Writers writing for free..
Cygnus Studios
Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
Here is an article about writers writing for free. It parallels what many photographers go through.
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In the case of photography - technology has dramatically lowered the "cost of entry" into any professional market. People can take thousands of photos where in film days they would take only a roll. They have internet forums like this to learn what gear to use, how to use it and how to get better. And the technology in the gear AND software makes it infinitely easier to get quality results.
Combine that with a devaluation by the populace of photographs - photographs are an every-second occurrence now. And, the medium is usually digital - phones, laptops etc.
Writing isn't very different. The internet provides the attention-seeker easy reference for background as well as material to plagiarize. They can also more easily shop their product to more potential outlets with minimal effort.
Bottom line is I think the author of the article completely ignored what I at least perceive to be a major contributor to the issue. Just my take. And, I didn't get paid to give it
As you say John, these days the no cost of entry and the fact that any monkey can chimp Their full auto, ETTL pics to see they have got something reasonable has taken much of the requirement for a Real shooter away.
IT also brings in endless amounts of the " I got a camera for Christmas so Now I'm a Photographer" types into an industry where the demand has shrunk already.
The thing that annoys me probably more than anything with these types is the endless " How much should I charge" questions from people that want to be professionals but will spend no time educating themselves to be one. Often the wannabees manage to take jobs away from people whom are serious by undercutting and saving costs by doing a half assed job.
It then goes down the line that you have these people then complaining there is no money to be made in photography.
The thing that is evident to me is, their tiddly winks mentality ignores the basic business principals and logic and they go after work they want rather than work where there is a demand or a customer base.
They remind me of the old thing here where people who were out of work used to say they were Lion Tamers or snow ski instructors in the tropics in order to get social security unemployment benefits . Pick a job you know there will never be a vacancy for and you are getting the dole and going surfing everyday for the rest of your life.
Ironicaly, so many wannabe shooters adopt the very same principal in looking for photographic work when they do actually want to get the jobs.
Over the last couple of years, I have become aware of so many opportunities and ways to make money in Photography than I can handle. Despite all the gloom and doom I read on forums, there is more I can see out there than ever before. The thing is, You have to go with the flow and take on new and out of the box ideas to set yourself apart and create something that people actually want to buy.
I read of people all the time whingeing and whining about no work or not being able to make money but they maintain they are an XXX photographer and refuse to open their closed minds to other work opportunities. As it were they wouldn't have a clues where the work they are actually getting comes from because they don't even track any advertising they do or they put all their eggs in one basket such as face ache or a web site.
They do no research into the market they want to play in, their only reason for being in that market honestly is they fancy themselves as that type of photographer and it's really about an ego trip more than anything else. It's like they open up a lion Tamers supplies shop in a country town 1000 miles from anyone that's even see a lion and ask how much they should charge and how to advertise. At best, They will open up a pet store but open it where 100o other people came up with the same Idea and all offer the same products.
Over the last 18 months or so I have had so many laughs when I have told people about the Volume work I have done and had moronic comments about them not being able to do that because it's not creative and it undermines the industry and it's not real Photography. These twits don't have what it takes to succeed in Photography because for them it's an ego trip not a serious business on any level. I'm happy they are so dedicated to the art and all that baloney, it means my highly lucrative markets are going to stay that way for a long time to come.
I was only telling someone about this the other day and pondered why wannabe photographers think they can only do something they enjoy when a billion people a day shuffle off to jobs they have no more affinity for than barely being able to stomach but prioritise putting food on the table. I think the obvious answer is that the wannabe shooters are just playing tiddly winks and when you do that you play the game you like or you watch TV.
Even for the part timers, You have to decide whether your in it for fun or profit. If it's fun, then don't expect that you should be able to make money as well. If you can, That's a bonus and a bit of good luck. If you want to make money, then you need to look at where the money making opportunities are and follow them even if they are not your first choice of prefrance.
Some people are lucky enough to do what they want and make money from it but that should be seen as good fortune ( usually mixed in with hard work, dedication and more than a little smarts) but it should not be an expectation.
I don't feel I have to enjoy myself when working. The enjoyment comes from what I can do on my time off that the work allows me to do that's the reward.
