Comments on: So You Want My Job: Professional Photographer

By: Darryl Henick

Darryl Henick — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:18:00 +0000

He is right on a lot of fronts. I was a contributing photographer for an Oakland Raiders publication for eight years. Even though it was great getting paid to be on the sidelines at NFL games, people didn’t see me after a night game up until four in the morning retouching images on my Macbook and then finally burning a DVD to fedex to the magazine.
I guess a nice perk is I showed pics to a couple of the players and it lets you know they are people like everyone else. I’m trying to break back into the pro market and it’s extremely difficult. In the meantime, shooting high school sports is fun because the parents and the players themselves are so appreciative.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:35:47 +0000

With the convenience of digital, everyone is a photographer these days. I can’t think of a worse time go into photography as a profession. But, after all, the world belongs to those who hustle. In the portrait and wedding business just be prepared be undercut by the guys that will hand over a disk and be done with it.

By: Michael Uphues

Michael Uphues — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:44:34 +0000

Interview me for “So You Want My Job”. I am a Emergency/Family Medicine Physician working on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. My shifts are 168 hours at a time around the clock! How is that for manly! And you can imagine the type of things I see in the ER on the weekend on a reservation. The difference up here is that the hospital is only 14 beds and staffing is limited. If a couple of cars end up getting into a rollover motor vehicle accident at 3:00am I am it,no specialists,no trauma center. We are the trauma center. It is a manly situation indeed and I am loving it. I am also a part-time professional magician. Check it out at magicchicago.com. Take care. -Mike

By: James Roberts

James Roberts — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:01:03 +0000

This guy’s work is amazing, I just google him and saw his site http://www.1deuce3.com .

Thanks for this post!

-jr

By: Chris Solomon

Chris Solomon — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:31:01 +0000

My wife is a photographer & some of the stuff she gets is amazing! I dig the Hill Christmas card! Being a sports photog, getting to rub elbows with some of the best athletes in the world has to be a perk. Have you ever become close friends with any of your subjects, or is it strictly professional?

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:17:01 +0000

My wife started a photography business about two years ago. She does children, families and portraits. I agree that you need to shoot often and not worry so much about classes. It has taken my wife a few years to build a client base and get busy enough to start contributing to the income of our household. But she really enjoys her profession.

By: Tyler Logan

Tyler Logan — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:38:00 +0000

A photographer wouldn’t be my cup of tea but it’s interesting to see how their world is.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:44:59 +0000

Just FYI, not everyone uses Photoshop or Windows/Mac. Some of us hairy-chesters use The Gimp on Linux. Even something like Digikam or Krita work well.

Photoshop is for pansies (i.e. Those who can afford 700-1000 for software). ;-)

Joe

By: Curtis Copeland

Curtis Copeland — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:11:01 +0000

Great article. Thanks for expounding on the realities of professional photography. Often, people think the only time we work is during the actual shoot. They are unaware of th time to upload images, process them in Lightroom and photoshop, back up, meet with other clients, marketing, etc. etc. When people tell me they want to start a career as a photographer, they are shocked when I tell them it will take a minmum of $2,000.00 investment and one year of weekly practice before they are ready and can generate consitent income. There is a disconnect between their talent and their desire. Even worse are the individuals who think photography is a excellent part time job to "make good money" because it is so easy. There are the individuals who undermine our profession. Thanks for sharing! Curtis Starting A Photography Business

By: Mark Quintanilla

Mark Quintanilla — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:32:40 +0000

Nice post. The cool thing about Michael is that he remembers and is appreciative of how and who helped him improve in his career.