How many members have a photography related occupation?

How many members have a photography related occupation?

  • Yes

    Votes: 196 41.2%

  • No

    Votes: 280 58.8%
  • Total voters
    476
dabbler

dabbler

I´ve been working as a free lance journalist, taking my own pics (mostly) since some time in the early 80s - when I´ve not been doing radio.
 
I've been running a commercial photography business in the Baltimore Washington area for the past 13 years. Overall doing pretty well, especially nowadays considering the economic situation.

Education-wise, I have a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in Still Photography from Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA. Been into photography since I was 12.

It was interesting when I was in grad school, as most of my fellow classmates took up photography relatively late, and they all seemed to have undergrad degrees in other disciplines (Biology, English, etc). So I was the oddity because my background was primarily photography, though at Ryerson I took a lot of Psychology and Philosophy electives.

I like to think that 'formal' training helps you with your problem-solving skills, which is what much of commercial photography is, with a bit of creativity thrown in!
 
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My photography involves X Rays... I am a radiologist.
I like to think I recognize image quality, since I evaluated it daily.
That is why I will always be a Leica guy..
 
I am an art professor, but only an amateur photographer. I often am asked to give critique to grad and undergrad photography students, so it's part of my job to stay knowledgeable about contemporary fine art photography.
 
I'm a numismatic photographer. I photograph coins... not just pocket change but stuff that can be worth millions of dollars. My company is having me do more and more video lately. I'm wondering about other ways I can branch out over the course of my career.
 
This has turned out to be one of the more interesting and entertaining threads that I have read on RFF in a while. It is surprising to read about all of the ways one can make money from photography! It is truly amazing! I got into photography late in my life, I didn't pick up a camera till I was 26, but shortly after that I fell deeply in love with photography and it has been my first love ever since! Often to the displeasure and pleasure of my many girl friends!!!!!!!! (some are now patrons of mine now!) After 4 years at the Univ studying photography, art and philosphy, I took the deep plunge into the world of photography as PJ for the local weeklys and dailys. I did that full time for 8 years till it got too predicable and a little boring.
Never the less it was a great ride for 5 of the 8 years and the experiences ( I photographed presidents etc, super bowls, disasters, movie stars, murder scenes, you name it!) I wouldn't trade it for a millon bucks! OK maybe 2 miillion bucks!! Unfortunately PJ is often at the bottom of the photography PaY Poop heap. But I did support myself for eight years off of my earnings and I know a number of PJ's that support families off of what they take home, so contrary to some advice found here, it is possible. I had a blast, but it was time to moved on. After hanging up my PJ hat, I went back to my first photographic love- nature- landscapes, wildlife and travel, and I am learning how to make a living off of that, and for the time being it's only a part time gig, but some day I might take it full time again. It certainly is much more interesting than selling cameras for a living, plus the benefits are much better and so is the scenery! I wish you well in your quest on deciding which path to take with you education and life and please remember- there isn't a right path or wrong path to travel thru this wondrful experience we call life- only your path, and I suggest taking the path less traveled - Michael
 
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I am an architect. I learned how to use photography as a tool to create architecture in school. We would photograph building sites and put together Hockney-esque photo collages as a visual reference. After creating building models out of cardboard, we would photograph the models to help visualize the spaces within and the forms of the exterior. And as students, we would visit important buildings and photograph them to learn from the masters. I spent a summer driving around Europe visiting and photographing some of the greatest works of architecture. Up to today, whenever I travel, I seek out the finest buildings and photograph them.

Later on, I learned about other genres of photography such as Street and Portraiture and now enjoy practicing that type of work as well.
 
I am a test mule for cheap malaria drugs

When not in a fog from mixing apo mefoquine and star beer I have been known to snap a few
 
I was a photographer/writer during my army career in Germany in the 1960s. I photographed for the Public Information Office and the division newspaper. Later, I always moonlighted in photography while pursuing other, more dependable, employment. Still later, I was self-employed in two simultaneous fields, one of which was photography.

Now retired, I use internet stock to generate a little extra income.
 
It is sad, bu my aswer is "No". I did shoot a few portraits for one guy, but actually it was his friend who paid the expenses (basically one studio flash and some little stuff) so I do not take that as money I have made with photography.

But I would like to - and it is one of the driving forces (not the only one) to improve my photography. Would be nice to have a "mini-job" from time to time. But I would probably not consider to make it full time. Too far from nuclear physics ... 😉
 
I have my own art gallery selling mostly paintings and ceramics. I do however put a few of my own photographs on the wall. These are aimed at tourists , golden sunsets and pretty landscapes etc. it is like selling my soul to the devil but helps toward paying for the gear . ( I just sold another one as I was typing this)
A large part of my business is also as a picture framer. Recently I framed an exhibition for a group of students who are studying photography at the local art college, and to be honest , I was amazed at the appauling low standard of their work. I see better from our local amateur camera club.
 
I have my own art gallery selling mostly paintings and ceramics. I do however put a few of my own photographs on the wall. These are aimed at tourists , golden sunsets and pretty landscapes etc. it is like selling my soul to the devil but helps toward paying for the gear . ( I just sold another one as I was typing this)
A large part of my business is also as a picture framer. Recently I framed an exhibition for a group of students who are studying photography at the local art college, and to be honest , I was amazed at the appauling low standard of their work. I see better from our local amateur camera club.
 
Almost there....

Almost there....

I'm slowly making my way towards putting myself in the position of a
professional, but I cannot say I'm a photographer in profession,
as for today 🙁
I did have paid projects and sold some photographs, but these do not feed my family.

But I am, and continue to, work hard to getting there.
 
I've been a Failure Analyst since the early 1970's and most of the descriptive work is with a camera/lens combo and take anywhere from 2k - 5k photos a year. Sometimes the camera body is augmented with various Macro lenses or microscopes.
It continues to amaze me how well the old glass can perform when properly setup and matched to the problem area. An especially good performer is the Leica 60mm/2.8 Macro on my Panasonic Lumix body.
 
My first job out of technical school was in camera service at Olympus USA. I worked there for about a year.
Prior to working there I was an enthusiastic hobbyist, but for ten years after I lost interest in photography.

Chris
 
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