2012 - Are you throwing in the towel?

[bigtwinky]

I'm digging a different niche than the typical wedding and portraits. Been working on it for over a year, networking and all that crap. I had started doing weddings, assisted a few times, first shot a few times. Did the maternity portraits, family portraits. But as mentioned, it was getting annoying to compete with craiglists photographers. So I decided to take what I was passionate about in photography and try and flip that into something viable. Music photography.

Working mainly in the entertainment field, doing live shows for bands and then trying to switch that up to portraits and CD covers type of thing. Throw in some event photography when they have after parties, and then the hook ups they give you with friends, fans and family for more work during normal people hours haha.

And if you wonder if you get paid? Live shows a little less than portraits and CD /website art. Legal issues are a huge thing and you need to be rock solid on usage rights. But they pay is there.
And before you ask, no, this is not my full time job yet. While I'm in the networking and building phase, I have the luxury of a full time job during the day and music shoots at night. Sure, means 18 hours and no social life, but do-able.

 

[unpopular]

Name me one other legitimate profession in which someone with no talent, no education, no experience, and no abilities can legally call themselves a "Professional".

Graphic and web design. You think photography is bad? At least there is a start up cost that keeps potential posers out. With web and graphics, all you need is an internet connection a 16gigs worth if one time bandwidth.

At a printshop I worked at one of these "graphic artist" would send in files for two color, the problem is their were literally a half dozen colors, some in RGB, others in CMYK and never in spot.

He would literally make a new swatch every time he wanted a shade of the same color.

 

[nickzou]

Name me one other legitimate profession in which someone with no talent, no education, no experience, and no abilities can legally call themselves a "Professional".

Graphic and web design. You think photography is bad? At least there is a start up cost that keeps potential posers out. With web and graphics, all you need is an internet connection a 16gigs worth if one time bandwidth.

At a printshop I worked at one of these "graphic artist" would send in files for two color, the problem is their were literally a half dozen colors, some in RGB, others in CMYK and never in spot.

He would literally make a new swatch every time he wanted a shade of the same color.

Let me guess he does sent the file as a PDF, he doesn't design with print in mind so he uses RGB colours, and he doesn't know how to set up bleeds.

 

[Josh66]

Name me one other legitimate profession in which someone with no talent, no education, no experience, and no abilities can legally call themselves a "Professional".

Basically any profession that has to tack "Professional" onto the beginning of the title to tell you that they're serious.

You don't go to a "Professional" Doctor, do you?

 

[unpopular]

Graphic and web design. You think photography is bad? At least there is a start up cost that keeps potential posers out. With web and graphics, all you need is an internet connection a 16gigs worth if one time bandwidth.

At a printshop I worked at one of these "graphic artist" would send in files for two color, the problem is their were literally a half dozen colors, some in RGB, others in CMYK and never in spot.

He would literally make a new swatch every time he wanted a shade of the same color.

Let me guess he does sent the file as a PDF, he doesn't design with print in mind so he uses RGB colours, and he doesn't know how to set up bleeds.

Nope. AI files created with Corel Draw, of course!

I got plenty of bad PDFs ... the worst were created from Microsoft Publish. That program is a disaster.

 

[e.rose]

Sure, means 18 hours and no social life, but do-able.

Psh. Our late night Facebook chats about paint fumes and the definition of art is all the social life you need.

DUH! :lmao:

 

[Redbaron]

Professional = paid, plain and simple. I used to be a professional butcher, since I was paid for it. These days with a fancy website (easy if you know how), and a few grand on a dslr and lenses and you can become a "professional" photographer. Even 10-20 grand on equipment is cheap compared to most self employed business models. Easy to do it from home as well.

"Professional" implies you are good at it, too - but guarantees nothing. We all like taking photos, else we wouldn't be here (on this forum). Someone gets stuck right into it, takes themselves as being gifted or talented, so runs an ad in the local paper.... Gets a few calls because he or she doesn't charge a lot. The ball is rolling and the GOOD 'togs, get less calls...

 

[rub]

Yes, the influx of new "professionals" has changed the industry. I know this because I was one. I am not any more, because I've worked my ass off. I watch all the time as new businesses open around me.

So for me, and actually for many around me, 2012 is representing a year of big change. And we are not closing our doors, we are opening them. Three new studios in the area, 2 new partnership boutique style businesses. And everyone with big price jumps. And we are BUSY.

Just because some (ok, many) people will settle for pretty much anyone with a DSLR to take their picture, it doesn't mean everyone will.

With targeted marketing, branding, quality products and amazing service, you can build a business model that can support you financially and fulfill you personally. I think for some professionals, the issue is less about being undercut by anyone with a camera, and more about not being able to adapt to a changing environment.

Do the craigslist photographers affect our business, sure they do, but just means we can find better clients, offer a better experience, deliver a better product. I think this is a year where the true professionals can prove just that. Whether they have been in business for 2 years or 20, they can make waves and show clients just what being a professional really is.

 

[SCraig]

Basically any profession that has to tack "Professional" onto the beginning of the title to tell you that they're serious.

You don't go to a "Professional" Doctor, do you?

No, but I do work in an office with a bunch of "Professional Engineers".

 

[Josh66]

Basically any profession that has to tack "Professional" onto the beginning of the title to tell you that they're serious.

You don't go to a "Professional" Doctor, do you?

No, but I do work in an office with a bunch of "Professional Engineers".

The engineers I work with just call themselves "Engineers".

 

[BlairWright]

Do the craigslist photographers affect our business, sure they do, but just means we can find better clients, offer a better experience, deliver a better product. I think this is a year where the true professionals can prove just that. Whether they have been in business for 2 years or 20, they can make waves and show clients just what being a professional really is.

If someone is looking for a photographer on Craigslist I doubt they have the money to spend to pay an experienced photographer. I do not consider Craigslist photographers a threat because those are not the clients I am looking for in the first place.

There has always been a secondary market for cheap photographers, they are just much easier to find now due to the internet. If you are experienced and have a good product the FB and CL photographers should not be a threat to you.

-B

 

[mjhoward]

Basically any profession that has to tack "Professional" onto the beginning of the title to tell you that they're serious.

You don't go to a "Professional" Doctor, do you?

No, but I do work in an office with a bunch of "Professional Engineers".

The engineers I work with just call themselves "Engineers".

There are 'Engineers' that have taken and passed the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam. Then there are 'Professional Engineers' that have taken and passed the much more extensive PE (Professional Engineer) exam. This is similar to a certification that some professions get or even a lawyer passing the Bar exam.

 

[o hey tyler]

I'm not throwing in the towel, I'm using it to dry off.

 

[Robin Usagani]

I am about to wash my Schwetty towel.

 

[unpopular]

I have to agree: professional means you're getting paid for it.

Buck up and compete. You can't blame these startups because you don't understand your market.