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04/11/2005 11:21:41 AM · #1 |
| Anyone have or know how to get a photography job? |
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04/11/2005 11:27:37 AM · #2 |
| take any kind of photo internship you can find, make contacts, work hard. |
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04/11/2005 12:48:23 PM · #3 |
I walked into a commerical studio with a book of photographs and asked for a job as an assistant. 27 years later (25 of them with my own business) I retired... Does that help?
Just go for it, pound the pavement...
Robt.
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04/11/2005 01:05:45 PM · #4 |
I'm just about hopeless. In order to get into photojournalism anyway, it seems like you have to be willing to earn very little for a while. I can't do that right now. If I could go back to just graduating highschool, I'd do things different.
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04/11/2005 01:07:49 PM · #5 |
go to artschool, a famous one would help, get a BA and MASTERS degree in artistic photography, and then you might get a job as an assistant carrying the camerabags for some photographer :)
or start a buisness of your own :) |
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04/11/2005 02:36:52 PM · #6 |
| If you're lucky they might even let you carry their table for them. |
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04/11/2005 02:43:28 PM · #7 |
redecorate your livingroom and make a simple studio...shoot all your friends and their children for silly little amounts of cash...then create a good webpage...
soon friends of your friends and their friends will want you to photograph them...and then you can charge a little more...
I know it´s not the most fun thing to do...but you can build on it and make a little extra cash...and you don´t need a degree or partners or a contract...
And if you are good you just might get a few models in there who are starting out...and they will help you get your foot in the door...
it´s slow but simple
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04/11/2005 02:51:45 PM · #8 |
| Most photographers I know work for really crappy pay, with an "on-call" status. Basically, they get called about 20 minutes beforehand, and the day before if they're really lucky, and the pay is crappy. One friend of mine shoots porn for a website and makes ok pay. His overhead isn't so high, so I guess you could say he makes a living. |
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04/11/2005 02:52:41 PM · #9 |
I started working for a retail portrait studio and when I had used them for all their knowledge and money I went off on my own and already had a good customer base from the studio. It was a slow start, it took me 3 years to be able to make enough to afford to quit my studio job but it was well worth it.
If I could go back to just out of high school I would have done things differently but I can't and I couldn't afford to go back to an Art college, so here I am a photographer with a BA in Psychology :)
If the love is there you will find a way to do it. |
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04/11/2005 03:03:30 PM · #10 |
Depends on what kind of photography you wanna get into.. If you're talking photojournalism, I would recommend shooting constantly and trying to get jobs in small local papers. Don't go to the major newspaper, unless you're either absurdly talented or absurdly lucky.. Look for maybe a small local magazine or website, offer to shoot events for local schools, go to community events and shoot pics of kids for their parents.. Basically, build your portfolio. Never stop shooting - if you apply somewhere and they're interested, they'll probably either give you a trial assignment or two, or ask you to provide your most recent photos.
If you're looking to get into studio photography, there's been some good advice in this thread about that.. Start with your friends, and just keeping working.. you'll get there :) At least that's what I've been told!
Also.. consider upgrading from the 300D or no one will take you too seriously. Go for a Mark II, if you can afford it, or at the very least a 20D. And invest in a 550 or 580 flash. Trust me, it's worth the extra money :) |
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04/11/2005 03:04:11 PM · #11 |
Corwyn
I'm not sure where in Toronto you live but I know the film and advertising bidness is getting pretty big in the area. If that's correct I'd look for work doing headshots. Offer to do a few for free or at a bargain rate and that will generate work. Actors are a pretty tight community, enough so where words of mouth will carry quickly if you do nice work and your rates are reasonable (...to start).
I've been passively pursuing that angle and by doing a free shot for a good friend I have two dates lined up with people in his acting class.
Regardless of what your prefered focus is this could help pay the rent and of course feed into other things.
Message edited by author 2005-04-11 19:07:08.
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04/11/2005 03:52:08 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Corwyn:
Anyone have or know how to get a photography job? |
I dunno where you are located, but when I was in Los Angeles, I got a job at the film lab used by a lot of pros. I made some contacts there and since I had Wednesdays off, I was available to work for them as an assistant. A lot of the bigger photographers ahd fulltime assistants, so I was basically the pack mule, but it helped me get to know a lot of people. Most of the assistants were also shooting, and sometimes they'd hire me to work for them.