There is a LOT to be said for being able to go out to dinner when you want, not having to worry about a credit card bill and paying it off when you get the thing, Seeing something On ebay you fancy and just buying it, amazing your kids when they ask for something like a new computer they think they have no hope of getting and then coming home to find the box sitting on their beds...... For me, I can put up with doing work that I don't love but can tolerate to be able to do that. I spent a long time where it was just a dream and I prefer what I have now to forsaking that so I can be euphoric when I'm working.
The problem with 98% of photographers that are half serious is they spend all their time learning photography but have never looked at a business book or website in their lives. they think that if they are the worlds greatest Photographer, the rest will take care of itself.
History is littered with the worlds greatest artists who lived in poverty. Being a good shooter is certainly helpful, Being a good business person gets you a long way further however.
I have learned in the last couple of months that despite my severe reservations previously it can be both a lot more profitable and easy to make good money in even an over saturated market. You just have to come up with something different to what all the other Vultures are doing.
It doesn't even have to be better and certainly not cheaper, Different is enough.
I have just started testing the water again in the T&I market. I did well in it before but the proliferation of wannabees cutting any worthwhile margin out of the game and Mums with cameras made it unviable for me.
Ironically, I now see some of the Chief competitors that were undercutting the market are now charging more than I'm asking for my work and I thought ( as always) I was at the upper end of the market.
Bonus! Thats one Objection I won't have to worry about. I'm plenty happy with my pricing. It gives me a great margin at the end of the gig and puts me on Specialist Doctors hourly rates and beyond!
So far my cold calling has resulted in a very positive response and I'm confident of booking my first Gig next week. With winter coming on here, If I can pull just one gig a month with this, I'll be comfortable till spring and that's without getting anything from other work.
There are a lot of reasons why shooters work for free, most of it boils down to ignorance however.
They work on flawed ideas and don't know enough about business to make it work to their advantage. I have a Photographer friend that makes a squillion bucks and has some of the best contracts in the world for what he does and he works for free on occasion. Whenever an organisation want him to work for them and argue his price, He offers to work for free. For the first time. The contract he gets them to sign then states for the next 4 years what his prices will be and that he will be the photographer for their events for that time with a renew option thereafter.
He understands the business principals of lifetime value of the customer and making sure he gets a return on his investment. He's a good shooter at what he does but admits he employs people that are far better than him but don't have businesses anything like his nor make the money in a year he makes in a month.
When shooters start realising its not about pictures and work out what this game is really about, they will start making money and probably be a lot closer to doing what they want to do as well.
It does not help to question the motives of people doing work for free. In my experience it is often because they love the medium or the subject and rarely to do with an egotrip or a lack of integrity. They don't count the price of their time so may very well be able to produce high quality work.
Making photography into a business these days requires business skills.
Yet so many people will argue fire and Brimstone that they don't need to know about business and being a good photographer is all it takes.
I had an argument with an idiot on another forum on this point that maintained he had never spent any time on learning business yet his business was very profitable. During the back and forth it became apparent that in his previous work he had picked up business skills without realising it and wrote them off as common sense. I'd agree a lot of it is, but I also know that what is common sense to some is akin to the skill of Rocket surgery to others. People are funny as well. We do something as a matter of course in one situation but then have a totally different mind set on the opposite side of the very same situation even when the exact same mentality is just as valid. :0)
I find this especially true with people in a seller and consumer situation.
People will tell you that they don't buy the cheapest because it's probably crap etc but then as a business person, they will ascertain that they have to be the cheap or no one will buy their product!!!
It also came out that this guys " Successful business" was no more than what I would class as a paying hobby and would be classed income wise as being below the poverty line here at least. The fact he was profitable was a hell of a long way from what I would consider a successful Business. While his hourly rate was OK, it was a bit like being a doctor that only practiced one day a month. The hourly rate was OK, just there weren't enough hours or Jobs in this guys case.
Having Business skills also allows you to recognise opportunities in the first place and alternatively spot white elephants before you burn your backside on them.
I see a lot of things now that I know I could make a buck in and would have jumped at a few years ago but now I can see there is more to be made in other areas so I'm not fussed with the other things. I'm frequently amazed how some markets in photography are completely over saturated yet other opportunities are wide open and no one seems to have thought of covering them.
I do think this has a lot to do with ego and pride in that so many shooters these days will tell you they want to be a XXX Photographer but very few will tell you they want to be a successful or profitable one. These same people will then complain about not being able to make any money in the field they chose with no research into it.
Photography and so much of the mentality of the people in it really is very curious indeed!