The Hard Truth About Pro Photography in 2023

[@laurenoe]

Photography is a small part of what I do (corporate cinematographer) and what you say is spot on. People don't understand what it takes to get to the "money". Agree 100%. Its HARD work. People see the "toys" but they have no idea what it takes. People don't see me - a single woman - moving through airports with 12 checked on bags/cases, sweating, no makeup, looking pretty rough. Being a media professional - not a "social media" person - is a tough, hard-core profession.

[@LXDV]

I made the jump to full-time commercial photography at 27 shortly after having my second child. 5 years and a third child in and for me now, if I'm not doing family stuff I am working. Very easily hit 14 hours a day of working and very frequently don't take full days off. I now work harder and longer than any other career I've had in the past. But I love the life I've built around it and I could never see myself going back to regular employment. What's weird about it though is despite the inconsistency of my paycheck I actually feel more secure knowing that my effort and drive is what ultimately dictates my income not the whim of an employer.

[@kendricksnotaboutit]

“I shoot to pay the bills” should be on a t shirt

[@Gorabe]

Could be a little bit misleading 😅

[@trancer03]

I am going to make a t shirt with that on it

[@brad_in_yyc]

So should the one for hobbyists. "I shoot for the passion of it."

[@veivoli]

@@trancer03 Better make sure it has an image of a camera on it - could be dangerous otherwise! 📷🙂🔫😞

[@Hydrogen101]

The sacrifice for so little gain is why I quit photography and went to engineering school. Not many people can be an engineer. Now I make a ton of money and have hobbies. Much happier. But I do long for my old photography lifestyle traveling the world and doing super cool stuff. Safaris, jumping out of airplanes, meeting all sorts of colorful people… sigh. Back to the office 9-5 😢

[@oleleclos]

I recognise your description from my own career, and that was 50 years ago. I burnt out after ten years (14 if you include my apprenticeship), and although I was doing well, I never made it to the very top. What got me to change career was partly running on empty in the end (aged 30), but also the shock of seeing a friend and colleague who HAD got to the absolute pinnacle and THEN fell from it. In his late forties he suddenly became yesterday’s news and a year later he took his own life. So beware, not only is it cold on the top, there’s also a long way down!

[@jhonatanjhs]

These kind of videos are way more interesting than equipment reviews, top 5 tricks, etc. Even if they don't get as many views :)

[@photobizmethod]

right!

[@algarveTV]

The other are good also. We need diversity, the problem is that 99% of photographers are doing the Reviews, the etc. and very few this type, that are important, relevant and interesting. Also this don't give you sponsors money or trips or incentives...

[@vinnieRice]

Good stuff. This applies to any career that is seen as a 'dream job' - sports, music, acting, art etc.. The competition is brutal and intense. But... there is a way to find a path that's a slightly easier and the odds of success are a little shorter. Find a specialist niche that is likely to grow, and become the absolute bloody expert in it. Become the guru, become the go-to guy/gal in this one very specific area. Write articles about it. Give lectures about it. Social media post about it and ONLY it. The work levels are the same and niches can disappear quickly, but you can cut the time to stable income from 10-15 years to 3-5. Old man advice from someone who's seen it, done it and bought the T-shirt.

[@ThisDudeTrippin]

As a young photographer who is about 18 months in on the business side, newly married and a father.....this couldn't have been more helpful and encouraging. The reality of the downsides of fully committing to this career and lifestyle but also seeing that it CAN be done. 👏🏾 thank you

[@vision-gc4hy]

Everything in life will conspire to knock you off of your focus. Keep to your true North, keep learning, growing and believing in yourself.

[@ThisDudeTrippin]

@@naturesoundsnz incredible advice. Thank you for sharing, truly!

