dennis potter wrote:
im used to starving as a painter. im a recently laid off art teacher, and wonder; can i make money doin this? brief non vicious replies appreciated.
haha.
love this site, its too much fun. replacing the chat rooms here.
thanks
d

I think there are a lot of photographers and models out there who think we should make money off of each other. To me, this is like plumbers and electricians looking for work from each other -- wrong, wrong, wrong. These are COMPLIMENTARY professions that need each other -- you need to work to make money from somebody else TOGETHER.

So my advice is to look for CLIENTS that require your skills as a photographer -- manufacturers of clothing and accessories, retailers, hotels, restaurants and resorts, events, and so forth. Put up a website, place some ads, join local professional organizations and meet the businessmen and women who hire photographers and buy photos. Network, network!

In my experience, photography is based largely on who you know and what your reputation is -- and this typically takes about two years to develop to the point where you have a steady income. So if you've just been laid off, the start-up costs of the business are going to bury you, and the slow ramp of income will put the nails in your coffin. So, you're going to need another job, and do photography part-time for a year or two.

Been there, done that! My sole source of income is now photography. It was a tough road and still is, but I wouldn't do anything else.

Best wishes,
Paul

bang bang photo wrote:
I think there are a lot of photographers and models out there who think we should make money off of each other. To me, this is like plumbers and electricians looking for work from each other -- wrong, wrong, wrong. These are COMPLIMENTARY professions that need each other -- you need to work to make money from somebody else TOGETHER.

What a great way to describe the relationship between model and photographer!  It's nice to see that someone really gets how this whole thing works.  To the OP, if you work hard enough, you can make money doing anything.  Best of luck to you!

bang bang photo wrote:
These are COMPLIMENTARY professions that need each other...

Complimentary indeed.  We need models to pat on our backs, and vice versa.    (You mean "complementary"?). 

Can you make money out of "this"?  What is "this"?  Shooting portfolios?  Shooting models?  Being on MM?  What kind of photography?

Portfolios?  Rarely.  I know one person who actually shoots portfolio for a living, but only one.  The rest shoots for clients.

Can you make money?  Sure, how much?  I don't know.  Surely some photographers are making a living.

Do you have the skills?  Do you have the contacts?  If not, how much are you willing to sacrifice and get involved?

Is there a market for your work?  Who are your customers?  How large is this market?  How much are they willing to pay you?

Anything can make money.  It's up to you.

bang bang photo wrote:

I think there are a lot of photographers and models out there who think we should make money off of each other. To me, this is like plumbers and electricians looking for work from each other -- wrong, wrong, wrong. These are COMPLIMENTARY professions that need each other -- you need to work to make money from somebody else TOGETHER.

So my advice is to look for CLIENTS that require your skills as a photographer -- manufacturers of clothing and accessories, retailers, hotels, restaurants and resorts, events, and so forth. Put up a website, place some ads, join local professional organizations and meet the businessmen and women who hire photographers and buy photos. Network, network!

In my experience, photography is based largely on who you know and what your reputation is -- and this typically takes about two years to develop to the point where you have a steady income. So if you've just been laid off, the start-up costs of the business are going to bury you, and the slow ramp of income will put the nails in your coffin. So, you're going to need another job, and do photography part-time for a year or two.

Been there, done that! My sole source of income is now photography. It was a tough road and still is, but I wouldn't do anything else.

Best wishes,
Paul

Clapping.  I agree.  Find somebody to pay us all.  Yay!  Hee.

dennis potter wrote:
im used to starving as a painter. im a recently laid off art teacher, and wonder; can i make money doin this? brief non vicious replies appreciated.
haha.
love this site, its too much fun. replacing the chat rooms here.
thanks
d

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos264.htm
Median annual earnings of salaried photographers were $26,080 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $18,380 and $37,370. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $54,180. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of salaried photographers were $32,800 for newspapers and periodicals and $23,100 for other professional, scientific, and technical services.

Salaried photographers—more of whom work full time—tend to earn more than those who are self-employed. Because most freelance and portrait photographers purchase their own equipment, they incur considerable expense acquiring and maintaining cameras and accessories. Unlike news and commercial photographers, few fine arts photographers are successful enough to support themselves solely through their art.

lll wrote:

Complimentary indeed.  We need models to pat on our backs, and vice versa.    (You mean "complementary"?). 

I never realized those were two different words!

BTW, where can I find the codes for the different smilies??

Oh ya, and I agree with bang bang too (by the way, how's pebbles?  sorry, that was bam bam )

bang bang photo wrote:
I think there are a lot of photographers and models out there who think we should make money off of each other. To me, this is like plumbers and electricians looking for work from each other -- wrong, wrong, wrong. These are COMPLIMENTARY professions that need each other -- you need to work to make money from somebody else TOGETHER.

So my advice is to look for CLIENTS that require your skills as a photographer -- manufacturers of clothing and accessories, retailers, hotels, restaurants and resorts, events, and so forth. Put up a website, place some ads, join local professional organizations and meet the businessmen and women who hire photographers and buy photos. Network, network!

In my experience, photography is based largely on who you know and what your reputation is -- and this typically takes about two years to develop to the point where you have a steady income. So if you've just been laid off, the start-up costs of the business are going to bury you, and the slow ramp of income will put the nails in your coffin. So, you're going to need another job, and do photography part-time for a year or two.

Been there, done that! My sole source of income is now photography. It was a tough road and still is, but I wouldn't do anything else.

Best wishes,
Paul

Second (Although, photography isn't my main source of income yet).

blackmirror wrote:
...
Salaried photographers—more of whom work full time—tend to earn more than those who are self-employed. Because most freelance and portrait photographers purchase their own equipment, they incur considerable expense acquiring and maintaining cameras and accessories.
...

I don't think this statement is accurate.
Most self employed photographers make a substantial amount over what a salaried photographer makes (especially with the prices you have listed (Unless of course, you take into account the flood of amateurs that undercut the shit out of each other)).