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- Thread starter BigRed13
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medialinx536695
Forum Enthusiast
Weddings and portraits
Full-time, however I spend 4 months of the year working in stage management - so I would be full-time 8 months of the year.
Now, even Mr. Tax Man has to wait until I do my tax return, and even then he is very lucky to find out! ;-) Though I do get to eat a lot of nice meals at weddings, does that count as income? ;-)
medialinx536695
Forum Enthusiast
You're right, it is bold 
) So I will decline to comment... No offence.
) So I will decline to comment... No offence.1. Your main focus (portrait work, weddings, product...)?
• Youth Sports Photography with a sprinkling of professional sports (NFL, NBA and some MLB).
2. Full time or part time?
• Full Time
3. Annual NET income from your photography work?
• Gross receipts for 2007 totalled $474,000 but that does not include employee salaries, mortgage, Noritsu digital processor payments, insurance and other fixed costs in running a business. Profits will probably be about $180,000.
• Youth Sports Photography with a sprinkling of professional sports (NFL, NBA and some MLB).
2. Full time or part time?
• Full Time
3. Annual NET income from your photography work?
• Gross receipts for 2007 totalled $474,000 but that does not include employee salaries, mortgage, Noritsu digital processor payments, insurance and other fixed costs in running a business. Profits will probably be about $180,000.
jimcreative
Senior Member
1. Architecture & interiors
2. Full time, one-man shop.
3. 330K gross, will profit over 260K.
I work out of the home and really wanted to spend some money by year's end but nobody came through with a 1DsIII. Been on wait lists for almost 5 months.
--
'We spend all of our lives pushing the buttons and pulling the levers found on the front panel of reality. How can we be so certain that there is also not a rear panel... one that only God can reach, and when He does flip an unseen switch or turn a dial that is out of our reach we see it as a Miracle?' JR
http://www.jimroofcreative.net
2. Full time, one-man shop.
3.
I work out of the home and really wanted to spend some money by year's end but nobody came through with a 1DsIII. Been on wait lists for almost 5 months.
--
'We spend all of our lives pushing the buttons and pulling the levers found on the front panel of reality. How can we be so certain that there is also not a rear panel... one that only God can reach, and when He does flip an unseen switch or turn a dial that is out of our reach we see it as a Miracle?' JR
http://www.jimroofcreative.net
Andrew64673
Senior Member
1 weddings and portraits, trying to get into other fields too now
2 full time
3 just enough to get by on. have done a bit better in the past but I am not chasing weddings much now, transitioning phase
I dont think you will get a really accurate cross section here because
a) not many of us are actually pros
b) ones like me just getting by will likely not admit it, others may fudge it a bit
c) a lot of photogs seem to be full of it, not all, many are very genuine, but BSA's tend to burn brighter and louder
d) its an internet forum and I suspect a lot of bull due to the anonymity afforded
2 full time
3 just enough to get by on. have done a bit better in the past but I am not chasing weddings much now, transitioning phase
I dont think you will get a really accurate cross section here because
a) not many of us are actually pros
b) ones like me just getting by will likely not admit it, others may fudge it a bit
c) a lot of photogs seem to be full of it, not all, many are very genuine, but BSA's tend to burn brighter and louder
d) its an internet forum and I suspect a lot of bull due to the anonymity afforded
Scott W. McClure
Leading Member
1. Mostly PJ stuff for the local newspaper. Weddings, portraits, events on the side.
2. Full-time for the newspaper. Part-time in my own studio (legal business)
3. Working for the newspaper I barely broke $20,000, but it was a very steady paycheck which gives me the security to try and get my studio off the ground. I really didn't make very much from the studio, have to finish up the tally to figure it out, but not much.
--
Scott W. McClure
http://www.couriernews.com
http://www.got-photos.com
'You only get one sunrise and one sunset a day and you only get so many days on the planet. A good photographer does the math and doesn't waste either.'... The Late Galen Rowell
2. Full-time for the newspaper. Part-time in my own studio (legal business)
3. Working for the newspaper I barely broke $20,000, but it was a very steady paycheck which gives me the security to try and get my studio off the ground. I really didn't make very much from the studio, have to finish up the tally to figure it out, but not much.