[@ThisDudeTrippin]

@@vision-gc4hy I couldn't agree more! Thank you for the encouragement and wisdom! 🙏🏾

[@nick_cooper]

A few wise people have told me to not do your passion as a job. For me, that is cars and more recently photography. I love tinkering with my car in the garage, changing it up to suit my driving, testing it on tracks etc but I won't ever make it a career. As soon as money starts changing hands over it, the feel of it changes (which is why I volunteered to be the entire pit crew for a season of club racing for a self funded driver). And the same goes for photography. I tend to shoot cars and wildlife and considered selling prints on the side for any decent picture I take, but that brings in work and stress which I don't want with a hobby. Sticking with a decent IT job brings me in enough money to have these expensive hobbies, and not getting burnt out with stress or financial worries.

[@burrdaddy]

Love these types videos. This is about the only channel that isn't always trying to sell cameras. Thanks!

[@TheBigBlueMarble]

Many good photographers are bad business people and don't know how to compete. Many bad photographers are good business people and really do know how to compete. Both groups will ultimately lead to failure to reach the highest levels of professional photography. To succeed at the highest levels (in any field) you need to be a good at doing the job and good at business and competing. In the end...you have to REALLY want it.

[@blubravery]

Soo true. When I decided to make the change from being the family photographer to the commercial photographer, I told my wife, I love you but I'm gonna be dedicating a year of making sure I can shoot on brand. She was very understanding. My friends thought I abandoned them. I'm starting to see snippets of the fruits of that labor.

[@fosk8]

The money management part is so accurate, and it's true for any artistic business. When the WGA strike started, I heard some people wonder how screenwriters would manage to survive for months without revenue. The answer is "because that's what they've always been doing." You never know when you're gonna spend several months without new contracts. You just can't make it in these kinds of businesses if you don't know how to manage your money.

[@CONDREAYPHOTO]

You are 100% correct. I was a professional photographer for 42 years, before retiring due to health issues. Your analogy holds true for several activities. People want to win the prize, but aren't willing to sacrifice, and do the tiny things every day that enable the victory. There are no participation trophies in photography. Keep up the great work. I hope you have a long and successful career and life.

[@ivorcoulson]

Absolutely Spot on what you said there Scott. Ive been doing Photography for over Ten years as a Hobbyist and as an interest and did a Years Course at evening Class in Photography and achieved a City & Guilds Certificate Level One in Photography. Its So hard to Break into the industry Or make a Living out of it. Im a Gardener now. 🌱🌿🌳 Its Hard work but keeps me fit and Pays regular money.👍

[@91364Steve]

Your "tough love" approach is difficult to take at times but it's so much more valuable than the "sunshine & daisies" you see on other channels. My journey is less common than younger photogs. Six years ago, I gave up a 24-year career as an attorney (which I hated to my core) to do photography full time. I've been able to succeed more quickly than some of my younger peers because, though I was new to the photography business, I was NOT new to photography, and I was NOT new to business. But it's also been harder on me than some younger cats. Financial austerity is much more difficult when you're approaching and passing 50. I'm not quite where I need to be yet, but I will be. Your videos provide both a source of inspiration as well as a valuable reality check. Keep posting great content!

[@KevinNordstrom]

This is why I quit photography as a job and it's now just a hobby and passion. I found the truth in what you said throughout my time doing it full-time. What you say is 100% accurate. Which is why I quit and found a more stable career with less commitment. My kids and wife are more important than selling work and selling out my family and my health. Now, Im a happy photographer again and find joy in the art.

[@Buttercup697]

Yes … I don’t understand people who have 3 kids while undertaking a career that sucks all your time. Unfair to the kids in reality. This idea that we can all have everything is a fallacy. As a photojournalist who travels, how is an absent parent a good role model?

