Both for me ;) I don't think you should stop enjoyng photography if you make money out of it - in fact the reverse.
However, it isn't the sole income provider, probably 40%, but as I have only been taking photographs for just over a year, suprising how easy it is to make a little money.
Basicly as a designer I got fed up with commisioning £300 images for clients so brought a camera and now take them myself.
Both for me ;) I don't think you should stop enjoyng photography if you make money out of it - in fact the reverse.
Making money from it is ok with me too :) The part I avoid is becoming 'contracted' to do specific photos. I will do it occasionally but I try to stay away from it.
This is not to say that anyone who enjoys doing that shouldn't :)
Both for me ;) I don't think you should stop enjoyng photography if you make money out of it - in fact the reverse.
Making money from it is ok with me too :) The part I avoid is becoming 'contracted' to do specific photos. I will do it occasionally but I try to stay away from it.
This is not to say that anyone who enjoys doing that shouldn't :)
As one who has used his camera to make money in the past, actually photographing things was enjoyable, but it was the whole rest of the business that drove me from it. Whenever I was shooting, it was great. What made me batty was billing and not getting paid, or being told that they pay in 90 days when I have a lot of $$ in film and processing costs. Ignorant clients trying to get you to shoot for less than the film costs. Giving clients the shot they approved the polaroid for during the shoot and then having them want a re-shoot (at my expense, of course) because they changed their mind.
Still, I always shot personal work as well, sometimes it was just a variation of a client's shot, though, usually it was something I had done on my own. It made up the largest part of my portfolio that I showed to potential clients.
Back in the 70´s I had the chance to work as a photographer on a daily newspaper and it almost killed my private photographing. In those days you spent SO much time in the darkroom.
Today it´s just a hobby taking as much time as I decide for myself. (Or as much time as my wife allow me to do). Just joking. Nowadays she´s shooting more than I do (mostly for this site).
I think you must stay away from doing this as a pro if you want to enjoy your private shooting. I think it can be just too much photographing and darkroom-computing.
Both. I love what I get out of it personally, but I also work at a photo studio and do portraits occasionally on the side. I just got a call to do a Valentine's wedding! :P YIPPEE!!
:)
It started as a hobby for me, suddenly turned into my work, which is my obsession! I love going to work and doing stuff which is my hobby! The studio I work at, there are many professionals, and I learn a lot. I can not say that one can earn a lot there and get rich, but for being well-off can be enough, if one worrks a lot.
Hobby for me but I enjoy it so much I'd like to do some work on the side to help defray the cost.
All-in-all, its my creative outlet; photography lets me find my voice (which, after looking through my galleries, sounds like an enraged bullfrog with a large horsefly lodged in his throat).
When are you considered a professional? What's the line between amateur/hobbyist and professional? Obviously that a pro makes more money from their work but is there anything else?
Is there anything in your background that is helping you with your photography? Artist, Graphic Design, Degrees, etc?
I didn't even like photography that much until I got my first digital camera back in April/May '02. It was only until I joined this site that photography became a hobby to me.
It's a hobby for me, but i don´t have much time to enjoy it, i think that´s one of the many reasons i can´t get good enough photos, as you can see in my portfolio......
