question for the pros

bonsyde

bonsyde

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Name
Pete
Edit My Images
Yes
I enjoy photography as a hobby, i just love taking the camera out, taking a photo, going home and getting what i think is a great result. now my question to you is, do you still enjoy it now its your job, now you have the pressure of making it pay for the house, feeding the kids, keeping the wife in shoes, suddenly a relaxing hobby is a pressure job.... this is really one thing that would put me off trying to make money out of photography, do you loose the enjoyment.. :'(
 
I personally like to keep the business and personal seperate, however I still get very proud over the photos I take on the business side. I think it is important to put the same amount of effort into both and the same about of dedication.

My hobby photography, such as landscapes normally end up becoming work photographs for displays, so I find it all fits in nicely.
 
No I still enjoy shooting, whether it's a wedding or shooting flowers in a woodland glade for myself, still get pleasure from both. Wayne
 
I'm lucky that I have a very forgiving family who will tolerate be working some very odd hours at times. With evening consultations and weekend shoots. Days on end of frustration when a PC full of images goes wonky (thank goodness for backups)

If you or your family expect a 9-5 job then it's not like that at all. :)

It can be good fun and you get to meet some lovely people and share some wonderful times with them and for that alone I feel very privileged.
 
Yes, still enjoy it. The hours are longer, and there are some jobs you wouldn't bother with if you were doing it for fun, and times were you have to do what the client wants, rather than what you want, but yes. If I didn't enjoy it, I could probably get a job with a lot less (and more sociable!) hours.
 
At times it can be the most thankless, repetitive, boring and tiring task. The same as any other job really :)

Then there are the moments and the days when it is the most pleasure you could hope for from a job.

What is significantly different from photography as a leisure activity are the time pressures and the expectation that you will get the shot. Clients don't want excuses. They just want the images they are paying for and don't expect to be let down in any way.

There are also some frustrations doing this for a living. It is surprising the number of people who see it as a simple task and cannot/will not understand that you don't just take the images from the card and send them off to the printers and that there is a bit more to this than pointing a lens at a subject and pressing a button. 'Their camera does it all for them and yours costs a lot more so yours must do a lot more for you' seems to be the train of thought.

I find a lot of price resistance at the moment and it can be frustrating explaining yet once more why professional photography can seem expensive. As the recession bites price sensitivity is becoming more of an issue and I expect quite few photographers (new and old hands) are going fail over the next few years.

Balancing all this is the pleasure and satisfaction of doing something that is personally fulfilling. I still enjoy my personal photography but find it difficult to make the time I would like for it. You have to be passionate about your photography and level headed about your business. Keeping the two in-line can be challenging at times.

John
 
bonsyde said:
do you still enjoy it now its your job, now you have the pressure of making it pay for the house, feeding the kids...

...keeping the wife in shoes
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I love how you assume all pros are male :lol:
 
Betty said:
I love how you assume all pros are male :lol:
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If not actually male - then they are all wannabe males :lol:

I've also heard that Pro spec cameras are covered in a fine film of Testosterone too, so prolonged Pro status for a female may lead to a chemical sex-change ;)

DD
 
Yup, I still enjoy my photography but then again I am doing the kind of photography I like :D

It can get a bit boring, a bit samey or a bit tedious sitting in a hide or stalking or sitting in a hedge waiting and waiting and waiting.............................but then something turns up and you forget all about that.

It isnt huge amounts of money, it isnt always steady work and there is times when getting up at 3am or indeed not getting home for a few days gets a bit annoying but then end results always mean you forget the bad bits!!

Just wish it paid more money at times lol.
 
DiddyDave said:
I've also heard that Pro spec cameras are covered in a fine film of Testosterone too, so prolonged Pro status for a female may lead to a chemical sex-change ;)
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Are you speaking from personal experience DD? :lol:
 
There are some days where I know I should be out shooting in glorious light and I just feel like I want a break from being with a camera. But they are few and the trade off is a more than fair one.

Since I've been shooting images full time, I really don't think I've done what many folks would call a days work. There is stress of course and presure and deadlines, the same as everyone has but there is not a single day where I think I don't want to be here.

Today I'll be shooting a load of high chrome taps, for the third day in less than a week and it's fair to say that I'll not be drowning in any creative juices. :lol: I do get a good kick though from being on top of all the tech stuff, being in control of the reflections and getting a consitant look over the complete batch.

If the question is at all about whether you want to take the plunge or not. I can certainly reassure you that this is the least of your worries. :D
 
pxl8 said:
Are you speaking from personal experience DD? :lol:
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Well I certainly had males bits beforehand, they just got bigger and my voice deeper once I got the D2Xs

Who needs Viagra when you can have a Pro tool to shoot with :lol:

DD
 
I'm lucky enough to still love taking pictures although over the years I have come across many many bitter photographers....

Nothing beats getting paid for what I love doing (although a pro cycling career would have been nice!) Just off to the middle of Wales to take some environmental portraits :)
 
I hate taking pictures for other people, I hate processing pictures for other people, I enjoy taking pics for myself.
 
I havent had a day off since I went self employed in August and its starting to catch up on me:(

But I love it!! :)

The difference is i choose the jobs with money in mind.. For example on Monday next its the womens FA Cup Final.. derby counties ground will have around 25 thousand people there to watch the biggest womens football match of the season... yet this will be the first time in years that I have not covered it... because it doesnt even make enough to cover fuel.. I used to cover it as my hobby.. now I need to choose a sporting event where I wil make money.. thats just an example.. still enjoying myself.. but have to pick and choose money over hobby jobs..
 
snapzz said:
Far better than a "proper job" :clap:


Hya Kippax how ya doing?
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Be a lot better if you only used one P snappz :) haha.... I am knackered but good.. I swear i thought you where already a member here... betetr late than never though :)
 
i still love my job 10 years in
even yesterday in the pouring rain!!!
every day is different and its very rewarding
 
KIPAX said:
Be a lot better if you only used one P snappz :) haha.... I am knackered but good.. I swear i thought you where already a member here... betetr late than never though :)
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Sorry is it too late to take the p out of you? :lol:
Naw only just joined some of the other forums are just dire at the mo and the old Canon one is full of yanks (no offence)! Not many have a sports section either so thought I'd give this one a go :)

Sorry for going off topic :naughty:
 
I have been in photography all my life since aged 10....
Went to college and work in photography all my working life.
Now I am retired I am still into photography.
Once fixer gets in the blood you are hooked for life. :love:

Dull days of course :( but also lots of excitement :)
 
Shooting pro can be restrictive, within reason you are confined within what you think the customer wants. Shooting for yourself revitalises your creative juices which in turn improves your professional work.

Every pro ought to put time to oneside each month to shoot for themselves

stew
 
Or, just make sure you have clients who give you interesting and creative jobs ;)
 
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