[@omnirhythm]

There's no single correct truth here. I was conceived as a New Year's eve one night stand between my parents. They've been divorced ever since I was born and I came out alright. I know people with much worse, disfunctional and straight up terrible families and still they preservere and come out alright. On the other hand, my ex-best friend had lovely supportive parents but his own inner demons made him isolate himself from everyone, cut ties and now he's working a crappy job and being incredibly bitter at the world and society. Ideally, parents should always be there and use most of their free time to spend it genuinely enjoying with kids, and raising them, but it's not always like that and that's fine. Also, financially sometimes a parent decides for long-term stability while sacrificing those fleeting moments with their kids. If I ever have kids, I'll be very hard pressed to make that choice. The human mind's strenght is in adapting, overcoming and sometimes kids don't need such an active presence to love their parent(s). Everyone's different and all that jazz :) @@Buttercup697

[@davidgambin2551]

@@Buttercup697 you can be an outstanding role model doing that

[@timomuursepp3283]

Most true photography business channel in the whole internet. Loved the quote about when you make 1000€ a day and you think you are a full time photographer. I make 1000€ days some time but I would not make a living from photography. As a father and a husband I have to think about family and providing them that we could live a good life. I work at the office from 9-5 and do photography as a side business. 4th year going and I make a good extra money out of it. Each year my annual income is growing from photography. As for now I feel good about my situation and Im not rushing to make a full time photography career but maybe Im on my way to this life. Who knows.

[@bcleste]

I believe the real problem with the stat is their sample group. Photography is an art. As such it doesn’t require a degree or certifications or a license. Anyone can pick up a camera and with enough practice, a good idea or an artistic sensibility they can create art. All you have to do from there is put a portfolio of that art together and if it is desirable you will get work. Most artists fail because your selling art to people who can’t do what you do. So they have no understanding of what goes into creating great work or what the difference is between great and good enough. They just know that good enough comes in under budget. It’s the same thing that happened to the camera market. Phones have a good enough camera for 99% of people. And the people that are going to get a tremendously better photo out of a camera than they would a phone, would also have gotten a much better photo with a phone than the 99% would with a camera. I’m sure at your level there is a bit more discernment. But the average portrait photographer is barely a step up from uncle bob and his brand new iPhone or galaxy s20. So why would people pay Joey college degree 1500 bucks for photos of their kids when I have a camera in my pocket 24 hours a day.

[@VirtualTourPhotographer]

Principally spot on. Now there can be many variations on this, such as weddings, real estate, commercial spaces, or what I do, virtual tours. But your point is what needs to get dug in to aspiring photographers. When we do it, we do it as a business, not as a 'fun artistic outlet'. When I explain that to my clients that a 3 hours shoot can convert to a whole week of editing, they often can figure that out. But for those of us who treat our cameras, computers, lights, cars, etc, as income generating devices, then, it's all business.

[@BryonBlack1]

I think most of what you say is probably true, but I do disagree with you on one point: I think you can still have a decent career as a photographer even if you aren't doing the 70-90 hr weeks. My hours flex depending on the number of projects I have going on. My wife is a teacher, so she has summers off. I am blessed that I can decide to do less work over the summer so I have more time for short getaways, day trips, etc with my wife and our 3 little kids. I don't doubt that I could make significantly more money if I had those 70-90 hr weeks, but it's just not worth it for me. I have this business so I can have flexibility with my family compared to a typical 9-5. I'm not making loads of money, but I'm making enough to support my family. And as my kids get a bit bigger and more independent, I'll be able to flex into spending more time focused on the business. I should clarify that I do multiple types of photography: food, real estate, head shots, products, events, etc. No families or babies, but I do 3-4 weddings a year.

[@wildpeachstudio]

Curious Scott, do you think this mindset is a form of hustle culture or a product of the industry as a whole?

[@Murphy599]

Hi Scott, I’m a big fan and I think you speak the truth like not many people on YT. But as someone who is making a decent salary as a freelance photographer, sometimes you can knock my confidence back a little. I am in my year 4 of this job after 20+ years in another career but you can’t dismiss someone who does charge 500-1000 per day as a “not a real photographer”. Sometimes I get that vibe from your videos. Sorry, just being honest. A great chef working in a corner restaurant can have a better career than Michelin star rated chef. Photography is a journey, with little improvements each month. I had to start during covid and didn’t have savings to fall back on. Little by little building my business and I am super proud of it.

