My job is video. I have yet to become rich, and the overheads for equipment are much higher in video than stills, so it can be even more difficult.
But as others have said, a lot is down to marketing, and also being able to spot an opportunity. Making people aware of how you can save them money, or importantly make money from your work.
From a stills perspective everybody and their dog is doing weddings. Forget weddings. Perhaps even forget event photography. Find a niche, and regular clients in that area.
I guess this illustrates that sales and business skill is more important than photography skill.
As it's been said over, and over, and over again about pretty much ANY type of business..
And yes, it's true...
Mediocre photog with excellent business skills in most cases will overdo an excellent photog with the mediocre business skills, unless some luck shines in favor of the latter and make him and part of the "old boys club" or something like that...
It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
She is very talanted, but I think much of the outstanding work evolves from her PS work. She really excels at PP, especially things like Kubuta actions that assist in the process.
This too is a valuable skill and I am starting to realize some of my own limitations are in post rather than behind the camera.
Anyway, I agree making $100K at this is very possible, however its also probably a significant amount of work. Quite possibly its easier to make $100K doing something else!
Z
It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
There's no way I can hold myself out as a qualified judge of fine wedding photography but I browsed all 50 photos in the slide show and while there were some real nice shots in there, many of them did absolutely nothing for me and some just plain sucked. But that's just me and my personal taste and, again, who am I to judge?
But now I'm thinking, if those people are making $100k per year doing that kind of work, I should be able to make at least $60k with my little Olympus 765C UZ, limited photoshop skills, and no experience. Right? (Maybe not).
I think those photos validate the common theme in this thread that success is more about marketing skills than it is about photographic skills.
Edit: I want to be fair ... Just to clarify, I'm not saying that these photographers are not excellent photographers, I'm sure they are, but many of the images I saw just didn't do much for me. Again, personal taste, I guess.
Comments
What kind of videos do you do? Wedding?
Las Cruces Photographer / Las Cruces Wedding Photographer
Other site
And yes, it's true...
Mediocre photog with excellent business skills in most cases will overdo an excellent photog with the mediocre business skills, unless some luck shines in favor of the latter and make him and part of the "old boys club" or something like that...
Nope. I won't touch weddings. I do everything else though, from corporate, industrial, broadcast, educational and everything in between.
My Smugmug gallery
Pentax K10D
Canon 60D
http://www.popphoto.com/americanphotofeatures/5260/top-10-wedding-photographers-2008.html
Although I like the "commentorial" (yes, that the word:-) rant after the article much better than the article itself...
www.jessicaclaire.net
She is very talanted, but I think much of the outstanding work evolves from her PS work. She really excels at PP, especially things like Kubuta actions that assist in the process.
This too is a valuable skill and I am starting to realize some of my own limitations are in post rather than behind the camera.
Anyway, I agree making $100K at this is very possible, however its also probably a significant amount of work. Quite possibly its easier to make $100K doing something else!
Z
But now I'm thinking, if those people are making $100k per year doing that kind of work, I should be able to make at least $60k with my little Olympus 765C UZ, limited photoshop skills, and no experience. Right? (Maybe not).
I think those photos validate the common theme in this thread that success is more about marketing skills than it is about photographic skills.
Just my $.02. Am I being too harsh?
Chuck Cannova
www.customrideportraits.com
Edit: I want to be fair ... Just to clarify, I'm not saying that these photographers are not excellent photographers, I'm sure they are, but many of the images I saw just didn't do much for me. Again, personal taste, I guess.
www.socalimages.com
Artistically & Creatively Challenged