Washing out of the biz

My last (perhaps) wedding was this past weekend: http://leebase.smugmug.com/gallery/4978372_CDzLM

My 5 year oddessey is pretty much over. I gained a lot of skill and a life long hobby -- and a decent kit -- but for the amazing amount of effort I put in, I'll humbly consider myself to have failed at wedding photography.

I'm one of the dreaded part timers who never intended to go full time. I was at a stale point in my IT career and put my energies into photography and made IT my "9 to 5" job.

I thought I'd share a bit of my journey, lessons and conclusions -- and commiserate a bit.

Ultimately I cannot justify the amount of time and effort I spend on photography for the returns earned by shooting for studios. I LOVED shooting for studios (even the one that shall not be named). It fit my lifestyle -- gained good experience with much higher end weddings than I could land on my own. Shot with lots of other photographers and learned the trade (at least the 'make photos' part).

I was outsourced last Dec. to a large tech company and I have lots more opportunities to grow in my career that are going to take spending evenings and weekends -- just like I used to do. There's no bandwidth left to do the kind of marketing I'd need to do to land the weddings on my own.

I never wanted to go full time. I like IT and make a good living (but not so good that I don't desire more money). I used to do part time IT jobs on the side but that dried up with the tech bubble bursting and I tried photography to fill that void.

I'll do the occassional wedding or portrait session for those who know me and come to me. But frankly, my "personal sphere" doesn't include a lot of people who pay for photography at the level I work in. I don't do work for cheap, cheaper than many studios, but I'm no $500 wedding photog.

I feel good about my decision. I stopped accepting bookings from studios after last season. And now I'm making the next step and accepting that photography is not a cost effective "side job".

Some of you hear have had an opportunity to witness my journey from the beginning and have offered me help. I thank you,

Lee

Lee - There are many paths and sideroads we follow on our trail called life.

I, too am at the 30 year point in the I.T. field. It's been a good ride, but, not without it's bumps. The last 10 years in I.T. have been more challanging than the first 20, but, I am still excited to be in the field.

For me, I still find weddings a blast... so long as I have a reliable associate along, we share the work and the proceeds. Like you, I've gathered much gear on the way, some of which is going into a basement studio at my associate's 4 acres... some day it may be a fine studio to retire to.

Something I find even more rewarding.... volunteer / charity work. Find a cause.
Visually Impared Preschool Services
Indian Summer Cancer Camp
Cuts for the Cure
Extreme Home Makeover
Pet Pics with Santa for the Humane Society
many many more.....

I wish you well in your choices

The money is just not there for weddings like it used to be. I know there are those that say they are making a fortune, and that may be true for some. It reminds me of the millions that try to get into show business on a big time scale each year and only a handful make the big time. The same goes with photography, millions go into photography each year because of the lower price high end cameras. How many do you think make it big, let's say over 100K each year every year.

Almost everybody with a decent DSLR camera thinks they are a pro and can do weddings right from the start. This causes prices to drop big time. Sure the high end photographers are not hurt by the instant photographers of today, but how many high end weddings (> $5000) have you done? People go out and buy the D300 and D3 and do weddings for nothing to get expereince.

There are thousands of people each year that work for experience for nothing. Some only charge $100 or 200 for a wedding to get expereince. These high end cameras are very afforadable to many. And let's face it guys and girls this (taking pictures ) is not rocket science. In fact I have found that any of these cameras (lets say from the D50 to the D3) can be taken out of the box at factory settings and take eye poping pictures, if you know how to deal with light, contrast, color, DOF, focus, composition, structure, mood, behavior and point of importance in the picture you can take an outstanding picture.

People today do not know the difference from a D50 or D3 picture, they just want cheap. The majority have no appreciation for the high end pictures. They do not want to pay a high price for the high end picture. Wal-Mart and other cheap picture makers are taking over. Yes, many are getting their wedding picture done at Wal-mart, Sams, etc.

Some do not realize how much time and effort goes into running a successful photography business. Believe me taking the picture is about 10% of the business.

the other 90% is getting customers, doing taxes or having someone do them for you, advertising, finding insurance, checking out locations, talking with clients, checking your equipment, keeping current with what is going on in the business, chasing down your money, talking on the phone, text messaging, sending out flyers, handing out business cards. Doing tons of business paper work especially around tax time. Paying estimated taxes, cleaning equipment, Keeping accurate business records, (very important - you will find out if you have an audit), buying new software, upgrading your computer, Oh, I almost forgot there is Post Processing too.