[@stefbacum4454]

I think you got that wrong. He didnt dismiss the photog getting 500 a day, he just said that being at that level is not sustainable as your only job. the argument was not against the photographer but the money. Scott can get one shoot per month and relax for 3 months but someone getting 500 a day needs to get at least 10 shoots per month just to make ends meet..

[@Murphy599]

@@stefbacum4454 no I get that, but why calling it not sustainable? It is hard work, but it sustainable. I think. I am not having an argument btw, it’s just a discussion.

[@stefbacum4454]

@@Murphy599 to be at that level and only rely on photography is not sustainable as you will soon be broke unless you can get a lot of jobs in a short period of time. with the cost of gear , renting or leasing a studio and all that, it quickly becomes expensive. on top of that you have your personal living expenses.

[@BigBanana55]

@@Murphy599 Ultimately, the vast majority of freelance photographers in the uk will be within that £500-1000 ballpark (when considering all genres, not just London-based commercial photography). Prospects survays puts the average photo freelance net salary around the £20k-25k range which would fit with those day rates. obviously, earing more via major commissions with extensive licensing/ usage fees is well worth working towards, but only a few will ever get there.

[@Murphy599]

@@BigBanana55 very good point. Although I would say that the survival is mainly due to other skills, like, the ability to market one self, business skills, people skills, etc. If a person has the above than you can be a pro photographer and be in the range of £500-£1000k per day. There is a lot of clients who do have only that budget to satisfy their content needs. And I think while the photographers are in this phase of their career their niche will shape and they will also find out if photography as a career is for them. But I fully agree with you that aspiring for the top of the pyramid should be a motivation for most, it will fuel their passion. thanks for your insight.

[@davewilliamson7030]

Priceless advice. Thank you Scott!

[@serenaburroughs7442]

I'm in the depth of watching all your videos over the last couple of days and want to just say ... Thank you! There is a mindset shift that needs to happen. I'm recognizing this after years, and started looking for more info on how to be more sustainable with business practices... Needless to say just hearing your take on things has been so refreshing and motivating. Thank you. It takes a lot, and I am willing. Time to get to work.

[@geranraath]

Scott, you're like the commercial photography Bible. We, my wife and I, have 2 jobs. That's what it takes for us at the moment to keep our studio but I won't go back to a salary. Thanks for always hitting the nail on the head when it's most needed. May you always be blessed.

[@peterdrought9334]

Very much agree. The problem is that if you are in any sort of contact with the public (anyone without creative industries experience) it is perceived as '"easy". This means that the public have a toxic attitude towards creatives in general. Being up against that "constantly" really can grate against you. In order to succeed in this, you need to have grown up to a level where you are able to, at least, separate yourself from that to some degree, but it will never be easy.

[@IliaMassalkinePhoto]

I agree with you 100% you need to be able to chose what’s important. If you don’t take this all the way you stagnate and you plateau. Several time through the year I’ve decided to spent sometime away and it just wrecked me in my progress. Everyday off is 3 days catch up. I missed an entire year riding my motorcycle because I chose to stay and work on the business. It was a horrible feeling but now I’m happy. Thank you for your insight and reassurance that I’m not the only one.

[@banditalley9592]

On a different note... I find your KZbin videos very inspirational - which is ironic when you are detailing how hard it is to make a living doing this in 2023. I think it's the honesty - and from the comments below I think everyone else feels the same

[@pedrofcalado]

Thanks for sharing a bit of reality with the world!

[@Bartskol]

It's a great career for passionate people, it's a job for some.

[@keybladesss]

that last line was all i needed to here from you to make me want to subscribe the honesty was real there

[@narsplace]

As someone who has talked to a few pro photographers in the past, many of them don't hire from schools. As many who have gone to a photography school have a list of skills but don't master any. A pro isn't looking for someone with a bunch of skills in photography, they want someone that can do what they require. Many self learners have that advantage because they don't need to go through a training process and can get skills that they see fit for themselves.

