Making Money in Photography
Discussion
wseed said:
Does it matter if you don't like them? I know exactly what you mean but the quality of your photographs is sufficiently great that I'm sure people would still watch and you're probably your own worst critic. There's many a you-tuber that has synthesised speech over there clips and they still get the hits.
Found a new video tool yesterday that actually works well and put together a short vid on something for my workshop group, wasnt too bad really so I might do something else in the future...
Well Rob if you don't fancy going on camera you could always hire a presenter...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkmeoYKYctw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkmeoYKYctw
RobbieKB said:
Well, blimey; it's been 3 months since I last updated this!
Everything has been going very well indeed. I'm fully booked for July with work spilling over through to around mid-September even if I were to get no jobs between now and then which makes a change from scratching around for any work I could get my hands on.
Photography wise I've had a lot of watch jobs (both fashion and product) and now companies are contacting me rather than the other way around which is great. I completed my first wedding which was daunting but I'm pleased with how it went. I actually learnt a lot about me as a (potential) wedding photographer. The couple are in their 50s and they weren't interested in contrived poses and cheesy shots which pleased me as I hate that sort of stuff. If you're interested, you can see the private album here: http://www.robertkbaggs.com/dawnandpaul -- I've noted down some areas to improve for my next wedding which is the 9th July so not long! Finally I have teamed up with a media agency and they now recommend me for corporate editorial and headshot work and it has lead to two jobs of that nature in July which is very promising.
The writing side has perhaps been a bigger triumph. My work at Fstoppers has been doing better than I'd ever thought it would and my average views per article is currently ranked 3rd out of all their writers. I achieved over 100,000 views in 2 months (I haven't told anyone that actually) which I'm pleased with. My writing for Fstoppers has then landed me a small gig with FAULT Magazine where I interview actors and musicians. It's lead to some pretty great contacts and events (I'm meant to be reporting on a private exhibition with Lionel Richie next week
) and I've been promised some photography jobs with them for editorial. It doesn't pay very well at all but I think it's worth my time for now at least.
The big topic is of course money. This month was the first month I earned more than my old full-time job (in which I didn't earn a great deal anyway to be fair!) and it felt like a very big step. I have a lot of work on for the next few months so I predict I will retain or exceed this income threshold until October which will be my 1 year anniversary of being a pro 'tog/writer. I'm feeling much more positive than I was last time I posted even though I work an enormous number of hours.
I hope that wasn't too self-indulgent as I really wince writing some of this stuff; it sounds like I'm boasting. I really hope this works as encouragement to anyone on the cusp of making the leap. I should note, however, I was (and am) in a fortunate position with property/girlfriend/support in that I don't have any dependents or huge pressure to bring in lots of money outside of my own relentless ambition. My biggest difficulty by far has been not being able to afford equipment though and I seem to be unable to get start-up loans. You can't win them all I guess!
I can't believe it has been nearly 9 months since I updated this thread, I honestly thought it was about 2 or 3; I don't know where the time has gone!Everything has been going very well indeed. I'm fully booked for July with work spilling over through to around mid-September even if I were to get no jobs between now and then which makes a change from scratching around for any work I could get my hands on.
Photography wise I've had a lot of watch jobs (both fashion and product) and now companies are contacting me rather than the other way around which is great. I completed my first wedding which was daunting but I'm pleased with how it went. I actually learnt a lot about me as a (potential) wedding photographer. The couple are in their 50s and they weren't interested in contrived poses and cheesy shots which pleased me as I hate that sort of stuff. If you're interested, you can see the private album here: http://www.robertkbaggs.com/dawnandpaul -- I've noted down some areas to improve for my next wedding which is the 9th July so not long! Finally I have teamed up with a media agency and they now recommend me for corporate editorial and headshot work and it has lead to two jobs of that nature in July which is very promising.
