Happy Photographer

[Elmo]

Having seen several threads about wanting to go pro to pay for the photography addiction I felt compelled to make a comment or two. 50+ years ago I fell into that trap and started stringing for a newspaper. This led to weddings, then portraits, then Glamour, then commercial and on and on. Was I successful sort of, but there was always something new to buy. I guess the second most enjoyable, the most lucrative and the most constant paying, was teaching photography. Why was teaching so much better than the others? Simply I got to do my own thing: I picked the subjects to shoot. No time schedules to meet or art directors to fight with, freedom of expression.

In today’s times the market for still photography is dwindling fast. Digital has make photography easy and now draws more folks than ever into the pro ranks so competition has become more intense. To me the future in pro-photography does not look good. Now, the cost of camera bodies are out of sight, and to stay up they need replacing every 18 months or so. Less work, more competition, higher operating cost, does not sound promising to me.

I was told many years ago to no complain unless you had a solution. The solution: become a starving artist. Learn to express yourself, be creative, not copy others. Learn what you like to photograph and stick to it. Learn how to do it better with each image you capture. Learn to use the equipment you have and use its weaknesses to enhance your images. Make images you enjoy both making and viewing. I have become a starving artist and enjoy photography more now than ever.

Let me close with a short example a single father of two young children (No time to get out and go) has found his place. He uses a homemade light box a couple of regular light bulbs, to photograph still life’s after his kids are in bed. He uses an old Canon digital rebel with a $35.00 (e-bay) Olympus OM micro lens. He sells tons of small prints (8x10 or smaller) at sidewalk art shows. He shoots when he wants to he shows when he wants to. He is another happy starving artist.

[Jim Bryant]

Yes, but I believe he might also have a full-time job to support his madness. You're wise to have thought all this out ahead to time, many don't.