This is the first time I'm posting a topic. I'm kind of stuck and not sure where to go from here. I've been published in some magazines (most recently in Nature Photographer magazine. I had an article with an accompanying photograph). I've had some local shows and I will be having a show this fall. But where do I go from here? My goal is to quit my full time job and make enough money to help support my family. I've tried this before, however, I didn't have much success(my daughter was a little baby @ the time so I was more busy raising her). How do I break through the market further. I have the Photographers Market book, but I don't want to send out form letters. I've wanted this since I was twelve years old. Life is too short too waste it on a job that you're not happy with. Or worse yet, feel indifferent about. HELP!
Art Festivals They take a fair startup investment. It is not one thing in particular, but booth, materials, prints and all that adds up. If you have prints the public wants, you can do reasonably well.
Gallery shows. Most likely, the applications for next year's space are being handled now. Spend a couple of days talking to as many galleries as you can. Sales vary, but you'll get publicity.
More articles. More work, but provides an outlet for some of your work and gets publicity. Can you put together a 20 image picture package on *****? Good. Write an article, figure out where to send it to, then start sending query letters.
Shoot something other than nature. Sorry, this field is extremely crowded with talent. Other fields will expand your potential market.
Stock. Start looking at the options here.
Photographer's Market. You do have a copy of this book, don't you? (Okay, I see you do, but it never hurts to remind other readers)
Advertise. Could you see interior designers buying your work for thier clients? Tough to do well, but if you can find the right client base, it is an income source.
Teach. Any community colleges looking for staff.
Assist. Are there smaller photographers/businesses you can assist for? A wedding photographer assistant might get you enough expereince to go off on your own.
Camera clubs. They are a good source of contacts and feedback.
Nonstandard markets. What does that mean to you and your work? Go for it.
Marketing/small business classes. Not knowing your background, as a general rule, photographers are horrible businessmen. You may not get photographic help, but you are planning to run a business.
Work your butt off. Work your butt off. Work your butt off. Work your butt off. Work your butt offf. Sorry, there is no tackful way of emphasizing this. Whatever direction you go, it will take an immense amount of work to do this. It can be done, but you are going to have to sacrifice something.
Posted by Richard Wong on July 20, 2007 at 2:28 AM
Dan has some great advice. I particularly would emphasize the shoot something else in addition to nature if you want to make money and learn to love it.
Commercial photography like weddings and portraiture is probably the quickest way to make money if you are good at it. I get several inquiries per month regarding those types of gigs just from people stumbling into my website. Some of the weddings are located in very interesting locations as well. Perhaps you could leverage your time at those locations into adding to your stock collection. I'm certainly entertaining the thought at least for myself.
In large measure it's a "momentum" thing, or visibility if you would rather say it that way. It simply takes time to get recognized and build the business to the point that it is not only self-supporting, but also supporting your family. In that environment, it's important to keep your perpsective and not get frustrated when the goal doesn't come fast enough. Most businesses would be delighted with an annual growth rate of 10%. Consider fluctuations in either direction, too. We started our business long before we left our regular jobs, eventually growing to the point that continuing in those jobs was hurting the business. It was an easy decision to make at that point.
There's also some cold-hearted decisions to make, at least cold-hearted in the true business sense of where best to put your effort. Some venues are saturated with photos and photographers, while others are comparatively ripe for the pickings. It's a question of whether you want to restrict yourself to only doing the things you like best or take up other camera pursuits that are less interesting but pay better. For example, I could give a fig about running a portrait studio, but thankfully my wife loves it. I'm thankful because it's a consistent moneymaker when you do it right. I'm more interested in industrial and location shooting than she is, so when those sectors of the market are up I'm making major contributions.
We've been very careful in developing our business plan (and there's the magic phrase). We're involved in lots of sectors of the photography business, and their relative income fluctuates from year to year. We've manage do exceed that 10% per year growth rate, but we've done it by remaining flexible.
