Too many photographers?

[Crashoran]

Do you think this field is oversaturated right now? It's rare when I see a job position open up. On the other hand, I see dozens of graphic design and web design positions constantly on a daily basis.

[CaptainTom]

It's too easy to carry a full time day job and work part time as a photographer.

That floods the market with part time photographers who can be hired without benefits, etc. Eliminates many jobs heretofore open for full time gigs.

[Disney Chick]

It also doesn't help that so many people are choosing to do their own pictures rather than hire someone.

[kenw]

more places hire "contract photographers", meaning they are self-employed. And that has been true for many years. Not too many businesses need a fulltime photog on staff. As Tom said, it's expensive to keep staff online/inhouse.

(full time staff typically actually costs 2-3x the salary by the time you add benefits, office space, pave the parking lot, buy insurance on that equipment, SS, health insurance, etc, etc, etc.). Photographers would be considered pure overhead and have very little value-add in the accounting parlance. (yeah, I know, but that's how they think)

All those big white lenses cost major bucks and that ties up inventory $$ that could be used to buy raw materials, etc. Why not rent the services of someone who can afford the equipment and has the experience by virtue of doing it really often, rather than a few times per month or once a year for the annual report?

I did "as needed" photography for a former employer quite often. It was good enough to get the job done (internal records and documentation). I did a few headshots for publications, some test run documentation shots and some artsy-fartsy wall hangers for the big boss' office, but the serious marketing product shoot was always done by a pro crew.

Did my work there take work away from a pro crew? Nope, 'cause it wasn't going to be done at all otherwise.

[PhotoChicken]

You can also blame digital technology for making it easier to get into the photography buisness, but good equipment will never replace skill and a great eye. You just have to work harder to show your work to clients by way of a good web presence, and a flawless portfolio. It took me five years to get my foot in the door to some magazines because everyone takes car/bike pictures now.You just have to show them that your product is the best and worth a little extra money

[HotHolly]

Yes. Plus too many people think being a good photog = good camera. It doesnt matter what market you are in - there are saturation issues.

[PhotoChicken]

............oh yea and myspace shouldnt be used for your main serious buisness website lol

[charlya]

OMG I have seen people use MySpace as their main page. That should send clients running for the hills!

[ShaneKislack]

Not with good ones. Lot's of mediocre ones.

[JohnT]

I never realized there were so many photographers until I started getting serious about it. Reminds me of when I decided to be a web designer back in '99. By the time I learned everything and got set up in business, the market was flooded with them—not to mention the proverbial "nephew." LOL

[Daniel Bates]

Here's an essay on the topic, from SportsShooter.com:

The Cloud is Falling

Originally Posted by Vincent Laforet

One more thing to consider about the general photography market: supply vs. demand - our formula is WAY off kilter. Do you know that there are more than 20,000 graduates with degrees in photography released EACH year in the U.S. alone by colleges/universities? Contrast that to the negative 100 or so staff jobs opening up each year (that's a total guess on my part) and you do the math... The freelance market is becoming incredibly over saturated...

[toverman]

Of course, having a degree in something doesn't mean that:

a) you're any good at it

b) you have the business sense to make any money at doing it

c) you have the personal hygiene not to scare clients away

d) three very important things: personality, personality, personality

[jeffkohn]

It seems rather obvious to me, that if you're going to try to make a living at something that millions of people enjoy doing as a recreational activity, you should expect to have a lot of competition. There are a lot of people like the idea of making a living doing something 'fun'.

[jloyphoto]

Over the past few years, I've seen a lot of photography positions absorbed into graphic design and web positions.

Companies are wanting less people to cover more positions.