Is photography a good career these days?

Question

I'm thinking about pursuing a career in a passion of mine, photography, and i'm going to take a profetional learning course on it soon. But is it a good steady secure job these days? I realise that about 65% of photographers are self employed and thats just fine, but anyone got any tips for 20yr old lad just starting out?

Also can you still buy NON DIGITAL slr cameras with a good multi purpose lens? If so how much are they? I live B.C Canada, anyone got a price range for there?

Cheers and look forward to the replys! Lol!

Answer 1

Photography is a very competitive career; I ain't gonna try to mislead you. I suggest that you read, read and read. Also, it is a field where knowledge compliments your skills and talents BUT you need PASSION to persevere and meet those obstacles and problems that will surely come your way. My suggestion? Get all the education you can, stay current by reading and going to seminars, and before venturing on your own, do YOURSELF a huge favor and do an apprenticeship with an experienced professional photographer that works in the area you wish to work in; learn the day-to-day routines, how to handle employees, clients and how to handle emergencies. Most of the photographers that fail in photography do so NOT because they lack knowledge or skills or talent but because they have no business-sense to deal with overhead and the business aspect of photography.

IF you're interested in a good camera to learn with, I suggest the Nikon N80 (film camera) which has options and features that mimic its older sister, the Nikon F100. Check the URL provided below and see the many features and options available in a camera with a no-nonsense feel and ergonomics.

At today's prices, you should be able to get your hands on a relatively good N80 at www.keh.com and also get the very versatile lens, Nikkor AF 28-105mm f/3.5-5.6D which can be used as a wide angle, regular lens, a portrait lens, a short tele-lens, and a macro lens. IF, however, you wish to get a lens that is a little more economical, then I suggest that you look into the Nikkor 35-105mm f/3.5-5.6D Macro (MAKE SURE it says Macro), which is the older version but is equally as good. I would also recommend that you get yourself a Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8D for low light situations (a lifesaver for many of us).

I suggest that you get the Instructions Manual and Thom Hogan's book on the N/80-F/80; it contains a treasure of information and suggestions that will certainly make your learning experience more enjoyable.

Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 2

I would beg to differ with Tony Chen. Careers are not all about money, they're about doing what you enjoy and possibly making a difference. It's about doing what you love. Too many people are doing jobs they hate simply because they feel they have to make lots of money and thats really lame...i'm sorry it just is.
I too am going to be pursuing a career in photography. It is a strong passion of mine as well. I plan to get a BA or BFA in photography at an art school. I am seriously considering Columbia College Chicago at the moment.
I have been told that in the next eight years there should be a growing number of oppurtunities in photography. It seems to be a popular thing. It is certainly growing. Right now I would sugest that you focus on getting the training that you need and I would highly sugest you get a degree in Photography. Photographers with degrees are much more successful. Kind of get an idea of what type of photography you want to do whether thats stock photography, photojournalism, landscape photography (Thats what I do) wedding photography, fashion photography and the list goes on. There are so many oppurtunitys because so many people need photos for different things. So figure out what area of photography you wish to specialize in and then start researching it and find a school that you can attend and get a degree.
Hopefully this helps. I did the best I can. I'm in the same boat as you right now ( i'm almost 19) so I know how it is. Good luck and enjoy your photography.

Answer 3

Is photography a good career these days?
Yes,

But is it a good steady secure job these days?
no,

Depending on the type of photography you want to do it can be very lucrative and very rewarding (although rarely both at the same time) The most successful photographers I know are business owners, all have excellent business and sales skills, most also have good photography skills, and a few are downright awful photographers but still make a good living at it. The common denominator in making a living at it is business sense. I don't know how it is in the great white north but down in the lower 48 running your own business is tough. I've been doing it 12 years and I spend about 3 days of admin work for every 1 day shooting. But that's ok because I'm paying the mortgage. If you're close to a major metro area I would start assisting for local pros who do the kind of work you want to do. You'll be able to see what other people are doing and how it works for them. Learning what not to do is just as important as learning what to do.

