Expert: Don Wood - 9/7/2005

Question
1. How and why did you become involved with this photographic career?
2. What do you consider to be the hardest part of your job? The most fun?
3. What advice would you give someone interested in your career?

Answer
I love to take pictures, I love to get my hands wet developing pictures. There is no better job than to have one that lets you do what you love doing and pays for itself.
The hardest part of the job is the waiting for a customer to come in. I have waited 2-3 months during the period after Thanksgiving for the customers to come in.
The most fun is to show the customer what you have just taken. I use digital not having used a film camera for 5 years. I do my own printing on my computer.
When you are starting out in this career, make sure that you either have a source of income not dependent upon customers coming in, or be prepared to starve for a while. In this business out of 10 new startups per year, maybe 2 may last the year, possibly one will last longer, that one may be able to survive another year and become a permanent studio. So don't give up your day job, the one that brings in the income, pays the rent, buys the food, pays the mortgage, etc. Only think about going solo when you can duplicate your non-photo income with the income from your photography. Then think about it two or three times more. Photography is very much tied to the senses and emotions. In times of an economic downturn practicality takes over, if the difference between paying for your food and rent means not buying the picture, then you will suffer. Be forewarned. With the price of gas as it is, guess which will be sacrificed first, food or pictures.
Best of luck, if I can be of further help, please let me know. Thanks for asking.
Don