Why Are You Giving Up Your Dreams?
Friday, 20 February 2009 10:39
Author: Dan Eitreim
If you were a professional photographer, working every day at a job you love, how would your life change? Would a career making beautiful images make your dreams come true?
If you were a professional photographer, working every day at a job you love, how would your life change? Would a career making beautiful images make your dreams come true?
Are you currently making money as a paid, photographer? If not, why? What's stopping you?
Are you afraid your images, "won't stack up?" Have you fallen into the trap of comparing your work to all the best magazine photographers? Or have you been looking at all those stunning, photo contest winners? You know, those incredible, breathtaking shots that we look at and sadly shake our heads (knowing in our hearts that we could never do THAT!) once again letting our dreams die and returning to our boring, soul sucking lives?
We've screwed up!
Think about it for a moment, are those shots really the day in and day out images of a working professional? Nope. The magazine shots are usually the result of thousands of dollars worth of computer retouching - on top of the work of some of the most talented photographers. The contest winners are once in a lifetime shots! If they were the photographers normal work, they wouldn't have bothered to enter the photo in a contest! And THAT'S what you are comparing yourself to? Not good.
Swing by the local mall, go to the first portrait studio you see, (there's usually several) and watch for a little while. Soon, you'll be saying to yourself, "I could do better than that!" Want a tip? You probably COULD do a better job.
Really, ignore the beanie with the propeller on top and take a close look at the photographer. Usually they are just high school or college kids, still living at home and working part time to pick up a few extra bucks for spending loot! There's no special training or talent there. Typically the store manager spent a couple hours showing them some easy poses and turned them loose.
When they got their job, it wasn't due to some super portfolio. Usually one of their friends worked there and got them the job - or they were in the mall one day, applying at ALL the stores and the photo place called them back first.
In other words, with no special talent or background, they stumbled into what you would think of as a dream job, but have always considered as out of your reach!
Let's discuss their abilities and knowledge. (I'm hoping the standards are higher now!) Some time ago, I had a chance to talk with the manager of a local branch of a chain baby portrait studio. She'd been manager for three years and had NEVER even bothered to look and see what brand of camera she was using. When asked, she had no idea. AND I guess one lighting setup fits all because the lights were permanently attached to the wall.
I can hear the mad rustling of paper as all you mall shooters scramble to write me some hate mail. Don't bother. I'm sure that many of you are knowledgeable, caring and do a terrific job. That wasn't my point. The point is; you don't have to be the reincarnation of Ansel Adams to make a decent living as a photographer. People mostly buy a few basic poses. Learn to create and shoot them and you are on the way. It's that easy.
You can be a photographer and starting your OWN photo business is actually easier than working for someone else. Just learn the basic lighting and poses, then learn a few time tested and proven marketing strategies, ones that will pull eager clients into your studio (actually, you don't even need a studio) and you are in the business of your dreams.I believe anyone interested in photography can learn to be making money with their camera within two weeks! By anyone, I mean YOU. Check out my website, the links are in the resources box.
If you were a professional photographer, working every day at a job you love, how would your life change? Would a career making beautiful images make your dreams come true?
Are you currently making money as a paid, photographer? If not, why? What's stopping you?
Are you afraid your images, "won't stack up?" Have you fallen into the trap of comparing your work to all the best magazine photographers? Or have you been looking at all those stunning, photo contest winners? You know, those incredible, breathtaking shots that we look at and sadly shake our heads (knowing in our hearts that we could never do THAT!) once again letting our dreams die and returning to our boring, soul sucking lives?
We've screwed up!
Think about it for a moment, are those shots really the day in and day out images of a working professional? Nope. The magazine shots are usually the result of thousands of dollars worth of computer retouching - on top of the work of some of the most talented photographers. The contest winners are once in a lifetime shots! If they were the photographers normal work, they wouldn't have bothered to enter the photo in a contest! And THAT'S what you are comparing yourself to? Not good.
Swing by the local mall, go to the first portrait studio you see, (there's usually several) and watch for a little while. Soon, you'll be saying to yourself, "I could do better than that!" Want a tip? You probably COULD do a better job.
Really, ignore the beanie with the propeller on top and take a close look at the photographer. Usually they are just high school or college kids, still living at home and working part time to pick up a few extra bucks for spending loot! There's no special training or talent there. Typically the store manager spent a couple hours showing them some easy poses and turned them loose.
When they got their job, it wasn't due to some super portfolio. Usually one of their friends worked there and got them the job - or they were in the mall one day, applying at ALL the stores and the photo place called them back first.
In other words, with no special talent or background, they stumbled into what you would think of as a dream job, but have always considered as out of your reach!
Let's discuss their abilities and knowledge. (I'm hoping the standards are higher now!) Some time ago, I had a chance to talk with the manager of a local branch of a chain baby portrait studio. She'd been manager for three years and had NEVER even bothered to look and see what brand of camera she was using. When asked, she had no idea. AND I guess one lighting setup fits all because the lights were permanently attached to the wall.
I can hear the mad rustling of paper as all you mall shooters scramble to write me some hate mail. Don't bother. I'm sure that many of you are knowledgeable, caring and do a terrific job. That wasn't my point. The point is; you don't have to be the reincarnation of Ansel Adams to make a decent living as a photographer. People mostly buy a few basic poses. Learn to create and shoot them and you are on the way. It's that easy.
You can be a photographer and starting your OWN photo business is actually easier than working for someone else. Just learn the basic lighting and poses, then learn a few time tested and proven marketing strategies, ones that will pull eager clients into your studio (actually, you don't even need a studio) and you are in the business of your dreams.I believe anyone interested in photography can learn to be making money with their camera within two weeks! By anyone, I mean YOU. Check out my website, the links are in the resources box.
About the Author:
Photo Marketing and making money with your camera is not only easy, it is something that YOU can do. It's amazingly easy to earn a full time or part time income working at freelance Photographer Jobs. to discover the secret to living the life of your dreams, just follow one of the links...
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