Local Professionals

[ArmySoldier777]

I was just curious as to the quality of the photography services provided by the local "Pro" photographers around here, so I decided to search around and see what I could find. Now this is excluding wedding photographers "not something I want to do", I haven't looked into any of those yet, they seem to be a pretty small group around here.

After looking through all their pages, I'm kind of surprised by the quality of their work.. Most of them are closer to where I was about a year ago, and they've been doing this for years.. I know I've definitely got a long way to go, it's a never ending road, but it makes me wonder if I should get into the market as well. A couple people I know "local photographers, not family or friends", keep telling me I should, but until now I haven't really taken the thought too seriously. Don't get me wrong, they're not all bad, they're just mostly... uninspired and bland.

I've got a pretty strong business mind, I've worked in financial and management positions before, so I'm not too worried that I'll fail on that end. I just used to always worry that maybe my product wouldn't be good enough "I've gotten to that stage where I'm definitely my hardest critic."

So what pushed you over the edge and made you decide to do it?

[Biomech]

I always think my photographs aren't very good. Occasionally I get one that I love, but I look at it too much and after about 4 hours I hate it :P

I found a good business opportunity (myPhotobooth) that looked viable and that's what sent me over the edge. Before that I had spent 7 years working in sales for Sony :P

[ArmySoldier777]

I know what you mean lol.

And maybe I should just do it then lol,

[Niresangwa]

I think you ought to just be patient here.

It's very tempting to do what you're thinking of doing, it's also very easy to go through other peoples work and think "Man, I can do that!"...

that said, didn't you just get a flash? I can't see any portrait work after a quick look, aside from candid snap shots of your niece... do you have any experience with people and portraits? if indeed the others are at the level you were a year ago, well, its arguable that they deserve to be in business.. that said, that's not an excuse for you to jump in as well.

Idk, i'm not saying GTFO or anything like that, just that perhaps you need to think a little harder, and work a lot harder before you even think of turning this into some money making scheme.

I think if you ask a lot of people on here who do this for a living, or make decent money from photography, (and there aren't many of us) a lot of them will say they just 'fell into it'... maybe some had that defining moment where a golden light shot down from the heavens and they decided their life's vocation was photography...but most i'm guessing just kind of went with things as they came to them..

[ArmySoldier777]

That last comment was more just joking about it. I definitely see what you're saying Niresangwa, and to be honest, I probably wouldn't do this for money lol, atleast not for a very long time. I was just kind of curious as to how you all got into it, because on here there's "for the most part" a very good standard in people's work that charge for their time. But looking around where I live, it's like they just picked up a camera and decided to start doing it for a living. Just kinda makes you wonder a little lol.

I do appreciate the advice though, and if I do decide to make that leap sometime in the future, I'll definitely take your advice to heart about it.

It's just hard to believe that consumers accept that quality of work I was seeing as "good"

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

I think if you ask a lot of people on here who do this for a living, or make decent money from photography, (and there aren't many of us) a lot of them will say they just 'fell into it'... maybe some had that defining moment where a golden light shot down from the heavens and they decided their life's vocation was photography...but most i'm guessing just kind of went with things as they came to them..

The ladder happened to me after a lot of hard work learning and practicing.

[AndyM2020]

Unfortunately it seems that you need to be better at business and sales than photography to make it as a photographer these days.

Obviously it helps if you are a good photographer, but if you are good at that and crap at business, you won't get far...

[ArmySoldier777]

Originally Posted by AndyM2020

Unfortunately it seems that you need to be better at business and sales than photography to make it as a photographer these days.

Obviously it helps if you are a good photographer, but if you are good at that and crap at business, you won't get far...

Yeah I've noticed that while looking though some of their profiles. They sell themselves very well, I'll give them that. Hell, a few of them even make me want to call them up. They've definitely got that area down. And not all of them are bad, there's some pretty good ones around here. But I'd say about 75% of the ones I've looked through, really aren't worth their cost. But if they're making it through, then good for them. Maybe I should post a link to DPS on their sites though lol.

[brianxlt]

If you have a good camera and some good glass a few lights and some back drops you can see if the PX will let you set up in the store or the court area if they have one. I have seen photo boths set up at several differnet Base BX's in my 25 years of service. Just a small screened in area with a back drop and a few lights and you have a photo both. The average going price of thier min package was around $150 and a $25 sitting fee. This could get you started.