[@philipvaughan1027]

Brilliant real advice, they don't tell you about the sacrifices and struggles at college

[@ScottHusseyPhoto]

"Why are 84% of photographers failing?" It's because in the phrase "photography business," the word "photography" is only an adjective. The noun is "business." And if you learn photography without learning how to operate a successful business, you will likely fail.

[@valdemarcaballero5298]

absolutely true!!!!! 30 years in the industry and i can agree..... Blessings!!!!!

[@pavaobobinac6400]

I agree with you! If you want to be the best, you have to put in the work. That’s it. Sometimes it is hard to do anything after the 9 to 5 job, but a basic salary is something that motivates me to do more, to be better, to work harder outside my regular job. And I do belive that with time, something great will grow.

[@larryphotography]

You were a violinist?? Whoa, me too! Still am, but also a photographer and loving both.

[@chriscarrillotpt]

I'm a full-time professional musician and part-time photographer and this is spot on. I have a family and have been working in the creative fields for years. I feel this video in my bones. I enjoy your thoughts on the creative life!

[@cbnkp]

Never thought of myself as a football player kind of guy but now that I do... my photography career has already outlived most pro football careers. Not bad. 🤔

[@brianriedel5056]

I am finding this out year over year. As my business is growing I find it difficult to balance life and work. And I do this while balancing two jobs- the day job and photography job. I am grateful for a wife that is understanding that this is how most days are and caring about how my business does, that I am enjoying it, and that I am always evolving in it. Fingers crossed it will eventually come to be what I want it to be…before I retire. By the way I love your channel. I’d love to chat sometime.

[@6whatnext]

I personally know professional photographers and I know people with degrees in photography but I don’t personally know anyone with a degree who is also a professional photographer. Probably the most successful photographer I know gave up doing their A level half way through, feeling it was a waste of time, now employers about 10 + photographers

[@knocka007]

Amazing and so true 😅 always look forward to your videos to keep me on track ... thankyou 😊

[@jonjanson8021]

I'm a graduate photographer . Bachelors and Masters. Many of my peers got sucked into salaried jobs in the arts and related industries, obviously attracted by the reliable 9 to 5 routine and guaranteed good income. Only a few nutcases like myself were prepared to live on the poverty line for a few years. However the degrees did open a lot of doors, not sure I'd have been able to do it without them.

[@mikeslovak5589]

For me. I love arts in general as it is a very unique career path. But i want to keep my passion for it alive so instead i have been looking into the technical side of cameras more such as camera repair and even possibly film development for film photography junkies like myself. That way i can keep a stable business in repairing cameras and also keep actually shooting photos as my fun hobby

[@PauloOtago]

I really enjoy your honest insights. When people say why don’t you do photography full time, this is exactly the reason, because those areas of the business are not the bits I’d be good at.

[@Tandemdesigns]

All great points! US photographer here (now UX designer and animator) don’t forget Americans have to pay their own health insurance, that extra $2,400 a month for a family is what put me into another career.

[@JMIMEDIALLC]

This was a great, raw, and insightful take. Thank you for sharing your perspective. Obsession is the key to success and just reinforced that message.

[@hyltongudmanz7789]

Discovered your channel recently and am loving the wisdom and your humility. This is so true. My profession is different, but the principle remains. Even in music, Simon Phillips (Toto etc) was asked what it takes to be a pro vs hobbyist and said, "It must be your everything".

[@jeastmond3573]

This is the reality check that photographers need to hear! Thank you for creating this hard truth perspective!

[@steevewhitehead1416]

Love your ramblings, great insight to consider.

