
Every weekend there are 2000 brides getting married in Dallas.
Every weekend, there are 4000 birthday parties in Frisco.

Haha.

Anyone want to discuss a business venture with me?

I have to say I disagree with this. While location work is becoming more popular, there is still a HIGH number of people that want the standard, studio images of seniors, portraiture and brides, that originate in a studio. I think Don will tell you that is true. I believe that you need to augment your studio offerings with location work (I am in the process of building outdoor shooting area at studio now) that will supplement my studio work. I can look back over several years of work and in each of those sales, there will be 3-4 standard photos that EVERY parent purchases. None of them are location. They want that photo of their child displaying the accomplishments from school, honors, etc. A nice location portrait of the child is good, but without the cap/gown and honors, it is just a portrait and not a SENIOR portrait. (Of course, this doesn't hold true with bridal, wedding, and family protraits.)

I do location work in conjunction with my studio stuff. Normally, the images purchased off of those location shots are to be given away by the kid to their friends, etc. Mom and Dad purchase the 16x20" wall hanger of the kid in some type of School specific, sport specific, Graduation specific pose, and that is the one they send to Grandmom, Grandada, family etc. They are proud of their child and want others to share in the accomplishment. So I see location as a way of augmenting sales as opposed to replacing the traditional studio work.

Your opening statement is almost completely off as well: "The days of the studio are fading as more and more people want high quality photos!" Studios and controled lighting will always produce higher quality photos. It is just as Don metioned earlier, there are trends in every industry and you never know how long one will last and what is next. You just have to stay abreat of what is happening and keep up.

And the ability to produce high quality Photos involved way more than just a good dslr and the desire to take a photo. I can hand my most sofisticated camera and lens to an average individual and they can't do any better than using a P&S 200.00 camera. It still takes education, (posing, lighting, post processing etc.) a passion for what you are doing, and a good camera to make it in this industry.

Doing location photography is just easier to start out. Owning a studio is alot of responsibilty and cost and is therefore prohibabtive for most individuals wanting to start in this business as a side line and work it into a full time career.

CJ