Do you Make Money with your Rangefinder? Please share!

[emraphoto]

a quick little "rangefinder note"

i just got home from the mayhem in Toronto (g8/g20) and there were indeed some m8's and m9's about. a couple of them behind the "media only" lines. i ran into a bloke in the serious thick of the action with an m9 who i can only assume was plum crazy or on the job. i also ran into another fella with an m9 shortly before the police car exploded. couldn't see him through the thick black smoke and flying bricks after the explosion though.

it's official people, professionals DO use m9's!

 

[Roger Hicks]

a quick little "rangefinder note"

i just got home from the mayhem in Toronto (g8/g20) and there were indeed some m8's and m9's about. a couple of them behind the "media only" lines. i ran into a bloke in the serious thick of the action with an m9 who i can only assume was plum crazy or on the job. i also ran into another fella with an m9 shortly before the police car exploded. couldn't see him through the thick black smoke and flying bricks after the explosion though.

it's official people, professionals DO use m9's!

Nah, can't have been, you must have been mistaken.

Everyone (except professionals) knows that professionals don't use Ms. They ony sell them to dentists who fondle them.

Cheers,

R.

 

[shadowfox]

Thanks for the thread, Steven.

Besides trying to sell prints of the pictures I took, I also offer B&W darkroom printing service for those of us who still shoot film, but prefer not to do it ourselves. Think of it as reviving the mutually beneficial relationship between a photographer and his/her printer that has been eclipsed by computer/machine-printers nowadays.

In addition, I have researched and written enough materials to teach any newcomers on how to adopt B&W photography as a way to view the world around us. And this is where the style of photography that benefits the most from rangefinder cameras plays a key role.

Have I made enough money? nope, still hanging on to a full time job.

But there's one advantage of having no-connections or illustrious-background: you can only go up 🙂

 

[sepiareverb]

But there's a lot less money in it than there used to be, for just about everyone I know in just about every field: editorial, all but the very top end of advertising (a handful of people), stock, even weddings. The internet has lowered expectations dramatically. Frighteningly many people are unwilling to pay for ANYTHING, EVER.

Sad but true. There is no convincing people that the shot with the $175 Canon P&S is worse than what you or I could do. They see sh1t everywhere so that becomes good.

 

[emraphoto]

Nah, can't have been, you must have been mistaken.

Everyone (except professionals) knows that professionals don't use Ms. They ony sell them to dentists who fondle them.

Cheers,

R.

it might have been the tear gas Roger, making me see things. i even saw a fella (with media pass) shooting an old stereo camera with a 283 on top! i gave him my card and asked to see the images so if he obliges i will post a link.

i actually had a friend of mine approach me mid way through the mayhem of saturday, two d3's with 70-200 and 24-70 respectively hanging from his neck and sweat pouring from his forehead, and tell me he was torn between jealousy and a desire to smack me upside of the head (i was sporting a point and shoot and zeiss ikon).

after two days of batons, tear gas, explosions, foreign dignitaries and running i am very, very gad i left the big guns at home! i can't imagine having two of those behemoths around my neck when the horses were charging.

the ikon performed well. it poured rain for the first two hours and the ikon purred along quite fine. the only issue was condensation in the finder which was easily dealt with via some crafty zone focusing. secretly i thought that was going to be the ikons last functioning day on earth only to be surprised and subsequently enamored with the little machine.

 

[robert blu]

As a pure "amateur" I do not make money with my RF. I would already be satisfied if I could reduce the cost...
robert

 

[s_r_c]

Seems like a lifetime ago, but I was actually holding it down, paying for life in '07 and '08 with just an R-D1s, CV 28 1.9 & 21 4.

Shooting mostly local self-congratulatory magazines & music PR.

I try to market myself as a film guy for the aesthetic appeal & only use an MP and Mamiya universal press for money work; I bring the Epson if I get the vibe I'm not getting paid. The Mamiya setup paid for itself but, uh, it was cheap as hell.

Nice thing is that its so confusing and terrifying there's little question it takes a "professional" to use it.

 

[menos]

I really like the discussion in this thread - thanks for setting it up ;-)

I have a full time job, very different from photography and started with doing photographs 2 or 3 years ago. I spend way too little time with it as per my liking.