--
Scott W. McClure
http://www.couriernews.com
http://www.got-photos.com
'You only get one sunrise and one sunset a day and you only get so many days on the planet. A good photographer does the math and doesn't waste either.'... The Late Galen Rowell
hatidua
Senior Member
1. tropical lifestyle and fishing images, mostly for stock (Tony Stone and now Getty)
2. full-time for the past 20 years
3. you won't even disclose your email address in your profile and yet you want me to post my net income?
mark
http://www.markpix.com
2. full-time for the past 20 years
3. you won't even disclose your email address in your profile and yet you want me to post my net income?
mark
http://www.markpix.com
onelegwest
Member
Do you have any experience with shooting Martial Arts competitions? If so, what is the average size of the competitions you shoot and have you been successful at selling prints onsite if that's what you offer.
Thanks,
--
Dave
Surrey, BC
Canada
Thanks,
--
Dave
Surrey, BC
Canada
Thanks to all for taking the time to respond - I know #3 is a bold question and after I posted it - I decided I should have not asked it - so for that - I apologize.
The reason I ask these questions - Is that I am looking for a career change. I am in my early 30's (with a family and a very steady income with good benefits) - however, my passion for photography continues to grow - Yes I have a lot to learn still - but I have had difficulty in finding out any info on what kind of income potential there is in the photography business.
Thanks again.
The reason I ask these questions - Is that I am looking for a career change. I am in my early 30's (with a family and a very steady income with good benefits) - however, my passion for photography continues to grow - Yes I have a lot to learn still - but I have had difficulty in finding out any info on what kind of income potential there is in the photography business.
Thanks again.
Silver_Back
Well-known member
1-commercial, in-house @ a publishing company, work entails location & studio fashion, studio sets, location interior & exteriors, etc.
2-full-time in-house for the last 15 years, full-time advertising & commercial for 15 years before that,
3-just over $100k (as employee/owner of an ESOP corporation...)
Yes it's a bold question, but you still have a right to ask, and "we" have a right to choose whether or not we'll answer (at all, or accurately...{yes, my answers are accurate...})
I started out shooting for about 1/10th what I'm making now, as a photographer. I honestly don't know if I could have afforded the learning/earning curve if I had to support a family. Best of luck to you whether you choose to photograph as a career, or as an artist, or just for the sheer joy of it!
--
Silver_Back
Nikon, Fuji, Canon, Contax, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Sinar, Wista, Speedotron, Lowel, Mole-Richardson, Gitzo, Bogen, Matthews, Macintosh, Toshiba, Lacie, Epson, and LOTS of gaffer's tape
2-full-time in-house for the last 15 years, full-time advertising & commercial for 15 years before that,
3-just over $100k (as employee/owner of an ESOP corporation...)
Yes it's a bold question, but you still have a right to ask, and "we" have a right to choose whether or not we'll answer (at all, or accurately...{yes, my answers are accurate...})
I started out shooting for about 1/10th what I'm making now, as a photographer. I honestly don't know if I could have afforded the learning/earning curve if I had to support a family. Best of luck to you whether you choose to photograph as a career, or as an artist, or just for the sheer joy of it!
--
Silver_Back
Nikon, Fuji, Canon, Contax, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Sinar, Wista, Speedotron, Lowel, Mole-Richardson, Gitzo, Bogen, Matthews, Macintosh, Toshiba, Lacie, Epson, and LOTS of gaffer's tape
Silver_Back
Well-known member
If you don't mind my asking, would you mind breaking down that gross by shooting fees vs prints. I have a good friend here in Seattle who's migrated from film to digital, and as an architectural shooter he's making the bulk of his income from Epson inkjet prints he used to have to shop out to a lab... Of course, the lab has now closed it's doors, but he's thrilled with the transition.
Thanks if you answer, and my apologies if you consider it to be none of my business...
--
Silver_Back
Nikon, Fuji, Canon, Contax, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Sinar, Wista, Speedotron, Lowel, Mole-Richardson, Gitzo, Bogen, Matthews, Macintosh, Toshiba, Lacie, Epson, and LOTS of gaffer's tape
Thanks if you answer, and my apologies if you consider it to be none of my business...