The writing side has perhaps been a bigger triumph. My work at Fstoppers has been doing better than I'd ever thought it would and my average views per article is currently ranked 3rd out of all their writers. I achieved over 100,000 views in 2 months (I haven't told anyone that actually) which I'm pleased with. My writing for Fstoppers has then landed me a small gig with FAULT Magazine where I interview actors and musicians. It's lead to some pretty great contacts and events (I'm meant to be reporting on a private exhibition with Lionel Richie next week
) and I've been promised some photography jobs with them for editorial. It doesn't pay very well at all but I think it's worth my time for now at least.The big topic is of course money. This month was the first month I earned more than my old full-time job (in which I didn't earn a great deal anyway to be fair!) and it felt like a very big step. I have a lot of work on for the next few months so I predict I will retain or exceed this income threshold until October which will be my 1 year anniversary of being a pro 'tog/writer. I'm feeling much more positive than I was last time I posted even though I work an enormous number of hours.
I hope that wasn't too self-indulgent as I really wince writing some of this stuff; it sounds like I'm boasting. I really hope this works as encouragement to anyone on the cusp of making the leap. I should note, however, I was (and am) in a fortunate position with property/girlfriend/support in that I don't have any dependents or huge pressure to bring in lots of money outside of my own relentless ambition. My biggest difficulty by far has been not being able to afford equipment though and I seem to be unable to get start-up loans. You can't win them all I guess!
I'm not sure where to start, but I'll try and update on what was going on last time I posted.
Writing: I've been writing for them a year this week and my articles have continued to do well. In fact, in December I was promoted to Editor which although it doesn't pay vast amounts, is a positive step in the writing side and an achievement I'm proud of nonetheless. I still write for FAULT magazine on occasion and I did indeed go to the private exhibition for Lionel Richie and ended up eating expensive (but free) food at The Dorchester with him and his girlfriend. One of the most surreal nights of my life. In addition to this, I'm writing a book and a series of photography tutorials but these are early days.
Weddings: I shot a further 2 weddings since the one mentioned above. My 2nd was a lovely young couple and it went very well, albeit utterly exhausting. From 11am until 11pm I didn't sit down for longer than 2 or 3 minutes, didn't eat and only had a small bottle of water to drink. I got in and backed up my work and collapsed next to my uneaten kebab. From then on I made sure to get a proper schedule down and have food and drink with me whether I'm promised a meal or not; a valuable lesson learned. The next wedding was a two day, multi-faith affair split between locations reasonably far apart. I worked 11am to 9pm on the Friday, backed up and went to bed and then worked 12pm until 1:30am on the Saturday before driving an hour and a half home from central London and then backing up all my files until it was light. I do no advertise for weddings anymore
. That said, I've got 2 booked this year as everyone has their price and it seems mine is rather low!Product Photography: This is where it got interesting. My watch photographer went from strength to strength and before I knew it, I had monthly work for Henry London and from that I was hired for a campaign for Orla Kiely. Now pretty much every week I have watches arriving at my door as gifts in the hope I'll photograph them and share on my Instagram and some rather nice enquiries to go along with it. I'm not going to name drop but there are several career making clients I'm in talks with so fingers crossed! This work is my bread and butter by some distance now.
Portraiture: My headshot series is still going and I still get hired nearly every month for a shoot of some variety; most commonly bands. It's a really difficult area to make money as I've learnt that far too many photographers -- some of them extremely talented -- work for free. This includes full-time photographers too who will shoot celebrities and bands just to say they've worked with them. If you're a full-time fashion/portrait/editorial photographer I tip my hat to you.
New Ventures: This is still fairly under wraps, but I've turned my old blog in to a brand. I've been meaning to do this for years but a chance encounter with a successful entrepreneur helped me down the right path. I have co-designed a camera bag (rucksack) that's more focused on fashion than function over fashion like most. It might not have widespread appeal, but it fit what I was looking for so hopefully others will like it too. It has a function to it I hadn't seen really which might serve as a secondary USP. The first unit -- my sample -- is being created at the moment and if it's up to scratch, I'll be ordering my first stock. I already have a high-end website built with a great shop, so I'm just waiting on manufacturing really. This whole process has been very complicated, very long-winded and rather expensive but worth it. I'm hoping to use the knowledge I gain from developing this company to create more down the line.