[@bifcake]

I don't get why people who love photography want to do it professionally. I had been a professional professional photographer for eight years and that took all the joy out of photography. I couldn't stand picking up a camera during my time off. Being in business is about making a living. It's not about creativity or self expression. Most professional photographers are technicians and problem solvers. They are not artists. I picked up a camera two years after quitting shooting professionally. I rediscovered the joy of photography, of shooting for myself, to be free to experiment, to fail and to produce images that are relevant to me, no matter whether anyone else deems them any good. The advice I would give is; don't let your passion become your job. Find something you don't mind doing and make that your career. Save your love and your passion for your own self expression. Free your passion from money.

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

Most people who think they’re going to be successful in photography, don’t understand it’s not what you know its who you know, you can be a shit photographer and still make it bigger if you know people!

[@stew_redman]

I think maybe the 14-month mark is to rule out 12 month contracts + 1-month leeway for contract extension/notice periods.

[@tedsmith_photography]

One of your very significant points you make, almost in passing, is that of "family"! When I think back 10 years ago when my kids were 4 and 1, and I had a stomach bug every other week, if I'd have had to shoot a high end wedding, then, it would have killed me, turning up with 3 hours of sleep and dehydrated from nausia! Only now that they are reaching a level of independance have I started to ramp things up.

[@dkremeni633]

And something else related to this that nobody talks about is, if you want to chase your dream to be a successful photographer, AND have a family, you better be prepared to leave your dream for a family(don't do it the other way around or the kids will suffer at the end). You don't know how is your partner in marriage going to react when you won't be home all the time because you will have to work A LOT. plus, jealousy, money irresponsibility from partner and more are all things you can be encountering(as always in life, nobody is perfect). if you are blessed you have a supporting partner that will sacrifice along side you, and accept every aspect of your dream you won the lottery, congratulations!

[@jamestarry4814]

I agree with a lot of this: i'm now at year 16 of my photography business. The only thing I slightly disagree with is the '£500-1000 a day wont make you enough money/you wont be working every day/your over heads are huge" .... that might be the truth for the high end commercial world but there are jobs in the industry that are low overheads and where you can work everyday.

[@tourmaline07]

I also agree with this being someone with a £500 day rate , I would charge a lot more if I did what Scott does mind

[@jamestarry4814]

​@@tourmaline07 Yeah there's a lot of grey areas. I cover all sorts of rates-depending on job. But I work every single day (except weekends) and my overheads are very low. Its just a bit more nuanced

[@lesath7883]

And once more, you talk about photography and life in general. This level of commitment and cometitiveness is just not for everyone. It's great some like you can do it. And it's also great the rest of us can share photography as a hobby.

[@animestarlord9021]

Hobbyist photographer here. Something I love but I'm always told how bad I suck at it and to just snap pics with an iphone like a normal person.

[@infincreations]

I jumped into photography wanting to succeed and make some money. So I became an engineer...

[@jackbennett8966]

A scary reality as someone looking at uni for this, but I'm glad someone is talking about it. I appreciate the video.

[@AaronJMarch]

Love the ramblings!

[@Danperry1110]

Im 3 and half years in and ready for the long haul.

[@dvdragon]

Great talk. Thanks for keeping it real!

[@ronpettitt6184]

There was a time when my wife and I decided we were going to shoot weddings. Wedding shooters in our area make some good money and all. We set it up, we got some gigs and it didn't take long to realize we hated it. We no longer went shooting recreationally and it got to the point that when we thought of shooting it was "work". We spent all sorts of time in between weddings editing and preparing packages for brides and it was simply not for us. I don't miss those days at all. The pace and the commitment required is just not something I want to do with my life.

[@AndyBanner]

You've just described almost any small owner-managed business...

[@shanefoleymedia]

As always, I appreciate the raw advice. When you say stagnating from leveling up in your career, what did that look like for you? What were the steps that you took in your career, how long did they take, and how did they get you to where you are today?

[@robertlawrence7958]

Being self employed is 90% business skills. The photography is 10%. Modern equipment has removed most of the technical difficulties from photography and so getting decent results isn't that difficult. People buy a camera, get some decent results, sell a few prints, maybe get an image or two published (probably for a piffling little sum of money or even for nothing) and hey presto they call themselves a 'Professional Photographer '. Yeah; dream on.

