I just need to VENT!

[kathyt]

The good news is that there are always people getting married, having kids and graduating so there is an endless supply of customers.

And the divorce rate is high, so then maybe they will get married again! See.....light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[minicoop1985]

Wait, I think I found a niche-DIVORCE PHOTOS! Divorces are horrible, so taking horrible photos would fit! YES!

 

[Designer]

Wait, I think I found a niche-DIVORCE PHOTOS! Divorces are horrible, so taking horrible photos would fit! YES!

Let's make it pro-active! Take wedding pictures, and print them on perforated paper. Future split will make it SO EASY to tear the photo right down the middle neatly. GENIUS!

 

[robbins.photo]

Wait, I think I found a niche-DIVORCE PHOTOS! Divorces are horrible, so taking horrible photos would fit! YES!

Genius. Complete and total genius. I can see it now - the unhappy couple sitting facing away from each other and scowling. A shot of the wedding ring at the bottom of a toilet bowl. A shot of all the husband's fishing gear/favorite hobby stuff sitting on the curb with a sign that says "Free to a good home" hanging on it..

Oh ya, endless possibilities. Lol

 

[imagemaker46]

I didn't read though all the responses as I've heard all of this before, and as much as I understand the frustration of how every Tom, Dick and Harry with a camera wants to be a photographer. I've been a professional photographer for over 35 years and can honestly say that not only every Tom, Dick and Harry with a camera wants, and thinks they can be a photographer, so do pretty much every other name you could possibly come up with is there as well.

It won't get easier. Just learn to be better.

 

[manaheim]

So you... a year into being a photographer... have the audacity to complain about other people daring to break into the industry?

Seriously?

 

[JacaRanda]

I think you are learning a vent is never just a vent. Not when you want or have an audience.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Steve5D]

So you... a year into being a photographer... have the audacity to complain about other people daring to break into the industry?

Seriously?

Well, yeah, then there's that...

 

[kathyt]

Wait, I think I found a niche-DIVORCE PHOTOS! Divorces are horrible, so taking horrible photos would fit! YES!

I have already tapped this market!

 

[kathyt]

Wait, I think I found a niche-DIVORCE PHOTOS! Divorces are horrible, so taking horrible photos would fit! YES!

Genius. Complete and total genius. I can see it now - the unhappy couple sitting facing away from each other and scowling. A shot of the wedding ring at the bottom of a toilet bowl. A shot of all the husband's fishing gear/favorite hobby stuff sitting on the curb with a sign that says "Free to a good home" hanging on it..

Oh ya, endless possibilities. Lol

And the ex-wife sitting on the opposite side with all of the money leaving him dead a** broke! Oh and getting ready to drive off in her new BMW!

 

[IByte]

VENTING:

Not sure if this fits the "Photographic Discussions" thread but I really just want to vent to others who will understand where I am coming from.
I started my own photography business doing mostly family portraits about a year ago in the hopes that I may one day evolve into a wedding photographer. I come from a super teeny tiny town where everyone knows everyone and after I "started up shop" lots of people I grew up were very interested in giving me a go and letting me use their children and families for practice. Now, almost a year later, I feel confidant in my work. I am charging for my work, I feel like my business has made great strides considering I have never had any formal training and self taught everything to myself. Pouring hours and hours everyday starting at early morning, ending at late in the evening studying other photographer's work, tutorials, lens education, filters, ISO, full-framed bodies, lighting, off flash techniques, ect, ect, blah, blah, blah. I joined this forum to learn even more and get "real" insight from top notch pros. I'm still learning, I'm still improving (I hope I'm improving!) and do not by any means stick myself above anyone else work wise. I am newbie and will be a newbie in any other photographer's eyes until I've saddled 10 years of experience and have a glowing portfolio full of flawless work, however, now that my work has become more than just "popular" in my community I feel like every and anyone I went to high school with in this teeny tiny town wants to be a PHOTOGRAPHER! SO AGGRAVATING!! Not that I don't want someone to appreciate this art form, or use it as an expressive outlet or growing hobby, but DAMN! RIGHT WHEN I FINALLY FIND MY OWN "GROOVE" WHERE I BELONG EVERY TOM, DICK & HARRY PICKS UP A CAMERA!! I'm sure this seems childish but seeing as I come from such a teeny tiny town, I can't vent my frustration without fearing my name will be slandered for "unprofessional-ism" throughout the area. It just really sucks when I finally find something I truly enjoy and right when I start pulling in big gigs like charity pageants and weddings, it's like these people on facebook see it and think, "Oh! Well if she can do it, so can I!" without having a single artistic bone in their body. Now I am left to compete with people who are charging 1/3 of my fees (and I'm not pulling a hefty price-tag either, in fact I'm on the low end in this category) who don't know the first thing about running a business!
UGHH.
Again, sorry if this didn't fit the topic forum. I just needed to type this sh** out and let loose. I'm keeping a smile pasted on when I see them in person (so far there are FIVE people I know from school that have come out of the woods with this bs in the last year!) and are congratulating them for "opening a business" to save face and appear gracefully unchallenged, but man I am pissed.

That's why if you're good at something...never do it for free

-Joker

 

[runnah]

And the ex-wife sitting on the opposite side with all of the money leaving him dead a** broke! Oh and getting ready to drive off in her new BMW!

I skipped the middle part and just bought a house for a woman I hate.

 

[IByte]

Hi, Amber! I think I understand completely. Bear in mind that photography is very popular, and for some folks to want to earn money at it seems like a natural progression. After all, you did.

Now the only advice I can offer at his time is to simply be better than the others. Visibly, obviously better. Then you won't have to say or do anything if people can see that you are truly talented.

BTW: How good are you?

Lol thank god I chose bash language with a side of physics as my passion lol.

No worries Amber, take it as a sign of flattery that they want to follow in your foot steps...enjoy the love

 

[kathyt]

And the ex-wife sitting on the opposite side with all of the money leaving him dead a** broke! Oh and getting ready to drive off in her new BMW!

I skipped the middle part and just bought a house for a woman I hate.

What is the middle part?

 

[IByte]

You know, you may take offense to what he said, but you'd damn well better take heed, too. If he's not seeing anything spectacular, maybe the people you're complaining about didn't either, and saw no reason to sit back while you improved. You, by your own admission, are "still producing amateur work at times". Well, let me give you a piece of advice: STOP IT. If you're producing amateur stuff, stop producing amateur stuff. You say you're charging for your work. Do you charge for the amateurish stuff, too? I think it's pretty ridiculous to complain about others charging for their work when you're not able to produce the professional results your clients will demand time every single time.

You have to do that; it's part of being a professional.

If you only nail it 80% of the time, you're never going to make it in this business. You can't go around saying you're not the best photographer out there. You need to let others prove that you're not. Make someone else step up their game instead of engaging in this self deprecation thing you've got going. Be unabashed about your talents and your work. If someone wants to know who the best portrait photographer in town is, you'd damn well better be saying "I AM!". If you say anything else, then you've only yourself to blame when you lose the gig.

I don't know how old you are, but I get the sense that you're young. One thing you should learn is that there's little time for humility when it comes to trying to land a client. They came to you. It's your job to keep them, and the way to do that isn't by saying "I'm not the best" or "I can't get pro results every time".

Bottom line? Stop worrying about everyone else. Do what you do, the way you want to do it, and don't let the fact that you think someone else isn't ready be a hindrance because, if it is, you need to get outta' this game now...

+5 pints for that