How many of us sell our pictures ?

[frc]

Hobbies are for people that devide their time in working and spare time, i'm not one of these.
After picking up photography three years ago after not doing a single shot for over twenty years i gradually became tired of doing nice pictures. Once i got to the level of having a predictable hitrate i needed more challenge to continue.
Doing assignments gave me much more satisfaction than just shooting for my own collection, which i never looked at anyway. ( except study purpose ) Most of the shooting at this moment covers the cost of shooting or, slowly, is becoming beneficial.
The reportage and documentary type of shooting, investigating a theme is far more rewarding to me than just hobbying.
The real sales, well, yet to come. Expecting nothing but hoping for the best.

[jacksparrow]

OK, here's my question: how do you start in this business? I mean, I would be terrified at the idea of a bride not having her beloved pics because... a) I didn't take the cap from the lens, b) the roll wasn't propperly rewinded when the bottom was opened, c) the roll wasn't correctly attached and didn't move... you name it.

Maybe it's me, but I see that as a HUGE responsability! and you can only get good at it by doing it, I mean, the first few times must be awful stressing, aren't they? oh well... one of my frieds is getting married, I could pretend I'm covering their wedding, but that would really take most of the fun from the wedding wouldn't it?

It's like when I went to see the whales in Boston a few years ago... afterwe got back and I was getting off the boat, I suddenly realized I only looked at the whales through the freaking viewfinder, but never watched them with my eyes!! how sad!!

[abrewer]

Originally Posted by jacksparrow

OK, here's my question: how do you start in this business?

I've seen several ads in the paper and online from photogs looking for "assistants" and "interns" to lug their gear and do prep work with them. That's one way: on the job training with somebody that knows the ropes.

I kind of fell into by word of mouth. People knew I was into photography and they looked at my pics online and said "Hey, would you be able to do this or do that?". Most of the time the answer is yes if you have any kind of kit at all.

[ddp]

Originally Posted by jacksparrow

OK, here's my question: how do you start in this business?

In my case - I started shooting for my college newspaper "The Review" at the University of Delaware my sophomore year. After shooting for a few weeks and working in the darkroom - things clicked. No pun intended I was an undeclared student and decided this was something I really wanted to pursue. Became an Art major, concentration in photography shot weird artsy stuff when I wasn't shooting sports and features. Was Photo Editor Junior & Senior year and eventually found work in the healthcare field. I've also done a wide variety of freelance work via word of mouth.

I've done weddings....and they are indeed stressful. But, using the M's make it alot more interesting. I tend to disappear into the proceedings and use the Noct as a weapon. Fun stuff once you get into the zone.

[flatfour]

Eugenio - When I was a schoolboy I took a photo with my Ikonta folding camera with 4.5 Tessar of a new highrise block of flats under construction. I printed an excellent print and sent it to the local paper with a brief story of why the flats were being built in a wood. On publication dayt there on the front page of the paper was my picture. I was thrilled - at 13 years old to have my picture on the front page, and I waited for the payment. Nothing came so my father telephoned the paper to ask why I had not been paid. They said that their in house photographer had taken the picture. Their photographer had gone to the site and stood exactly where I stood and taken an identical picture, except that in his picture there were two extra pieces of scaffolding. I have had a very poor view of picture editors since then.

[Bruno Frisch]

My pictures as such don't sell .... however they do help sell the articles I sell.

I take all pictures myself and I do believe they actually contribute to the succes rate of my articles.

I find this a pleasing pasttime and intigrates my "hobby" with my profession.

[NZDavid]

I'm a journalist, working part-time for a newspaper editing a monthly home and lifestyle publication, combined with part-time freelance writing and photography. I've been doing this arrangement for a couple of years, and it seems to work well. I've had photos and stories published in various publications in New Zealand, Australia, the US, Britain and Germany. I've also sold pictures by themsleves. Having a website is well worthwhile, though mine needs updating!

It's good to submit stories and photos. Leica lenses (eg, the 24ASPH) do seem to make a difference, though digital P/S helps save money for some projects. I love film Leicas, so can't see myself getting an M8 at the moment. Maybe another P/S.

I'd love to hear more experiences from people, as I may be talking on photography at a freelancers' seminar.

Cheers,
David

www.davidkillick.co.nz

[elansprint72]

On and off for about 35 years, mainly niche stuff, has paid for all my equipment and expenses and sometimes put a "little" bread on the table. Would not want to give up the day job though; well, actually.......
I like to produce the copy which goes with the shots which, rather frustratingly, often pays more than the photos.

As for getting into it- it's about who you know, one thing leads to another.

Pete.

[jelderfield]

I have worked as a picture editor! and photographer for 17 years. I did shoot news for a few years but prefer personal (art) photograhy of a street/documentary nature. So I work as a photo editor (currently AP, previously Chicago Trib, NY Times) while doing my own work when I'm not editing. Right now I'm working on swimsuit rehearsal photos from Miss America in Vegas. Sorry to the above poster who had his childhood image stolen by the paper - but all photo editors aren't bad.

I've sold plenty of news pictures to mags like New York, Newsweek, etc., but having a personal picture as a spread in National Geographic was a high moment for me. The Future is Calling @ nationalgeographic.com

Also made a book: "Living Under South Street" that cost a lot of my own money and hasn't sold great but it's great to have it out there.
photo-eye | JONATHAN ELDERFIELD - Living Under South Street.

I have a show this spring at the CUE art foundatiuon in NYC.

So, I'm not quite making a living doing my own work, but I'm living the photographic life.

Cheers, Jonathan....and good luck - I hope you enjoy the links.
Jonathan Elderfield Photography

[octo]

In 1982, I believe, I was begged by WCA (?) to sell some colour transparencies I had shot of Randy Newman during a recording session in Paris (M2 + 35 Summicron) for the inside of the sleeve of his album. I did. I happened to be the only bod carrying a camera in the studio.
Since then, one exhibition of pictures taken in China in 1980 (M2 + 35 'cron and IIIg + 1.4/50 Nikkor), I certainly wished somebody would have bought a few since all the framing was bought and made by me... A series of shots during a theatre creation...to the members of the cast... and it was very local, believe me (this time with M3 and MP added to the tools + sundry old and new lenses reading this forum made me buy).
There is still hope, though.

[santila]

I sell but not from my Leica collection. Most of the photography field is dead for selling by the abundance of digital cameras.
The market is in industrial, commercial photography and not just sell but produce.
For travel or landscape one need to spend almost 365 days on the road, have lots of money for travel, go off the beaten tracks and be established year after year.
There is no room or not much for amatures.