And speaking of things like making a living and business plans, don't forget to think about the very long term: i.e., retirement funds, eventually selling your business, investing in real estate for the business, etc. It's only going to provide a living if you help it grow, but the "living" has to mean more than simply meeting todays household and business expenses.
This is my dilemma also... and some of my reason for lack of motivation. Which direction to go! Answer... several! The business plan, what a bummer to think about, but so very necessary.
I thank you all for such great answers to Amanda's question
Discussion
4 repliesThis is the first time I'm posting a topic. I'm kind of stuck and not sure where to go from here. I've been published in some magazines (most recently in Nature Photographer magazine. I had an article with an accompanying photograph). I've had some local shows and I will be having a show this fall. But where do I go from here? My goal is to quit my full time job and make enough money to help support my family. I've tried this before, however, I didn't have much success(my daughter was a little baby @ the time so I was more busy raising her). How do I break through the market further. I have the Photographers Market book, but I don't want to send out form letters. I've wanted this since I was twelve years old. Life is too short too waste it on a job that you're not happy with. Or worse yet, feel indifferent about. HELP!
Art Festivals They take a fair startup investment. It is not one thing in particular, but booth, materials, prints and all that adds up. If you have prints the public wants, you can do reasonably well.
Gallery shows. Most likely, the applications for next year's space are being handled now. Spend a couple of days talking to as many galleries as you can. Sales vary, but you'll get publicity.
More articles. More work, but provides an outlet for some of your work and gets publicity. Can you put together a 20 image picture package on *****? Good. Write an article, figure out where to send it to, then start sending query letters.
Shoot something other than nature. Sorry, this field is extremely crowded with talent. Other fields will expand your potential market.
Stock. Start looking at the options here.
Photographer's Market. You do have a copy of this book, don't you? (Okay, I see you do, but it never hurts to remind other readers)
Advertise. Could you see interior designers buying your work for thier clients? Tough to do well, but if you can find the right client base, it is an income source.
Teach. Any community colleges looking for staff.
Assist. Are there smaller photographers/businesses you can assist for? A wedding photographer assistant might get you enough expereince to go off on your own.
Camera clubs. They are a good source of contacts and feedback.
Nonstandard markets. What does that mean to you and your work? Go for it.
Marketing/small business classes. Not knowing your background, as a general rule, photographers are horrible businessmen. You may not get photographic help, but you are planning to run a business.
Work your butt off. Work your butt off. Work your butt off. Work your butt off. Work your butt offf. Sorry, there is no tackful way of emphasizing this. Whatever direction you go, it will take an immense amount of work to do this. It can be done, but you are going to have to sacrifice something.
Commercial photography like weddings and portraiture is probably the quickest way to make money if you are good at it. I get several inquiries per month regarding those types of gigs just from people stumbling into my website. Some of the weddings are located in very interesting locations as well. Perhaps you could leverage your time at those locations into adding to your stock collection. I'm certainly entertaining the thought at least for myself.
There's also some cold-hearted decisions to make, at least cold-hearted in the true business sense of where best to put your effort. Some venues are saturated with photos and photographers, while others are comparatively ripe for the pickings. It's a question of whether you want to restrict yourself to only doing the things you like best or take up other camera pursuits that are less interesting but pay better. For example, I could give a fig about running a portrait studio, but thankfully my wife loves it. I'm thankful because it's a consistent moneymaker when you do it right. I'm more interested in industrial and location shooting than she is, so when those sectors of the market are up I'm making major contributions.
We've been very careful in developing our business plan (and there's the magic phrase). We're involved in lots of sectors of the photography business, and their relative income fluctuates from year to year. We've manage do exceed that 10% per year growth rate, but we've done it by remaining flexible.
And speaking of things like making a living and business plans, don't forget to think about the very long term: i.e., retirement funds, eventually selling your business, investing in real estate for the business, etc. It's only going to provide a living if you help it grow, but the "living" has to mean more than simply meeting todays household and business expenses.
I thank you all for such great answers to Amanda's question