Making money out of photography - Page 4 - Perth-WRX.com

pete gopal · #31 27-11-2008, 11:21 AM

^^ cheers, might be a way to start i guess. Nice calendar though, a good to see your car in there too. GTR next year?

FFOUR · #32 27-11-2008, 11:24 AM

Haha, nah the proper one I will do next week will only feature Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche and Aston Martin. No Evo shit.

pete gopal · #33 27-11-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red_MY04

Haha, nah the proper one I will do next week will only feature Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche and Aston Martin. No Evo shit.

yeah noticed you selling the evo

will there be a red_gtr next year??

FFOUR · #34 27-11-2008, 12:35 PM

No, not a big GTR fan....European cars and motorbikes do it for me.

methd · #35 03-12-2008, 05:05 PM

For ninjaxwrx -

I started Full Time photography a little over two yrs ago. I now do media and corporate work during the week and weddings on the weekends. During the week, I usually do about 2-3 gigs @ the standard rate of about $175 an hr (min two hrs) and on weekends, I charge around $3-4k for a day. I now have 37 weddings booked for 2009 and a half dozen for 2010.

If you want to get into photography as a career it has nothing to do with formal courses, degrees or certificates. It's about networking with the right ppl and knowing how to shoot in different conditions. Assuming you know how to use a camera (and I mean use it in every conceivable light condition) the hardest part if the business side to get the jobs. For weddings, it's all about your portfolio and how your photos (artistic side) aligns with the clients'. A top wedding photographer can easily charge 7-10k per wedding for a day's work and have 50+ weddings booked a year. Working only 50 days a year, it's extremely rewarding and also a job that is enjoyable to do.

To get the big jobs - advertising, commercial, fashion and editorial, you MUST have the best camera systems. People will tell you it's not the gear but rather, the photographer. I can tell you it's BOTH. For media and corporate work, gear demands aren't so constrained and you can get away with medium level SLR (50D, 5D, D300 etc). If you want to be at the top of your game though, and consistently shoot the best photos, then you'll need pro bodies and lenses with backups.

So where to start? Choose what field of photography you want to be in ... and then shoot shoot shoot. Try and find a mentor who will teach you and tell you harshly and bluntly where you are going wrong. Never ask friends what they think of your photos as they will all say it's awesome and looks great.

Once you have a portfolio in the field you want to specialise, then setup a website that looks professional and display your work. Then the hard bit.... advertising and marketing. You will find that since everyone wants to be a photographer (and not everyone is), word of mouth is probably the most important way of finding clients.

Shoot gigs for free (or cost), attend events, network on facebook, myspace etc (but keep it professional) and most important of all, get a professional's opinion on where your work is heading (not your friends).

I moved to Melbourne almost three years ago to start a finance business but I hated working in the field, so I left it to my sister who now runs the business. I'm now at my my dream job, working 30 days a yr and fucking around every other day

My website: http://www.lumensphotography.com

Good luck mate

BLUES · #36 03-12-2008, 06:03 PM

Sounds like a good career move on your part - I don't think I could cut it doing weddings - drive me mad. When you start shooting supermodels, bikini shoots and attending "Hollywood" gigs fulltime, give me a call - I'll be your assistant ;-)

fobz · #37 03-12-2008, 07:04 PM

Far out... Everytime I see this thread my mind thinks its title is

"Making money out of pornography".

Now don't tell me I am the only one. At leat 80% of people are reading this
looking to make money from porn... Dirty f*ckers.

methd · #38 03-12-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fobz

Far out... Everytime I see this thread my mind thinks its title is

"Making money out of pornography".

Now don't tell me I am the only one. At leat 80% of people are reading this
looking to make money from porn... Dirty f*ckers.

Porn/sex always sells....

http://www.lumensphotography.com/gal...90242187_SihB3

pw = 123

pete gopal · #39 08-12-2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by methd

For ninjaxwrx -

I started Full Time photography a little over two yrs ago. I now do media and corporate work during the week and weddings on the weekends. During the week, I usually do about 2-3 gigs @ the standard rate of about $175 an hr (min two hrs) and on weekends, I charge around $3-4k for a day. I now have 37 weddings booked for 2009 and a half dozen for 2010.

If you want to get into photography as a career it has nothing to do with formal courses, degrees or certificates. It's about networking with the right ppl and knowing how to shoot in different conditions. Assuming you know how to use a camera (and I mean use it in every conceivable light condition) the hardest part if the business side to get the jobs. For weddings, it's all about your portfolio and how your photos (artistic side) aligns with the clients'. A top wedding photographer can easily charge 7-10k per wedding for a day's work and have 50+ weddings booked a year. Working only 50 days a year, it's extremely rewarding and also a job that is enjoyable to do.

To get the big jobs - advertising, commercial, fashion and editorial, you MUST have the best camera systems. People will tell you it's not the gear but rather, the photographer. I can tell you it's BOTH. For media and corporate work, gear demands aren't so constrained and you can get away with medium level SLR (50D, 5D, D300 etc). If you want to be at the top of your game though, and consistently shoot the best photos, then you'll need pro bodies and lenses with backups.

So where to start? Choose what field of photography you want to be in ... and then shoot shoot shoot. Try and find a mentor who will teach you and tell you harshly and bluntly where you are going wrong. Never ask friends what they think of your photos as they will all say it's awesome and looks great.

Once you have a portfolio in the field you want to specialise, then setup a website that looks professional and display your work. Then the hard bit.... advertising and marketing. You will find that since everyone wants to be a photographer (and not everyone is), word of mouth is probably the most important way of finding clients.

Shoot gigs for free (or cost), attend events, network on facebook, myspace etc (but keep it professional) and most important of all, get a professional's opinion on where your work is heading (not your friends).

I moved to Melbourne almost three years ago to start a finance business but I hated working in the field, so I left it to my sister who now runs the business. I'm now at my my dream job, working 30 days a yr and fucking around every other day

My website: http://www.lumensphotography.com

Good luck mate

Thanks for sharing your story mate, out of interest what sort of gear do you use for your portraits/weddings?

methd · #40 16-12-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete gopal

Thanks for sharing your story mate, out of interest what sort of gear do you use for your portraits/weddings?

I wouldn't say gear is massively important when just starting, but it helps when conditions are harder. I did a good dozen weddings on a couple of d200 when I first started and the pics are jut as good. You do get heaps better ambient and warm lighting with low light bodies and lenses though, and it does change the image a fair bit.

Right now I use two nikon d3 bodies and the main lenses I bring to a wedding is 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 200 f2, 50 f1.4. My second photographer always brings two bodies as well and we all use ff nikons.

I find that bringing too many lenses actually slows you down and you lose the moment, as cliched as it sounds. I also bring about three flashes and pocketwizards for remote lighting. Hope that helps.