I sell occasional A4 or A3 prints from a Canon 9500 to friends or people, who contact me for a picture, they like - it is on a scale basis as well.
I give many prints to friends and people, I shot for free, just to experience their reaction to the paper, the print and all.
It really is amazing, that even the older folks have eradicated their minds with the existence of something beautiful as a real photograph on paper!
I was very silent about this hobby so far and the surprising outings to colleges, business partners, friends are nice.

I don't really earn money from it. I would like to set a few things up and start marketing, to get it running as an additional small income, but I have no illusions about it.

My biggest passion is shooting motor sports and I love the black/ white classic prints, the vendors sell, if you go to classic events like Le Mans.
I shy away, marketing/ selling such prints though out of angst of legal issues (I never have press credentials, when shooting).
I just experienced shooting rangefinder only at this years Le Mans and would love, to sell a few prints, as I like a few pretty much.

 

[Brian Levy]

Only time I made money with my rangefinder or any camera was when I taught adult ed photography classes. I did try going pro with with help from a pro friend but found it more stressful than my day job - a lawyer and CPA, more stress I did not need.

 

[Peter R]

I just experienced shooting rangefinder only at this years Le Mans and would love, to sell a few prints, as I like a few pretty much.

I just had a look and yes, some great photos there of Le Mans. The timeless shot of the flag/cars/distance is a classic. Great car shots too. The Ford GT looks awesome, the best looking car out of the USA since the first version, in my opinion.

Would there really be a legal issue regarding selling a few prints of these? Is there any fine print on the event entry ticket to prohibit commercial sale of any photos taken there?

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I make my living with one film M6, two lenses, a home darkroom, a desktop Mac, a cellphone, lots of business cards,a pen and my mind. So it is possible to make money with your camera.

Sometimes I'm swimming in money, other times I'm eating ramen but I'm the captain of my own ship and I don't have to listen to anyone's emotional problems at work, don't have to play corporate games or politics. I have a lone wolf mentality and photography suits me well. I've an overwhelming tendency to see things differently than other people and photography is the only profession where that actually pays off.

On the extreme end the most I have been paid for a picture was $5700 but that was a singular event. In several other instances I've made around $2500 for a picture. Most of the time it is considerably less.

I was an amateur photographer for thirteen years and everyone I knew asked why didn't I do it for a living, so I got a business card and starting handing it out. I also studied art for thirty three years, went to an excellent art school, and have a university degree in business but I don't think any of that matters.

So yes, you can make money with your rangefinder.

Shine on,

Click

Marketing and finding customers is the hardest thing for most professional photographers, and I know it is for me. Do you think your business degree helped you in that regard?

 

[Richard G]

I like the bit about the necessity of holding your mouth right to catch a fish. And I love talking to the guys in my favorite photographic store. I bought a VC 25 from them I really didn't need. Listening, that is so important. Tonight my job required me to just be present and spend time and listen and acknowledge the catastrophe. What I said almost didn't matter.

 

[jaredangle]

Currently making money with my Contax G1. I just landed a job with my college newspaper and I've been able to shoot film for assignments since the paper is published on a twice-monthly basis. It works well for grab shots using the 45mm f/2, alongside my DSLR.

 

[overtoom]

I do make some money with my wedding and portrait photography. Right now, I am shooting digital only for those jobs, because its simply more convenient to do so. I am planning however to include some analog shooting as well this year and will offer full analog weddings as an option for next year.
My clients dont care if I shoot with 'evil dslr' or digital rangefinder...Nor if I shoot with a M7 or a EOS1V. Who would anyways?
But they do care if I specialize in shooting mixed (analog/digital) weddings or fully analog I guess. And also if I use a different Format maybe.

 

[DanOnRoute66]

I've never been a fulltime professional but I've done a lot of contract freelance work at times. Most of that was done with digital SLRs. Nonetheless, I worked part-time for a photography company for several months last year shooting team photos of youth sports. The owner of the company preferred having the photos shot on film (too much time to process digital images). Also, he believed (I'm not sure I do) that it didn't matter which brand of lens was used as long as the same film was used, which he ensured by supplying the film. We took the photos, turned over the film and he had processing and printing done at a lab in California. Long story short, I could have used an SLR but I most often used my Voigtlander Bessa R2C because I think the view through a RF viewfinder gives me a better idea of how the group shots would look when printed.

