Hows good photography as a profession?

Question

Hows good photography as a profession?

Answer 1

If you are very good it might pay your bills.



I have been doing freelance for a number of years, and am considered good by my peers, but I still find that I have to work at it. I am not a good salesman.



A career in photography is as much about marketing as it is about taking photos. If you can sell yourself, and back it up, you should do o.k.



A good way to see how you will do is to take your best shots (and only the best) to a local coffee shop and ask if you can sell some of you images there. Put a couple in nice frames, hang them on the wall with your contact information on a business card, and then have some matted prints for sale near the cash register.



It is only a test, but you may get something out of it. A photo club that I belong to does this and we make a few dollars.



Personally, I have made a couple of hundred like this a year. It is easy to do and the shop owners don't mind the %-age they get.

Answer 2

It is a great profession. It is not one that will likely make you rich, though.



As others have pointed out, you do have to be very good. I would say that you do not have to be as good as they are implying, but you do have to be very good.



There are two main difficulties with being a professional photographer. The first is reputation. Most photography business is gained through word of mouth. If you are consistantly good, and get good exposure, then your reputation will grow. The downside is that if you screw up a job for a well connected client, your reputation will go down the drain real quick. Advertising is not used that much, because reputation is what makes the photographer's business.



The other difficulty is the fact that photography is an art, and running a business is a science. A lot of the best photographers are not good businessmen, so they are unsuccessful. Learning good business practices is often overlooked step in the becoming a successful photographer.



Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Not very. You have to be REAL good. I had a friend that took some of the most beautiful pictures I've ever seen. You know where he lived? On my couch!

Answer 4

Like any career in the creative fields, you have to be very, very good; very, very driven; and luck is still going to play a part in your success.