The list could go on and on. Anyone that has ever had a legit busines knows what I am talking about. So just because you can take an award winning picture does not mean you can run a successful photography business. In fact you'd have to be a better businessman than a photographer to be highly successful (over 100K) in the photography business.

Do yourself a favor, Build yourself a shoe shine box and go out and shine shoes you may make more money than doing photography. Good Luck.

I agree with the second part of your post -- the one about the 90% of "other things" that aren't about photography.

I completely disagree that today's DSLR's let folks take eye popping photos right out of the box on auto.



I worked real hard on my photography. This shot takes a lot of skill to keep the bright background, balance the fill flash -- and post processing technique.



It takes work to learn how to bring out romantic images from people who are not professional models -- who have a "say cheese, smile for the camera" smile that their mothers taught them for years.



Merely buying a DSLR isn't going to teach you how to see the small beautiful area adjacent to the big ugly field that is the church property. Having an "eye for the possibilities" can't be bought.



I've seen plenty of established pro's who's photos fail to capture joy, love, etc. on the people's faces. This couple was stone faced through 99.5% of the ceremony -- but you'll never know that from the photos I captured.

There's so much to learning how to be a good photographer -- and that's where I spent my time and energies. It cannot be bought for the price of a $500 entry level DSLR -- nor for the $8,000 of a top of the line DSLR with a bag of L lenses.

It's just not enough to be a good photographer. Not if you want to make money. The business skills are FAR more important.

Lee

You are NOT "washing out of the biz", you are making a very wise business and personal decision. To me, "washing out" indicates failure. You have NOT failed. What you have done is made your decision based on time, money and reward. There is absolutely nothing shameful about that.

If only most of us were as wise as you.

--

I have to agree. Failing is when you cannot continue because you lack business skills. You are making the decision to change paths, and that shows wise decision planning.
--
The simplest subject can become an entire world.

You didn't "fail".

Just because one can't earn a living at something we enjoy, doesn't define a failure. You succeeded in learning more about photography, and the business of photography. You succeeded in learning that it's not as easy as it appears to be. You succeeded in working for a photography studio and working with photographers on high-end weddings. You succeeded in the realization that it may not be the best career solution for you at this time.

It's not as much what you learn, it's how you use it. You can still benefit from your learned experiences to have a fruitful hobby on the side, and the future is yet to be experienced - so you may yet use all of these skills...

--
Thanks,
Kelly Shipp - http://www.kellyshipp.com

It's funny how people react to the word "failure". As a business venture, I consider it a failure. I do not consider MYSELF a failure -- far from it.

If I took all the time I spent on photography, all the money I spend on equipment and such -- I could have come out further ahead delivering pizza's.

That's ok -- but it is what it is. I put all that time in, worked all those low paying weddings (for the studios) -- to get the experience I need to make doing weddings worthwhile.

But when it comes right down to it -- I didn't have what it takes because I worked on the wrong things. Moneywise, far better to be a mediocre photographer and an excellent businessman.

So I'm moving on -- putting my time in other places. Oh, photography will still be a hobby -- and I enjoy the skill I've gained and the equipment I've compiled. I just didn't succeed as a business.

I share my story because I know others have the same dreams I had. Hopefully they can learn from me and do better for themselves.

Lee

It won't help any, but you won't be the last. Stay in touch with DPR and contribute what you've learned for those who come after. I think it was Henry Ford who said "Experience is the only thing of real value." and my experience has been that the failures have been the best learning experiences.
--
jrbehm
http://www.jeffbehm.com

you do what you have to do

I wish you the best of everything

you are a good man

I will miss your views, for sure but deep down I know that you won't go too far away

this is a passion, after all

be safe and good luck, lee

It is a bit disheartening to see someone like you opting out. I mean someone who has been paying his dues and trying to do everything properly. You do have the potential to be full time, but if you like the IT, that pays heaps more in real terms. You have raised some valid points for those wishing to go into the business, in particular the real costings of doing it. Going into a business venture one must look at all the actual costs to determine if it is worth pursuing.

I understand though, I have stopped my advertising and marketing for weddings, though I still have weddings on my website. My reasons are that though I like doing weddings, I find it less easy to get excited about a wedding when the couples appreciation and budget for photography is seemingly going down. Rather than chase the money down I decided there is a point where I would rather do an easy job than one that requires the amount of responsibility, skill, stress as well as my heart and soul. I guess my passion for it has a dollar weighting to it. There are many out there as good or better than me who are prepared to do them for much less than I am, so they can have it.

Lee, it is good you have the IT to fall back on, you are a lucky and smart man to have kept your options open. All the best to you.

