The more I learn about the business of photography, the less I want to be part of it. I’ve said I’m getting out of it before and ended up getting back into it, but now I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be my career. (If you’re interested in becoming a professional photographer, you’re at the wrong blog. Try these instead: A Photo Editor, Photo Business News, Photopreneur.)
First of all, I don’t like being a salesman, but professional photography (stock, commercial, wedding, doesn’t matter) is more of a sales job than anything else. That’s something I should have known from the very beginning. I have enough previous experience in sales to know that to be good at it, it has to be major part of your life, 24/7, and I’m not willing to make that kind of commitment (or sacrifice, actually). In fact I’m pretty much antisocial so selling myself really goes against my nature.
Secondly, photography is way too expensive. I can’t afford to keep up with the latest toys. Just to give an idea to those who have no idea, my current digital SLR bodies cost me about $3000, my lenses about $3000, and my computer stuff about $3000 also. My lighting equipment only add up to about $1000 because I’ve sold most of them. And of course my cameras are obsolete now, and pretty soon my computer will be also.
And lastly, the photography community in general is just retarded. I’m sorry if this offends some people but seriously, too many people don’t know what they’re talking about and need to shut up. Too many people giving bad advice. Too many sellouts. Too many people talking smack about others for no reason. And too many bad photos from so-called professionals. I never felt this way about the artist community, or even the automotive community.
One of my resolutions for 2008 is gonna be to treat photography strictly as a hobby and as an artistic medium. (No this does not mean I’m gonna stop charging money.)
No more weddings and the like. I hated shooting that crap.
No more model shoots with girls who just want to be pretty. Artistic shoots only.
No more parties that I know are going to be boring. No sluts? No photos.
Basically I’m gonna have fun shooting or I’m not gonna shoot. That’s the way it should be. And now I need to find a real job.
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Tags: girls, parties, photography, photos, SLR