--
Silver_Back
Nikon, Fuji, Canon, Contax, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Sinar, Wista, Speedotron, Lowel, Mole-Richardson, Gitzo, Bogen, Matthews, Macintosh, Toshiba, Lacie, Epson, and LOTS of gaffer's tape
jimcreative
Senior Member
No problems. I went for almost 25 years and never had an inkling of an idea as to what a photographer could/should/would do in terms of dollars and cents and I just figure I would let the cat out of the bag. Funny though, I would tell strangers and the whole world here but I would never get into it with friends or secondary family.
As for the breakdown, I make very little off of prints. Most of my clients are self-producing their own marketing materials using my images and my printing of my images just does not enter the picture. I still have one client that I do aerial photography for (I don't even market aerial work since it pays so little in my area). I sell 90% of my prints to them but that is still only about 1000.00 per month. I would say that fees and licensing are at least 85% of my net profit. The other 15% would be product sales, mostly digital files and prints.
Hope that helps.
--
'We spend all of our lives pushing the buttons and pulling the levers found on the front panel of reality. How can we be so certain that there is also not a rear panel... one that only God can reach, and when He does flip an unseen switch or turn a dial that is out of our reach we see it as a Miracle?' JR
http://www.jimroofcreative.com
As for the breakdown, I make very little off of prints. Most of my clients are self-producing their own marketing materials using my images and my printing of my images just does not enter the picture. I still have one client that I do aerial photography for (I don't even market aerial work since it pays so little in my area). I sell 90% of my prints to them but that is still only about 1000.00 per month. I would say that fees and licensing are at least 85% of my net profit. The other 15% would be product sales, mostly digital files and prints.
Hope that helps.
--
'We spend all of our lives pushing the buttons and pulling the levers found on the front panel of reality. How can we be so certain that there is also not a rear panel... one that only God can reach, and when He does flip an unseen switch or turn a dial that is out of our reach we see it as a Miracle?' JR
http://www.jimroofcreative.com
hatidua
Senior Member
You'd probably get a lot more income responses if this wasn't such a public venue. However, on another front altogether, if you are concerned about financial security this may not be the best occupation to consider. Yes, many do very very well.....and some can't even pay the bills.
If you want it so badly that you simply cannot imagine doing ANYTHING else, then photography is for you. However, if you approach career choice with a balance sheet ahead of time, there are a host of other ways of making money that will provide more security for your family and make a lot more sense on paper as a livelihood. If you are already in the healthcare field, I suspect you are well setup considering the ills that will shortly befall the baby boomers.
Photography is not so unlike acting as a career choice: some do fantastically well, others wait tables at the diner to cover living expenses/
mark
http://www.markpix.com
If you want it so badly that you simply cannot imagine doing ANYTHING else, then photography is for you. However, if you approach career choice with a balance sheet ahead of time, there are a host of other ways of making money that will provide more security for your family and make a lot more sense on paper as a livelihood. If you are already in the healthcare field, I suspect you are well setup considering the ills that will shortly befall the baby boomers.
Photography is not so unlike acting as a career choice: some do fantastically well, others wait tables at the diner to cover living expenses/
mark
http://www.markpix.com
BraveUlysses
Senior Member
I'm not a pro, but I do know a woman.. oops, wrong thread...
Seriously, I'm not a pro, but judging from previous posts here about photographer's income, I think you'll find that potential income is very much a factor of WHERE you are in regards location and/or your willingness to travel, and how well you can market yourself. Subject, skill and equipment are very much in the minority (assuming that all are at least equal to the task, of course.) Unless you happen to luck into a big celebrity wedding, nail it and can continue in the same vein, of course...
--
Rob
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone, everywhere, has to do everything for a first time. There is no shame in failure, only in failure to try.
BraveUlysses
Senior Member
I still work in a coal mine. Even though I love taking photos, I've become addicted to a certain level of lifestyle, and my work pays me well enough that I can take time off and 'dabble' when I want to. It annoys me, as I feel like a fake photographer sometimes, but there it is! Maybe I need to 'just do it' as they say, jump and hope like hell that I can actually walk the walk?