Jeff Behm said:

It won't help any, but you won't be the last. Stay in touch with DPR
and contribute what you've learned for those who come after. I think
it was Henry Ford who said "Experience is the only thing of real
value." and my experience has been that the failures have been the
best learning experiences.

Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff. You are among those here who I immediately click on when I see your name in a thread. Appreciate all that you share.

Lee

markleh said:

I will miss your views, for sure but deep down I know that you won't
go too far away

this is a passion, after all

be safe and good luck, lee

Click to expand...

Thanks. I don't see myself stopping my interest in photography, so I should still be around on the forums. And, as we all know, this "pro" forum isn't only populated by "pro's". So I think I can stay

Lee

no text

LeeBase said:

My last (perhaps) wedding was this past weekend:
http://leebase.smugmug.com/gallery/4978372_CDzLM

Click to expand...

Just wanted to say... that's a lovely set of pictures. I wish I'd had someone that good to shoot my wedding

Best wishes
--
Mike

LeeBase said:

I completely disagree that today's DSLR's let folks take eye popping
photos right out of the box on auto.

Click to expand...

Wonderful photos, but I feel this shot quoted is one that can be confused for a beginner's photo or a pro's photo with a P&S. It doesn't do you justice to post a shot like this when your others are so good, and I think the fact that this kind of shot does get displayed by great pros only adds to the confusion for people comparing them with beginners or, as is so common in the market, bad pros.

mike703 said:

Just wanted to say... that's a lovely set of pictures. I wish I'd
had someone that good to shoot my wedding

Click to expand...

Thanks -- I felt pretty good about the results.

Lee

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. I always include a mix of traditional and modern poses because a wedding has several generations to please.

This is a classic pose -- follows the rule of thirds composition -- shows the b&g in a beautiful setting. It will make a very nice large print.



I personally like this one -- it's far more romantic. But you'll have folks that can't stand a tilted shot.



This is the type of shot that I can't stand -- but it's a traditional and expected shot.



I much prefer this one. But this lovely hill wasn't available when I took the previous shot.



I love this shot -- but I've had reactions to it from folks who don't like b&w.



I stole this pose from a wedding photog friend of mine. It's kind of cheesy -- but people have responded very well to it.

Oh - -btw -- I took a set of 8x12 print to church to show off, including the shot you think is bad -- and people loved it. But that's what I take a variety of shots.

Lee

A question for you Lee.....

I have been shooting weddings and a lot of other paid/hired projects for about 12yrs...Starting with film and jumping into digital with both feet when the cameras and processing became good enough to sell to the clients...Not full time but as a side job that was and still is fun to do most times...Bought lots of new toys over the years and made lots of wonderful friends over the years...But..............Like you, times have changed and in some cases the "thrill is gone", as the old song says...I was thinking about this the other day and it occured to me that the biggest reason for the burn out is all the post processing I do on my shots...I know, some would say, "if you shot it right in the first place, you would not have so much to do"...I can go along with that but 99% of us don't get it "just" right...We all tend to spend way to much on PP, thinking if I do this or if I do that, the client will ewwww and ahhhhh more...As you know, with film, we shot it and it was either good or we missed it...No PP to worry about...Where did we all get the mind set that we had to become that perfect and spend countless hours fixing, sharpening, lightning and contrasting and saturating...We all do it and probably all spend way to much time doing this...OK, enough rambling...My question...

Do you feel like your move to get out of the business is because of the amount of time spent with PP...This is what has me rethinking the business...You have heard of "Golf Widows"...My wife tells me she is a computer widow when I do a wedding...Any thoughts???

John at the Beach said:

Do you feel like your move to get out of the business is because of
the amount of time spent with PP...This is what has me rethinking the
business...You have heard of "Golf Widows"...My wife tells me she is
a computer widow when I do a wedding...Any thoughts???

Click to expand...

No -- but certainly you bring up a real issue. There are services that will do the post processing for you. Check out Lavalu.

For me it's about the never ending need to buy this or that equipment to be able to get this or that shot. Post processing certainly falls into "the amount of time I'm putting into photography" -- and which makes me evaluate "am I making enough for the time I put into it".

Like you -- I have to pp. Some of it is not being good enough with the exposure and composition on the fly. But I think the lionshare is my desire to bring out the best of a shot. I do this even on the soccer photos I take that no one buys. It's that sense of pride one has in his work.

I shot a few weddings for a studio that didn't have you post process. Frankly -- I did not like giving my unprocessed files to anybody. I'm a much better photographer AFTER I've worked on the photos

Lee