Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
... it becomes far more rewarding and interesting.
Just my personal experience ... how do others feel?
Just my personal experience ... how do others feel?
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
The most boring photography job still beats the hell out of working for $8 an hour at Walmart, which is the only 'real job' available in Indiana anymore. Even if better paying jobs were available here, I'd still rather earn my living doing creative work like photography and graphic design.
roboflick
Well-known
I love photography as a hobby, personally I would hate it if I had to perform it professionally
Nik
Nik
farlymac
PF McFarland
Oh man, give me a studio, and some lights, and I'd work like crazy. Of course, I'd have to do the occasional location shoot just to knock the dust off.
PF
PF
back alley
IMAGES
i don't agree.
i love photography and when i take a good shot it means the same to me if it was a commission or not.
when paid for it there usually is a customer involved which means there will be personal feedback...that's a big difference from shooting for myself where there might be no outside feedback.
either way...it's best when i am pleased.
i love photography and when i take a good shot it means the same to me if it was a commission or not.
when paid for it there usually is a customer involved which means there will be personal feedback...that's a big difference from shooting for myself where there might be no outside feedback.
either way...it's best when i am pleased.
Johnmcd
Well-known
Just the opposite for me Keith.
As a young fireman I shot weddings for friends to make ends meet (and security work). I took B/W and colour in 120 and 35. I processed and printed the B/W's and had the colour done at the lab. I was a nervous wreck until I had the B/W negs hanging up to dry. And then many hours in the home darkroom.
I was soon asked by the lab to shoot some weddings for them. They would throw seven rolls of 35mm colour neg at me and give me an address. It was a budget shoot but that's all the money many people had. Every shot had to count because they promised them 7 x 36 photos. And despite them not paying much, they all expected the world! It KILLED personal photography for me for many years. But I did it to make ends meet.
It was many years after, that photography became a big part of my life and it was when I could take photos solely for pleasure.
I love great feedback from people when I take a photo they enjoy of themselves or friends. But I took the photo because I wanted too and the way I wanted too.
As a young fireman I shot weddings for friends to make ends meet (and security work). I took B/W and colour in 120 and 35. I processed and printed the B/W's and had the colour done at the lab. I was a nervous wreck until I had the B/W negs hanging up to dry. And then many hours in the home darkroom.
I was soon asked by the lab to shoot some weddings for them. They would throw seven rolls of 35mm colour neg at me and give me an address. It was a budget shoot but that's all the money many people had. Every shot had to count because they promised them 7 x 36 photos. And despite them not paying much, they all expected the world! It KILLED personal photography for me for many years. But I did it to make ends meet.
It was many years after, that photography became a big part of my life and it was when I could take photos solely for pleasure.
I love great feedback from people when I take a photo they enjoy of themselves or friends. But I took the photo because I wanted too and the way I wanted too.
benmacphoto
Well-known
I personally love my job as a photographer.
It has been the most rewarding work.
Even though it's simple studio shots of cigars for a retailers website.
My other photography job is working on instructional "how to videos" and still images for Siemens medical equipment.
Freelancing keeps things interesting and new.
It has been the most rewarding work.
Even though it's simple studio shots of cigars for a retailers website.
My other photography job is working on instructional "how to videos" and still images for Siemens medical equipment.
Freelancing keeps things interesting and new.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
That's interesting! I seem to remember RFFer darkhorse, who we haven't heard from for a while, photographs coins for a living.
jarski
Veteran
havent done photography for work, but my guess is that schedules, bosses/clients and financial concerns can make photogs life nightmare on some days. so its like any other work.
benmacphoto
Well-known
I remember seeing post about the coin photography.
The cigar work is interesting.
Theres always new products coming in to photograph.
And with some of the unique box designs I can get creative with my work.
gfeucht
Member
"Turning your passion into your career is like turning your sweetheart into your wife."
Roger Hicks
Veteran
More fun? Less fun? Can't tell: I've been doing it too long. There are however two important points. One is that just about any job involves doing some things you don't like. The other is that you change as you get older, and enjoy some aspects of things more, and some aspects less.
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
grantb
Established
I'm not a pro, but sometimes I play one on the weekends. I have to shoot food for a fancy dessert restaurant tomorrow.
Of course someone has to taste it all after it's been photographed.
Yeah work sucks.
Sheeps Milk Cheesecake by grantb photos, on Flickr
Of course someone has to taste it all after it's been photographed.
Yeah work sucks.
Sheeps Milk Cheesecake by grantb photos, on Flickr
Contarama
Well-known
I'm still learning Keith and it is hard work learning but it is still interesting and rewarding to me. Now if I were to make some money from it that would be a helluva deal but fortunately that is not a requirement for me to practice photography and if it was I'd starve to death.
zwarte_kat
Well-known
Yep
Yep
After starting doing pro work, I quickly realized this danger. The same thing had happend to me with video, which is why I had started with photography in the first place.
I think the key is to properly separate them in your head. For my work it is about efficiency. Getting what the client want quickly, not caring so much about my creative fulfillment. This give you more energy when doing your private work.
But even at work I pick out little pet projects and give them more attention. Projects where is client gives me more freedom, or with an interesting subject.
Actually, after getting a bit tired of product photography, I explained it to a colleague, and now he is doing all the repetitive stuff for me, while I focus on the more challenging parts. Much better!
Yep
After starting doing pro work, I quickly realized this danger. The same thing had happend to me with video, which is why I had started with photography in the first place.
I think the key is to properly separate them in your head. For my work it is about efficiency. Getting what the client want quickly, not caring so much about my creative fulfillment. This give you more energy when doing your private work.
But even at work I pick out little pet projects and give them more attention. Projects where is client gives me more freedom, or with an interesting subject.
Actually, after getting a bit tired of product photography, I explained it to a colleague, and now he is doing all the repetitive stuff for me, while I focus on the more challenging parts. Much better!
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Interesting thread. I'm in the process of re-inventing myself professionally after losing/leaving a teaching job and would like to work as a photographer/photography teacher in the future.
Some of these stories make me aware of do's and don'ts and that is most welcome!
Some of these stories make me aware of do's and don'ts and that is most welcome!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
ricnak
Well-known
great first post!
l
Turtle
Veteran
I find it no different really. While the need to do something (for work) can bring unexpected creative opportunities, personal work gives you more choice. I find myself satisfied in proportion to how good the work is and I can't find the pattern really. Time to think and enjoy creative thinking is probably the key factor and it applies to personal as well as 'work' work.
Murchu
Well-known
Depends. Where photographing directly for someone else, you are ultimately a paid illustrator I find. Am sure it can be enjoyable in ways, but would never be as satifying for me, as shooting for yourself.
Doing what you want, and selling prints/ images to customers, would be far more satisfying to me I can imagine, where I would be able to shoot my way, and effectively seperate the photography from the work part of selling. Just as long as you do not look or take it to heart, comparing the quality of the images, versus how popular they are, as your earners will frequently not be the best images you sell.
Doing what you want, and selling prints/ images to customers, would be far more satisfying to me I can imagine, where I would be able to shoot my way, and effectively seperate the photography from the work part of selling. Just as long as you do not look or take it to heart, comparing the quality of the images, versus how popular they are, as your earners will frequently not be the best images you sell.