Looking for feedback

[KmH]

Hello all,
I am trying to get my foot on the door of professional photography.

Your profile doesn't indicate what part of planet Earth you are on.

What kind of professional photography? Retail? Commercial? Editorial?

A professional photographer is an expert at doing photography, which is far different than a person who is not an expert, but that charges $$'s for some kind of photographic service.

Today, most professional photographers are self-employed, which means being an expert at business/marketing/promotion/sales/client relations is even more important than being an expert photographer.

In the US, the average professional photographer is a retail photographer and has personal income of about $32,000 a year, though the top 15% of pro shooters in the US earn more than $50,000 a year in personal income.

A one person retail photography business here in the US that does not have a studio makes income at about 23% of revenue. So they must generate a total yearly revenue of about $140,000 a year (roughly $12,000 a month, or $2700 a week - week in, week out)

Photographers that have a studio generally make a bit more income but at a lower % of revenue (about 18%) because they have higher non-reimbursed business expenses. So, with a studio the average income goes up to $43,000 on revenue of about $240,000 a year ($20,000 a month, $4650 a week).

Good luck to you.

 

[ndb0407]

Hello all,
I am trying to get my foot on the door of professional photography.

Your profile doesn't indicate what part of planet Earth you are on.

What kind of professional photography? Retail? Commercial? Editorial?

A professional photographer is an expert at doing photography, which is far different than a person who is not an expert, but that charges $$'s for some kind of photographic service.

Today, most professional photographers are self-employed, which means being an expert at business/marketing/promotion/sales/client relations is even more important than being an expert photographer.

In the US, the average professional photographer is a retail photographer and has personal income of about $32,000 a year, though the top 15% of pro shooters in the US earn more than $50,000 a year in personal income.

A one person retail photography business here in the US that does not have a studio makes income at about 23% of revenue. So they must generate a total yearly revenue of about $140,000 a year (roughly $12,000 a month, or $2700 a week - week in, week out)

Photographers that have a studio generally make a bit more income but at a lower % of revenue (about 18%) because they have higher non-reimbursed business expenses. So, with a studio the average income goes up to $43,000 on revenue of about $240,000 a year ($20,000 a month, $4650 a week).

Good luck to you.

Not sure I understand the tone of your post. So I will assume you where trying to be helpful. Has to what part of the planet I am, USA East Coast would be the answer. Not sure why that is relevant to getting C&C on a photograph. When I say I am trying to get into "professional photography" I mean I want to learn how to take wonderful family portraits that capture the people in way I and they are proud of. I am not necessarily looking to be the best, most creative photography ever. I just want to enjoy the families I photograph while being knowledgeable enough about the technical stuff to get them the best shot possible. I am well aware that I will need some sort of business knowledge (did I come across has some kinda of idiot in my original post?). I have done the research for my business license and other relevant information. I do not currently charge for any of the photos I do. I am not of the opinion that there is major money to be made. I am aware that you have to work for everything you get. I have chosen photography because I enjoy it and love to be around people. Not to make a million buck. I hope this info clears up any hole there were in my profile that you were unhappy with.

 

[Scoody]

You know that there are alot of niches you can get into as a photographer, right.

 

[ndb0407]

You know that there are alot of niches you can get into as a photographer, right.

I guess I am really bad at reading you guys, being new and all. Yes, I know there are lots of different type of photography. What is the point of your statement?

 

[Scoody]

You know that there are alot of niches you can get into as a photographer, right.

I guess I am really bad at reading you guys, being new and all. Yes, I know there are lots of different type of photography. What is the point of your statement?

You can't do all of them and be successful. You have to specialize. We can't decide that for you.

 

[ndb0407]

You know that there are alot of niches you can get into as a photographer, right.

I guess I am really bad at reading you guys, being new and all. Yes, I know there are lots of different type of photography. What is the point of your statement?

You can't do all of them and be successful. You have to specialize. We can't decide that for you.

Taken form my above post: "I mean I want to learn how to take wonderful family portraits that capture the people in way I and they are proud of. I am not necessarily looking to be the best, most creative photography ever. I just want to enjoy the families I photograph while being knowledgeable enough about the technical stuff to get them the best shot possible."

Is this not specific enough?

 

[Scoody]

Taken form my above post: "I mean I want to learn how to take wonderful family portraits that capture the people in way I and they are proud of. I am not necessarily looking to be the best, most creative photography ever. I just want to enjoy the families I photograph while being knowledgeable enough about the technical stuff to get them the best shot possible."

Is this not specific enough?

Yes it is. But posting my words of profound wisdom is more important.

 

[ndb0407]

Taken form my above post: "I mean I want to learn how to take wonderful family portraits that capture the people in way I and they are proud of. I am not necessarily looking to be the best, most creative photography ever. I just want to enjoy the families I photograph while being knowledgeable enough about the technical stuff to get them the best shot possible."

Is this not specific enough?

Yes it is. But posting my words of profound wisdom is more important.

me and you might get along after all

 

[KmH]

So I will assume you where trying to be helpful.

Yes, I was helpful. Pity.

 

[ndb0407]

So I will assume you where trying to be helpful.

Yes, I was helpful. Pity.

Sorry if you feel like you wasted your time. You came across condescending. You made a lot of assumptions with asking for any information.

 

[The_Traveler]

I think everyone needs to take a step back and relax.

First of all, writing styles and attitudes are hard to tell from text - so people often take this wrong and the mistakes grow from there.

Secondly, lately TPF has been just overwhelmed with very new people, often with their first consumer level dslr wanting to be Pro's and somehow expecting to pick up in days or weeks, the craft that many of us have worked on for years. So some of us are sensitive and some of us are often just plain snappy.

That being said, if bdb0407 wants to become a better photographer, I'm all for it and will do what I can to help him along as much as I, with my certified limited knowledge, can.

Lew

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

That tilt only works on certain subjects and a full length couples shot is not it.

You can use angled shots to your advantage when they work with the feel and composition of the image.

It certainly can work with full length couple shots.

So it's not about "certain subjects", but about situations.

Ndb0407, be careful where you get your wisdom.