[@kevinkelly2513]

It has been the same since the movie Blow Up came out in 1966. Everyone thought that if they owned a Nikkormat camera, they can wander around a park all day and be a professional photographer. Until they realized that they would be staying up until 2-3 o'clock in the morning printing pictures they weren't particularly fond of. In the meantime, their friends were enjoying an evening out, or getting a good nights sleep.

[@thephotoroad]

In my opinion this is your best video yet. You spell out the hard truths in honest and brutal fashion about what it takes to find success. Though it’d be interesting to hear more of your views about what defines “success” .

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

I think next week or the week after there is a video about that.

[@tourmaline07]

Good video - this is the first year I've done being completely full time as a photographer and its been an experience growing the business to be able to be self sufficient. Lot of work - but also a lot of reward. Been an eye opener as someone who's been (too) comfortable with being semi-pro for a while needing to expand out of my comfort zone and take on new clients to grow. Something I will say is there are two entiely separate crafts - making money by providing value and the craft of photography and you need to master both and understand they are separate. Doing that meant I can keep my passion even if money was tough.

[@karlaston3491]

This is so, so true and it isn't discussed enough. Photography is art, but combine that with a need to make money and it becomes a very different thing. I love photography, but not enough to be a pro. In fact, maybe if you love it you can't be a pro. You have to commit, give everything you have, ignore the rest of your life and.....it still might not be enough. Great video with a much-needed message.

[@87bjerke]

I love all the stuff you are sharing, but I could not disagree more with you on this one. Being a photographer - for me - has been the most fun and enjoying process of all the things I have done in my life. I dont drive any BMW or so, but I have more family time, more money and more fun, than I would have in any other job I could get. Being a photographer dont have to wreck you in any way :)

[@jeffcloud4913]

TRUTH! Man, your stuff, philosophy - everything - so good. And yes, this needs to be in the intro class to every "sexy" job. Keep going.

[@Popa_Bogdan_Light_Drawing]

Nice point in the end!!!

[@davidgambin2551]

So much truth in your words

[@emendoz1]

Absolutely correct!

[@inlocoparentis]

I'm at the beginning stages of planning out a move into photography. This was VERY helpful.

[@tonyperez5360]

you're 100% correct

[@photobizmethod]

This is awesome!!! So true; what a great video! It's so refreshing to see others like me hahaha! I work all the time but I don't feel like it's work ;-)

[@funknick]

The comparison to a footballer is very apt. This advice also fits very well with many, many other creative pursuits like painting, music, or writing. Unfortunately, the reality is that being a photographer is hard. Everyone wants to play with cameras, get creative, and get paid handsomely for it. The same goes for a musician, everyone wants to be a rockstar, very few have the grit and luck to make it. Similarly for a writer hoping to be the next George R.R. Martin. You're also right about people not really wanting to put in the effort. I have friends and family who "passively" try and be a creative. Many of them seem oblivious to the amount of real work they need to put in to get a foothold in their industries. Compared to what you've sacrificed, they're coasting along, believing in false hope that someone will come along and notice them. This is also likely why I'll remain a hobbyist in photography. I am a professional in my day job, I sacrificed a significant portion of my life getting to where I am. If I pivot to photography, it will be because I'm ready to commit the same way I did for my current career. Society doesn't reward half-assed effort, it rewards discipline and grit.

[@philliphickox4023]

any one who wants to be an entrepreneur has to fully commit, for example a writer or an actor or a sportsman, it is not just photography. I know people who work in the computer industry, the acronym for IBM is I've been Married too! Another was that the big companies would put the wives in the city that the husband spends the least amount of time in, one person I know personally was sacked mid intercontinental flight. There are many industries that are just as brutal and only people who fully commit have a chance at getting the rewards.