I would also pick up the Communication Arts magazine Photography Annual, look through there, see work I liked and contact the photographer if they were anywhere nearby. The CA Photo Annual is a good buy if you like to see good professional photography, it comes out every August and is only $12. Twelve bucks seems like a lot for a magazine, but it's some really good work, besides, it's printed on good stock and mine from the late 80's still look good.
Oh yeah, be prepared to be told "No" a lot. Don't take it personally. Also, if your work is not the same style/area as the guy you want to assist, don't worry, usually they just look at a wannabe assistant's portfolio to see if they have a clue.
Message edited by author 2005-04-11 19:54:58.
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04/11/2005 03:55:46 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by metoecus:
If you're lucky they might even let you carry their table for them. |
WOW, wish I had that table
Message edited by author 2005-04-11 19:56:02. |
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04/11/2005 04:12:37 PM · #14 |
| It's funny that this forum is up.. I hoped on the site quick to see if Anyone knew of an assistant job in the albany ny area, I am going to be a senior next year and need to find a photographer to assist or intern with for school. anyone have any ideas? I can send photos and reseme if desired. (the stuff on the site here isnt my best work) |
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04/11/2005 05:11:06 PM · #15 |
Just so everyone knows I call dibs on being jmsetzler's b*!ch when he needs one. :)
Message edited by author 2005-04-11 21:11:18.
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04/12/2005 11:22:47 AM · #16 |
This is what I have been doing to get a good portfolio
Originally posted by Inga_fang:
redecorate your livingroom and make a simple studio...shoot all your friends and their children for silly little amounts of cash...then create a good webpage...
soon friends of your friends and their friends will want you to photograph them...and then you can charge a little more...
I know it´s not the most fun thing to do...but you can build on it and make a little extra cash...and you don´t need a degree or partners or a contract...
And if you are good you just might get a few models in there who are starting out...and they will help you get your foot in the door...
it´s slow but simple |
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04/12/2005 01:04:56 PM · #17 |
The building the portfolio phase is where i am. I have a few ideas i want to try, but gotta shake this damn flu/cold/virus thing that has been plaguing me for going on 2 months now.
My plan...to go thru the 4,000+ pics on my 'puter and the albums and negs i have accumulated over the past 20+ years to see what i can find that would work in a 'folio.
then a website, contracts, and then start pounding the pavement for work...i figure not to be able to make a 'living' for 2 to 3 years...and I call my living 15 grand a year...
Biggest hassles:
-portfolio (takes time to build one...hard work too)
-pound the pavement for work, networking, etc. Some luck involved here
-equipment...to do it right, a 20D, a 300D for backup (ok, 1D and 20d backup), some L glass (any glass to start) and big flash, some studio equipment and studio space.
-talent/experience/balls to go for it anyway
-patience till it takes off
spread the word -network- that you are a photographer. co workers, friends, etc.
Message edited by author 2005-04-12 17:05:58.
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04/12/2005 01:27:52 PM · #18 |
Perhaps an illustration from the 3 Stooges would be helpful -
Moe: That's it! We're going to Hollywood to be big time movie producers!
Curley: But we don't know nothin about makin' movies...
Moe: Look, chucklehead, there are 10,000 guys in Hollywood who don't know nothin about making movies - nobodies goona mind three more.
Seriously, though, just go do it. Take classes, and if you don't have access to classes then read books. Get to know and be friends with people who are what you want to be.
And always have faith in your ability to get where you want to be.
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04/12/2005 01:30:08 PM · #19 |
This is the fun part - you are doing what you want to do and pushed forward by your love as opposed to people who hate what they do who are pulled forward towards a job they hate and are not concerned with.
Originally posted by Inga_fang:
redecorate your livingroom and make a simple studio...shoot all your friends and their children for silly little amounts of cash...then create a good webpage...
soon friends of your friends and their friends will want you to photograph them...and then you can charge a little more...
I know it´s not the most fun thing to do...but you can build on it and make a little extra cash...and you don´t need a degree or partners or a contract...
And if you are good you just might get a few models in there who are starting out...and they will help you get your foot in the door...
it´s slow but simple |
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04/12/2005 01:43:22 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by Corwyn:
Anyone have or know how to get a photography job? |
Are you looking for a JOB or to start your own business? There is a big difference. First you have to define what you want. Then the advise will be more on target. |
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04/13/2005 03:17:57 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by DanSig:
go to artschool, a famous one would help, get a BA and MASTERS degree in artistic photography, and then you might get a job as an assistant carrying the camerabags for some photographer :)
or start a buisness of your own :) |
You cant be serious are you ?
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