As far as film cameras go, Canon and Nikon still make them, plus there's always ebay, but remember, unless you're a fine art or a wedding photog, film is dead.

Good luck
Steve

Answer 4

If job security is a major concern of yours then photography or any job in the fine art or commercial arts fields is a risky if not poor decision. This is a career choice that is molded out of passions rather than common sense; because if common sense were to dictate a career based on job security then I guess we would all be morticians or funeral home directors(we all have to die at some point). But lets be clear about one thing, with your generation as well as mine job security is a luxury, a dinosaur of a bygone era. If your job can be outsourced to someone in a third world to save a buck, at some point it probably will. When I was growing up everyone said become an engineer or study computer science which is an excellent choice if you live in Bangalore India or are one of the select few who survived the outsourcing and budget cuts that so many companies faced in the Silicon Valley. But if being an engineer or a computer scientest is the only career choice that makes you happy, then by all means go in that direction. Same can be said about photography, if thats the only thing that can make you happy then by all means go for it, but if you start waking up each morning questioning what it is that you are doing, perhaps get out of the field. The only danger about making your passion your career is that if you do get to that point where you are wondering why it is that you are doing what you do, then not only have you lost your career but you have lost your passion or hobby or whatever you choose to call it.
So with all that said yes you can still get a film based SLR, although personally I wouldn't go for a 35mm camera but instead opt for a larger film format such as medium or even large format(not an slr). Unless you are interested in sports, event or any action photography for that matter where speed is of the utmost concern then go with a bigger format negative. Hasselblad, Mamiya, and Pentax all make really good medium format cameras, and the best part about these types of cameras is that a lot of them can shoot either polaroid, film, or digital based upon which back you mount to the camera. I suggest you read this article http://www.photo.net/equipment/medium-format/choosing Anyhow if you want to buy a camera and you are a beginner then go used, so try keh.com lots of good deals here. You could also try camerawest.com or ebay for that matter but I just have better experience with these guys.

Answer 5

If you wish to starve at times then photography would be a good choice. Freelancing in photography is a way to go to earn more (unless you get a job as a photog for National Geo - the holy grail for most photographers) However, be remember that you are but a sand in the beach when it comes to photography. The best would outskill you The professional wannabee photogs will sell themselves cheap and will outsell you. Get a real steady career Continue photography as a hobby

Answer 6

The most "successful" photographer I personally know is a man who opened a chain of glamour shots in the mall, and then learned photography (he hired photographers and staff).

He got to pursue photography as a wonderful hobby, made a bunch of money while he improved his skills... and is now at the talent level in his own photography that he can charge!

He recently sold the business and is retired on the sale profits.

Ideally, I think that is the way to go about things :-)

I also knew a guy who made quite good income from stock photography and shooting nuts and bolts for hardware catalogues.

It IS possible to make good income as a photographer... but especially if you photograph people (and *especially* if you are a glamour photographer), it is HIGHLY competitive.

Anyway I am sure other people answered this much more comprehensively than me, but just my 2 cents anyway :)

Answer 7

Any job that is art related is never guaranteed a great career move. But if you're passionate about it by all means pursue it because you would only be half a person if you don't do what you enjoy in life. I've seen my fair share of friends who are artists and they are constantly taking on part time gigs to make ends meet. Only if you're lucky will you ever become famous and make big money.

On the side note, check out this nifty article on how to use infrared film in your camera; very interesting outcome:
http://wehow.ehow.com/how_2028772_infrared-film-manual-slr-camera.html

Answer 8

All of the successful photographers i know work as photo journalists for a newspaper. Try the Hallmark School of Photography in Massachusetts...they are strong in advertising photography and will help you all along the way!

Answer 9

its a very good career, most people will pay a lot of money to have them photographed with themselves or there family, its also very close in buisness with drawing!!

Answer 10

photography wont make you much money, so you probaly shouldnt do it as your career. you should just make photography one of your hobbies