Photographers – What Was Your Breaking Point To Start Getting Paid?
August 26th, 2009 | 
Author: Curious how most got going. List what your primary type of income photography is (Ie. Weddings, concerts, stock, product, etc), and what your path was to the day you then got a steady stream of paid business.
Thank you very much. I know each answer will be different, but trying to assess the common characteristics of each.
Posted in digital photography | 
Tags: Breaking, Getting, Paid, Photographers, Point, Start, What, Your
I was interested in photography at school, went to college to get qualifications in photography and I have been in full time employment doing photography ever since. I am currently employed by a government agency responsible for safeguarding the Scottish nation’s historic environment and promoting its understanding and enjoyment.http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/inde…
The path started with attending a photo school, two years later working as an assistant to a successful photographer, followed by another two years working as an assistant staff photographer for a large Fortune 500 company.
After about 12 years of combined school and working as an assistant, I was ready to go it on my own. Yes, I still from time to time assist as do I have photographers assist me.
Except for school, I was paid for my services as an assistant photographer. As I moved in to other realms of photography, I worked with a successful fashion,photographer and a successful sports photographer which helped me learn about all the unique skills necessary to be successful in those areas.
So figure at least ten years of school and assisting before you are ready to go on your own.
Don’t forget to visit SCORE and write a business and marketing plan as well as a P&L sheet to chart the next couple of years which list both fixed and variable costs, capitalization and where the break even point in time is.
Great question.
I began shooting for the high school yearbook and newspaper my senior year of high school. I knew fairly early I wanted to make some kind of a living in photography, I just didn’t know what specifically.
I complete a four-year degree at a reputable photojournalism program. There they gave me the hands-on training to become a staff photographer for a newspaper. If I had to do it all over again I would definitely get a minor or double major in business, too.
I began my professional career, scratching out a meek living, doing internships for a year and then earned a staff position for a newspaper in the South. I worked there for five years.
In 2003 I returned to my hometown in the Midwest and went freelance in photojournalism. After a couple years of that I got sick of being broke and sick of the newspaper world’s hostility and apathy towards the average photojournalist.
I was intrigued by the use of photojournalism in wedding photography and decided to give it a shot. It was the best career move I could have made. At first it was mostly me stomaching low-paying newspaper and freelance work while hustling for a few weddings that first year.
It is a gradual process building a client list for any photographer. But it is very gratifying to see it grow and produce for you. I now have my own home, some savings and am funding a retirement with something left over to enjoy each month.