Story: The 10 Things All Staff Photographers Must Do Right Now

[bmattock]

http://tiny.cc/aqFty

Thought you might find this useful:

During the last few days of 2009, the Washington Times unexpectedly eliminated all nine of their staff photographer positions. The news spread fast and furious throughout the photo community. Photographers who were still fortunate enough to maintain a staff position somewhere got another wake-up call - they could be next.

With all the layoffs we've seen in the industry in the past few years, what surprises me most, however, is how common it is for a staff photographer to be "surprised" with the news of their own layoff. They are very often leaving themselves totally unprepared for life as a freelancer.

"The staff photographer who believes he will have a job in 10 years is kidding himself," says John Harrington in his book "Best Business Practices for Photographers".

The writing is very clearly on the wall, so I thought I'd ask Harrington, a freelance photographer, blogger and author, to help me come up with a list of things that photographers (both staff, and former staff) should be doing immediately.

Click on the link above to read the story.

 

[BillBingham2]

Great points that go for EVERY profession these days.

Thanks Bill!

B2 (;->

 

[amateriat]

My most recent copy of BusinessWeek (which itself recently–finally–changed hands, from McGraw-Hill to Bloomberg Media) has a cover story about "The Permanent Temporary Workforce", which constitutes 26% of the US labor force. This is hitting a lot of fields, not just staff PJs. (And they'll be merely the first to go.)

As far as the Washington Times is concerned, I give the whole shootin' match three years before they vaporize.


- Barrett

 

[Chris101]

I was asked yesterday by a professional photographer: "Does everything have to be about making money?"

Guess not.

 

[nikon_sam]

Good advice...all of it...and it does apply to just about everyone...
The days of Job Security and Loyality are gone...unless you are your own boss any day can be your last...
Denial is not your best friend...read the writing on the walls and don't hid your head in the sand...

 

[amateriat]

I was asked yesterday by a professional photographer: "Does everything have to be about making money?"

Guess not.

Of course not. Ask any airline executive...


- Barrett

 

[Paul T.]

Spookily true.

The one thing he didn't mention is making sure you get involved in a project that runs well beyond the financial year. That's crucial!

In the UK, budgets run April to end of March, usually. They'll identify the victim/s around November (I know this, having been both executioner and executed) and want them out the door by April in order for each division to get the savings into that year's accounts, ready for that year's financial report. They have minimal flexibility. When I had one launch nixed in September, and knew I was a dead man walking, I made sure I had another project that hit deadline next July. When the time came, they wanted me out the door by April, purely to get the savings on this year's budgets; I got a bonus to work independently until July which paid off a big chunk of the mortgage.

I've had five years of freelance, wonderful ones where I walk my son to school every morning, and roughly a year's worth of work in the can. After that, who knows? But our parents' generation had it worse.

FWIW, it's often worse for those who are left behind, with no clue how to grow their business, salami-slicing it into oblivion.

Edit: And of course, point Number 12 should be "learn how to work efficiently and not waste time on Internet Fora, the evil temptation that lures the innocent freelance...

 

[oftheherd]

Scary to think about. I am fortunate in that I work at a Govt job in an agency that at least used to lay off based on those with the least time going first. That has changed some, but since I already have one pension, and can claim social security any time I want, I won't starve. I probably wouldn't live as well as I do now, but I won't starve. I can deal with that.

For others, I feel sorry. I hope the economy ramps up soon. Sadly, even so, we have the new business paridigm which says immediate profit, even at the expense of the future of the company, is the best policy. Sad.

 

[newspaperguy]

Thanks Bill, for a very timely (and apt) post.