For those beginners who charge $$$'s

[mrstravis]

Good read, I emailed it to myself for future reference. Lol

 

[eUgalde13]

It’s ok. Breathe. *Get your photos critiqued by somebody you trust that will give you an honest assessment of your work. *Remember: don’t cry.

My favorite haha

 

[Ronaldo]

The market determines who is a professional, period. There is no minimum knowledge/experience base needed to be a professional photographer. If you can charge for your work (without misrepresenting it), go for it. Simple as that.

 

[VegasPhotoNut]

I have literally been practicing photography and becoming more en-grained in it for 3 months. This seems like a lot of common sense. I'm constantly on this website and others reading, looking, and thinking about photography. I know a few things about life, for the most part, to be good at anything you have to practice and study. I know that i have numerous years of this to even begin to think that i would be able to charge someone for taking their photo. It really has never even crossed my mind. I enjoy learning, its such an amazing hobby because it inspires me to get out and see more of my city, and go hiking. I find myself constantly saying, wow that would be a good photo. This was a great read! Thanks poster!

 

[doubleoh7]

Sorry I'm going with Ronaldo on this one - I very rarely speak out on this forum, because I've seen way too many cynics and flamers. Just like any service (i.e. landscaping, car washing, carpentry, building custom homes) the market (the people you are selling your service to) are who determines who gets the work. If you have gone "pro" that is a choice you made for a reason, and if your market fades, that should be how you determine your skills worth. If it grows, you started at the right time. Many of us have turned a hobby in to a way to make extra cash, and then ultimately a full time business. If you were a cyclist, that was told you were a fast rider, wouldn't you consider a career out of it? If you could get paid for doing what you already enjoy why would you pass it up, even on a small scale. What I really think is going on with threads like this is that there are some Real Professionals, that don't want their market flooded with "craigslist" photographers (a term I've seen on this forum way too often). But the fact of the matter is, if you are already a "Professional" then you aren't looking on Craigslist for business and it shouldn't matter. It would be nice for once to see someone encourage another person wishing to become a "pro" on this forum, rather than slamming their ideas and telling them to go back to the drawing board. Rant over -

 

[vtf]

I am so disappointed that train tracks is so yesterday, I had a slew of them lined up....I'll just go to my back up...Damn, no single chairs in fields, what if I sc the chair? Damn that too.
Keith, way too much weight on my shoulders now.:er:

 

[Jeatley]

I think you took that a little over board double. Do you think anyone should call themselves a pro photographer if they dont know anything about photography? If you don't know what shutter speed is and how to use it. If you have never used or dont understand off camera flash. If you can not tell the difference between a canvas print and a regular. IF you have no clue how to charge people? If you dont know to pay taxes or operate a business. I think all this was trying to say is that if you want to run a photo business then do it but do it right!

I think you saw this as a negitive thing but I read it as a positive. Tell new photographers to slow down and think about the big picture before jumping in and drowning

 

[Jeatley]

Wait VTF~~~ If we call it RETRO Tracks that should bring it all back into style! Retro is cool right now!

 

[Vtec44]

.Damn, no single chairs in fields, what if I sc the chair? Damn that too.

The article didn't mention anything about step ladders. ah ha!!

 

[vtf]

Wait VTF~~~ If we call it RETRO Tracks that should bring it all back into style! Retro is cool right now!

And if we selectively color the tracks, the rest b&w even more retro. I believe we are back on track. pun intended. Thanks Jeatley.


Seriously, has anyone visited sites of craigslist photographers, I swear I have not found one that does not have a railroad track image.

 

[Ronaldo]

I think you took that a little over board double. Do you think anyone should call themselves a pro photographer if they dont know anything about photography? If you don't know what shutter speed is and how to use it. If you have never used or dont understand off camera flash. If you can not tell the difference between a canvas print and a regular. IF you have no clue how to charge people? If you dont know to pay taxes or operate a business. I think all this was trying to say is that if you want to run a photo business then do it but do it right!

I think you saw this as a negitive thing but I read it as a positive. Tell new photographers to slow down and think about the big picture before jumping in and drowning

Nonsense.

What if someone answers yes to all your questions, can they then be called a pro? Sorry, the answer is no. And you can make that list as long as you want.

A photographer becomes a pro when someone decides to pay for the service. Period.

If you, or any other individual person, wants to wait until some arbitrary level of skill and/or experience is achieved before charging - - you are free to do that. Wait as long as you want.

 

[Jeatley]

I did a track shot for a guy that was making a music CD. That is what he and his "Producer" wanted.

Here is my post for RETRO TRACKS

 

[Jeatley]

I think you took that a little over board double. Do you think anyone should call themselves a pro photographer if they dont know anything about photography? If you don't know what shutter speed is and how to use it. If you have never used or dont understand off camera flash. If you can not tell the difference between a canvas print and a regular. IF you have no clue how to charge people? If you dont know to pay taxes or operate a business. I think all this was trying to say is that if you want to run a photo business then do it but do it right!

I think you saw this as a negitive thing but I read it as a positive. Tell new photographers to slow down and think about the big picture before jumping in and drowning

And if you come out knowing nothing, What will happen. You will fail and the public will know. You need to know more than just to press a button to consider yourself a pro. So let me ask you! I can shoot a gun, Guess I can walk out and be a cop?

I can drive a car, Guess tomorrow I will be in NASCAR?

WAIT Let me ask this. If some one paid me 25$ bucks to cook them dinner? Does that make me a CHEF? Just because someone is paying you to do something does not MAKE YOU A PRO!

 

[Ronaldo]

I think you took that a little over board double. Do you think anyone should call themselves a pro photographer if they dont know anything about photography? If you don't know what shutter speed is and how to use it. If you have never used or dont understand off camera flash. If you can not tell the difference between a canvas print and a regular. IF you have no clue how to charge people? If you dont know to pay taxes or operate a business. I think all this was trying to say is that if you want to run a photo business then do it but do it right!

I think you saw this as a negitive thing but I read it as a positive. Tell new photographers to slow down and think about the big picture before jumping in and drowning

And if you come out knowing nothing, What will happen. You will fail and the public will know. You need to know more than just to press a button to consider yourself a pro. So let me ask you! I can shoot a gun, Guess I can walk out and be a cop?

I can drive a car, Guess tomorrow I will be in NASCAR?

WAIT Let me ask this. If some one paid me 25$ bucks to cook them dinner? Does that make me a CHEF? Just because someone is paying you to do something does not MAKE YOU A PRO!

Cops and drivers are licensed by the state, with specific requirements. You can't see the difference between that and charging for photography?

And yes, if someone pays you for something (in a free market) you are then a pro (or at least semi-pro). Pretty simple, actually.

Listening to /reading about "photographers" complaining about newbies entering their field is really something. . .

 

[Virtuosos]

If you are going to shoot kids...then shoot kids (with a camera).


Best part


Good read btw, enjoyed it =)