[@Titaniumparts]

I do 'professional' photography as part of a broad one-stop-shop service. Largely commercial reportage to illustrate company websites and promotions. Deep, unglamorous niches mostly. Alongside that, I create the website, write the content, conceptualise the branding, design logos etc. etc. At my (humble) end of the market it's expected, but also wholly misunderstood and undervalued by clients. Almost universally my skill set is being progressively undermined. Anyone with an iPhone thinks that's all you need to be a good photographer (I get sent shocking rubbish to post on websites - "but it was shot with an iPhone" as though that's sufficient). Also, with outfits like Wix promoting the idea that building a website is easy, clients now imagine that websites virtually build themselves; maybe technically, but quality content is everything and that doesn't appear automatically. It's getting harder and harder to charge enough to survive because increasingly too many people think what I do is easy and doesn't justify my fees. Working in the 'creative' sector really isn't easy.

[@HVRIS]

"I shoot to pay the bills" - I can relate

[@alstuart8801]

Well im a retired adland art director and i shoot for me. ( and possibly the model!)

[@goldenwestdrain]

Amen brother !!!!

[@TerenceKearns]

Love these ramblings

[@MakersTeleMark]

Another corollary as well is that you can't fake, or short cut pure experience over time. You actually have to walk the miles.

[@nerb.p.1928]

This one was just great.

[@CaptureAsia]

Been doing professional photography since 2006. I think what I can conclude, don't get into it unless one understands the aspect of running a proper business. Just having that passion is not sustainable. Photography business which is a small business, is most likely is a one man show doing everything all. How much you earn is how much work hour is put in, there's a cap to it and no company benefit from being a self-employ. Not forgetting monthly cost for software, equipment/studio break down requires repair cost etc. I think the worst part is client's account forget to pay and dealing with late payment. LOL. Well if you are still insist to become a photographer. Is better to work smart than work hard as a photographer.

[@griffithdowney8612]

Thankyou for saying this

[@patchharvey7892]

I reckon the 14 month metric might be to see who’s still in work after an initial 12 month contract in their first job. Obvs not really relevant for a career like photography but they’ll be using the same metric as for ‘traditional’ jobs

[@daylanbrawley631]

Totally agree, I’m still in the stage of having a 9-5 while doing 📸 work on the side. I like to assume that people take up photography and quit within 14 months either because they don’t get the immediate praise that a world class photograoher gets (on social media) OR they assume that they hit a ceiling and can never progress past that OR they see the Dunning Kruger photographers getting surface level success (on social media) and get discouraged

[@photom3]

University is about washing a new batch of students every year. If they tell you the harsh reality, you drop out and the university suffers. So true, if you don’t do the work don’t expect success.

[@pauldarville3843]

Great advice and insight, Thanks!!!

[@ross.mcnaughtan]

I've met plenty of people who've done the fifteen years and still just eek out a living.

[@alancornes8916]

I suspect that many people think that war correspondent photography, fashion photography, travel documentary photography, are cool photographic jobs all the other genres are simply jobs, despite the kit and studio you mention and are surrounded by. People are probably more realistic and pragmatic than you seem to give them credit for.

[@shabir2020]

CORRECT SAID

[@andychandler3992]

I've only been shooting for a year... I have had to commit to going out and taking pictures everyday. Subjecting myself to criticism and staying silent and learning. Hours cleaning equipement and charging batteries. An introvert who's forced to network!!!! Yeah... it's work.

[@petevonschondorf4609]

another good video, thats applicable to many professions. But, I think you nailed it when you said Colleges/schools/parents don't tell the snowflakes you won't get a job or you will need to make sacrifices and maybe in 10 years you can to a point where you make a go of it.

[@danienelphoto]

23 years a pro. I work 60 hrs a week minimum. Not a flex. Just what it is. No paid sick days, holidays or off days. I am not in the premium income bracket, so its not like I can flex that. This is iltimately commercial art, and not electricsl engineering. It is almost always a discretionary spend for companies, so you have to be ready to price for down times when this part of their get cut first.