 

[hatidua]

I've earned my living as a photographer since 1987. In the course of my work, I use a wide variety of tools: rangefinders, view cameras, analog SLR's, digital SLR's, and specialty cameras (pano, U/W, etc).

For me, a rangefinder is just one wrench in the toolbox - it's the right tool sometimes, and not the right tool at other times. No one camera type (for me) is perfect for all scenarios.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I make my living with one film M6, two lenses, a home darkroom, a desktop Mac, a cellphone, lots of business cards,a pen and my mind. So it is possible to make money with your camera.

Sometimes I'm swimming in money, other times I'm eating ramen but I'm the captain of my own ship and I don't have to listen to anyone's emotional problems at work, don't have to play corporate games or politics. I have a lone wolf mentality and photography suits me well. I've an overwhelming tendency to see things differently than other people and photography is the only profession where that actually pays off.

On the extreme end the most I have been paid for a picture was $5700 but that was a singular event. In several other instances I've made around $2500 for a picture. Most of the time it is considerably less.

I was an amateur photographer for thirteen years and everyone I knew asked why didn't I do it for a living, so I got a business card and starting handing it out. I also studied art for thirty three years, went to an excellent art school, and have a university degree in business but I don't think any of that matters.

So yes, you can make money with your rangefinder.

Shine on,

Click

YES!

Long ago, I coined what I call the '**** you' index as one of the measures of reward for working.

If from time to time you can say '**** you' to pompous wannabees, people with the outlook of an unimaginative primary school teachers, people who can't even handle a row of asterisks, it's worth a good few thousand a year.

As you said in another post, "People buy YOU, your warmth, your ability to understand them." Or, alternatively, your ability to make them think about what they care about and what they really need. Kowtowing to orthodoxy is seldom a route to success. Slavish obedience may earn more money than doing it your own way, but is that always success?

Cheers,

R.

 

[delft]

... The owner of the company preferred having the photos shot on film (too much time to process digital images). Also, he believed (I'm not sure I do) that it didn't matter which brand of lens was used as long as the same film was used, which he ensured by supplying the film. ...

I think he wanted to prevent you from having copies of the pictures on your computer and doing some business on your own...

Dirk

 

[Frontman]

I have found that I can't really make any money selling photographs. I live I Japan, which is awash with photographers, and as I am a foreigner it is not easy to make contacts or negotiate. Instead of selling photographs, I found that I can make money selling cameras. Since Japan is awash with photographers, it is also awash with cameras and gear, some of it being rare or interesting. I love tinkering, and was trained as a jeweler when I was young, so it is not hard for me to buy, tune up, and sell old cameras. I doubt I'll get rich selling secondhand cameras, but I do make enough to pay the bills, and I get to play with or use all kinds of different and interesting things.

 

[KM-25]

I have been a full time shooter specializing in editorial, advertising, stock and more recently fine art for over 20 years. I make money off of my RF gear just like any other tool in my bag, when I need it and use it. I use Leica M, XPan, Blad 6x6, Nikon film and digital. I shoot only black and white in the Leicas, 1/2 black and white and color in the Xpan & 6x6.

From 2009-2011, I took a sizable break from paid work to shoot Kodachrome for a book I am now editing. So when I got back in January, work was slow and it was a bit stressful to say the least. But in the past month, it has been picking up exponentially in all areas including assignments for magazines and even a couple from the New York Times. Pre-economic crash, I was doing incredibly well in terms of income, I expect to be back at that level by the end of the year the way things are looking.

While shooting Kodachrome, I had the perfect kit for doing so including great Leica gear consisting of 4 bodies and 5 lenses. I sold nearly all of it and now have just my M6TTL, chrome M3 with 50 collapsable that I got for my 40th birthday, CV 28mm 3.5, 35 Summicron Asph and a newly acquired chrome ZM 50/2 for the M3.

So the main thrust of my work is advertising and niche stock with a good bit still in editorial work which is usually brought to me by my agency in New York.

I am also working on three new books over the next 3-4 years for two and 12 years for the third, one in all black and white film, the other two including color. I get out and shoot literally every day with my Leica gear in black and white for the 12 year project which will be a 25 year retrospective of my work in my geographic area.

The things I get to do, places I go and people I meet because of what I do make me really appreciate every one of the 35+ years I have been involved with photography, it has been a portal to an entirely different life...