Expert: Don Wood - 3/20/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I am high school student doing a research paper on what I would like as a career; pohtography. I was wondering if you could find the time and please answer some questions for me?

ANSWER: Photography is for the small town person a very emotion-filled career. You photograph weddings, reunions (family and class) for people who want to remember the occasion. You must be able to do almost everything. You may be called to do a commercial shoot, you may be asked to copy a beloved picture. You will find that during the economic downturns that your income will be non-existent or low because people know that no matter how good the photo is, rent, food, living expenses will come first. All this being said, it is a good profession to be in on a part-time basis. Most of the occasions will happen on the weekends, Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday. If you are in a big city, you may be able to sign on with an existing studio that more or less specializes in a certain type of photography. Plus, in the big city your potential clients may have more money than in the small town, at least there may be 150 carriage-class (rich) clients to 10 in the small town.
It is a good field to be in, but I always recommend to people to not quit their day-job until they are at the point where their photo income is much more than the day-job. I'm only counting as photo income the amount that is left after you've paid for the expenses; equipment, computer, gas, rent for the studio, meals while on the job, clothing, etc.
I wish you well, if you want me to expand on the topic, please ask specific questions. Thanks. Good luck to you in your future career.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you. If it isn't any trouble, could you please answer a couple of more questions?

1. How did you get started in this field, and what was your educational preparation and training? Where would you recommend a graduating senior go for education/training? Why?

2. What courses beyond high school are most helpful in preparing for this kind of work?

3. What is the beginning salary range for this and other related fields?

4. How many hours do you work per week? What is a typical work schedule? Typical duties?

5.What are the medical or insurance benefits? Paid holidays?

6.Please describe the working enviornment. How important is working with others in performing day-to-day tasks?

7.How is technology specifically used in this field?

8.What are the opportunities for advancement (salary and promotions)?

9.What are the most important personal characteristics a person should possess in order to be successful in this field?

10.Other than salary,what is the main satisfaction and fulfillment you find in your career? Do you have any regrets about choosing this career?

11.What are the future growth prospects in this field? Will there be any positions available in five years?

12.If you had to choose again, would you enter the same field? Why? If not, why not? What would you choose instead? Why?

13.I would like to be a photographer in the music industry (band photoshoots, concerts, magazines etc.); what studios or companies do you recommend I should consider joining in the future in order to accomplish this?

Thank you for your time, I appreciate it.

Answer
I got started in this field because of my interest in things technical, darkroom work, etc. I was a small-town one-man studio. Consequently I did what ever had to be done, I had no gofer to tell what to do. Sometimes I would be swamped with work and wonder if I would ever get done, than other times, I would be sitting on my hands wondering if I could pay my rent, water, electricity, etc, bills.
To succeed in this field first you must have the personality and tact to be able to tell your clients what to do in such a way that they will willingly do it. Your people skills must be nurtured and developed. This is a field that many view as a luxury item, do I buy the picture or pay my rent, etc? I really don't have much experience in working other than in a small portrait studio so I can't help you much about the music industry. My town is pretty far from the center of the music industry.
As a small-town photographer I really couldn't count on my earning a definite salary per week. I skimmed off the income.
I really wish I could help you further but as you can see my experience on some of your questions is very limited. I will say this, learn your technology, both camera and computer, take some business courses so that you can learn that it just isn't the difference between the cost of the completed picture so you charge low and then find that you didn't allow for the equipment cost, lighting costs, travel costs, clothing costs and other costs that go into making for a successful profitable career. Actually the more training you have the more likely you will be able to succeed. This is an industry which may be easy to get into on a part-time basis but will quickly spit you back out. Odds are that of 10 people starting out, more than 1/2 will be finished within the year. 1-2 may make it past the first year and then stumble. One may make it in the long haul. You've got long odds for succeeding. Thanks for writing.