--
Rob
'Just another chalk outline on the highway of life!'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone, everywhere, has to do everything for a first time. There is no shame in failure, only in failure to try.
--
Rob
'Just another chalk outline on the highway of life!'
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone, everywhere, has to do everything for a first time. There is no shame in failure, only in failure to try.
mjt
Senior Member
BigRed13 wrote:
[snip]
much easier than asking folks their income in a public forum.
but i will leave that for your own exercise.
personally, if you're asking, because you have some reservations,
then you're not ready.
you mention, "I am in my early 30's (with a family and a very
steady income with good benefits) ".
unless you're established, you will NOT have a steady income
from photography, MOST especially since you admit that you
"have a lot to learn still". and the mere fact that you're asking
how much folks are making, you have no idea about profit
generation from this business.
i'm going to throw out something that is MUCH more important
than, "...have had difficulty in finding out any info on what kind
of income potential there is...".
do you think it's all about "income potential" ? photography
is more than that (photography business). it's all about the
results your bring to the table.
so, the better question to ask yourself is, "do you deliver the
results that folks are willing to pay for" ? starting a business
as volatile as photography, you must have smarts, guts, and
the portfolio to prove yourself, over and over again.
[snip]
it's easier to discover/research income potential than you think,
much easier than asking folks their income in a public forum.
but i will leave that for your own exercise.
personally, if you're asking, because you have some reservations,
then you're not ready.
you mention, "I am in my early 30's (with a family and a very
steady income with good benefits) ".
unless you're established, you will NOT have a steady income
from photography, MOST especially since you admit that you
"have a lot to learn still". and the mere fact that you're asking
how much folks are making, you have no idea about profit
generation from this business.
i'm going to throw out something that is MUCH more important
than, "...have had difficulty in finding out any info on what kind
of income potential there is...".
do you think it's all about "income potential" ? photography
is more than that (photography business). it's all about the
results your bring to the table.
so, the better question to ask yourself is, "do you deliver the
results that folks are willing to pay for" ? starting a business
as volatile as photography, you must have smarts, guts, and
the portfolio to prove yourself, over and over again.
Silver_Back
Well-known member
There's no such thing as a "fake photographer"! I've seen over and over again that financial success is a very poor predictor of talent! They may go hand in hand, but not necessarily. I've made a couple million dollars in my lifetime of professional photography, and I am continually humbled (photographically) be "amateurs" who have only made pocket change with their cameras, if even that. I'm actually quite envious of those who "dabble". One of my main reasons for teaching, and even for coming to this forum, is to tap into the enthusiasm and excitement of those who are seriously in love with photography, photographs, and photographic gear!
Often times this forum deals with the issue of a "better" camera making one a "better" photographer. Take a look at what Graham Snook is using as a means of finding enjoyment, as opposed to his highly successful (pounds & dollars) yachting work. (search him if "search" is working...) The camera he's so fond of is identical to one my brother-in-law recently bought, and profusely apologizes for because it's "just" a simple point-and-shoot styled camera.
--
Silver_Back
Nikon, Fuji, Canon, Contax, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Sinar, Wista, Speedotron, Lowel, Mole-Richardson, Gitzo, Bogen, Matthews, Macintosh, Toshiba, Lacie, Epson, and LOTS of gaffer's tape
Often times this forum deals with the issue of a "better" camera making one a "better" photographer. Take a look at what Graham Snook is using as a means of finding enjoyment, as opposed to his highly successful (pounds & dollars) yachting work. (search him if "search" is working...) The camera he's so fond of is identical to one my brother-in-law recently bought, and profusely apologizes for because it's "just" a simple point-and-shoot styled camera.
--
Silver_Back
Nikon, Fuji, Canon, Contax, Hasselblad, Mamiya, Sinar, Wista, Speedotron, Lowel, Mole-Richardson, Gitzo, Bogen, Matthews, Macintosh, Toshiba, Lacie, Epson, and LOTS of gaffer's tape
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