Expert: Don Wood - 2/15/2005

Question
I am giving a speech about photography and need an interview
as a source. I would like to use you as my interview, if you would
not mind. Here are my questions (I also need to list you as a
resource if I may have your information (Years in business,
studio name, town/city)

1. What are the education requirements?

2. What type of people are drawn to this career (I.e. outgoing,
night, busy..etc)?

3. Any basic skills needed when starting a photography career?

4. Salary Range (a beginning salary compared to years of
experience)?

5. Advantages of this career?

6. What is the best thing about your job?

7. Disadvantages?

8. What would you change about your job if you could?

9. Is there any advice you would give someone interested in this
career?

Thank you so much for you time. I've enjoyed reading what
others have asked you.

Answer
1. You must have a knowledge of the mechanics of taking the picture so that it becomes second nature and you don't have to think, it's natural. That's the easiest part to learn. You will have to develop your people skills, learning how to make people want to utilize you for their photo needs. You will have to develop your photographic eyes, the ability to see the picture you want, the angle of the picture, the lighting, etc.
2. Outgoing people. One uneasy in working with people is going to find it difficult to function.
3. answered above.
4. This will depend upon the studio you are working for, the type of photographing you're doing. A portrait photog might have one starting salary for one studio, a product photog might have another one. It will vary. Another possibility is that you are the owner of the studio and take a percentage of the profits for your personal use. This is subject to a lot of swings of income, feast or famine, you wonder if you'll have enough time in the day to get it done, then another week you will wonder whether you will make enough to cover the basic expenses, let alone your salary.
5.6. It is awesome to realize that you are responsible for the personal history of a family, portraits, weddings, even funerals. Your camera records the major event of the family at that particular day.
7. You are working while others are playing. Events usually occur on the weekends or evenings so your down time is limited to the daytime hours. If you're a sports fan, you will probably be working when the game is on. During the hard time of a down-turn in the economy (depression) guess which industry is slighted when the money is tight and there is a choice of eating, paying household bills or paying for your pictures? I don't have to answer that, that's your job.
8. I would try to pick a field of photography with not as much emphasis on the economy such as product photography, catalog photography, advertising, etc.
9. Get as much training as you can, not only in the field of photography but in the running of a business. Know that the field you're starting in will be continually unfolding the rest of your life. 35 years ago, I started out with 75% of the busines in b/w, 25% color. My own darkroom, then it became mainly color, in the past 5 years, I've actually worked in the DR 4 times. Not worth keeping myself in paper, chemicals, etc. Now the thing is digital photography using a computer to process the pictures. So you must continually be learning new processes to stay abreast of the competition. Realize that of 10 people starting out in the field, 1 may make it past 5 years. The others will wither away rather rapidly the first year. Survival of the fitterst is the norm. You may know a lot about photography but if you lack the people skills, you will probably wither away.
Thanks, if I can help further, let me know.