Money: Ah, the topic no one can speak about, but the only section anyone will really care about I suspect! The cold, hard truth at present is I'm not making a great deal of money. However, that's a little misleading. Every quarter I've earned more than the previous or thereabouts and this trend is still continuing. My bank balance is increasing slowly and I'm even able to save again now but this is quite recent. I'm now quoting big jobs and what I used to consider as decent sized jobs are now little filler roles. My biggest quotes haven't been invoiced yet but are looking positive and I feel like everything is moving in the right direction. It's a slow process getting known, developing as a businessman/photographer and making the right contacts. It's hard watching my friends buying nice houses and cars when my girlfriend and I aren't in a position to, but at the same time, I only need speak to them for 5 minutes for them to tell me how much they wish they A) had something they loved enough to build a career on it and B) could do it. I'm lucky to be in the position I'm in where I've got the space to breathe in terms of low outgoings but it doesn't stop me putting pressure on myself. I worked 7 days a week and 50 hours would be a low average I suspect.
So there you go, I'm sorry for waiting 9 months in updating this; if anyone cares about my progress in the interest of doing the same as I have, my tardiness would have no doubt been annoying. I apologise again if this post is as self-indulgent as it feels to write but I've attempted to offset that as best I can with brutal honesty. Any questions, feel free to ask and I promise you won't be able to have a baby in the time it takes me to reply!
Soooo, if I read that right Rob, you mainly do the equivalent of 50 hours a week of clock watching and get paid for it?
Not bad going ....
I'm not quite so sure about meeting old people in Hotels, but I suppose someone has to do it.
Very impressed with your wedding day stamina though. Tough days.
(Should I read the post again? Have I missed anything?)
Not bad going ....
I'm not quite so sure about meeting old people in Hotels, but I suppose someone has to do it.
Very impressed with your wedding day stamina though. Tough days.
(Should I read the post again? Have I missed anything?)
DibblyDobbler said:
Great stuff Rob - dead chuffed for you 
Cheers Mike! Who knew that macro thread would end up being so important to my career?LongQ said:
Soooo, if I read that right Rob, you mainly do the equivalent of 50 hours a week of clock watching and get paid for it?
Not bad going ....
I'm not quite so sure about meeting old people in Hotels, but I suppose someone has to do it.
Very impressed with your wedding day stamina though. Tough days.
(Should I read the post again? Have I missed anything?)
Haha, you wouldn't believe the number of watch/time/clock puns I get on a weekly basis.Not bad going ....
I'm not quite so sure about meeting old people in Hotels, but I suppose someone has to do it.
Very impressed with your wedding day stamina though. Tough days.
(Should I read the post again? Have I missed anything?)
When I started reading your reply I thought you were going to say I work 50+ hour weeks as an average and yet "don't earn a great deal of money". This would have been a fair criticism and one I think about regularly!
Haha, hanging out with old folk in hotels is certainly one way of putting it!
RobDickinson said:
Nice to see its building up well Rob. Good work.
Hopefully still keeping that passion for photography too?
Thanks Rob. You know what, I am actually. That was a concern of mine; that it'd get stale and just become a job. There are days when it's boring of course, but I still very much enjoy it and I hope that continues for some time.Hopefully still keeping that passion for photography too?
Simpo Two said:
Robbie, you should change your name to 'Midas'. Hope it keeps rolling for you.
Haha, I don't know about that Simpo! A lot of missed shots and the first year I spent struggling to keep my head above water at times. I'm not complaining though, you've gotta roll with the punches. Thank you though.Dogsey said:
What he said. Well done mate, your watch shots in particular are very impressive.
Thanks mate, they are what pays the bills! I was quite shocked how well received they were really. What was interesting was that the major players have in house teams for photography, but the start-ups and mid-range companies don't and there is a small demand. I have no idea where it goes though. I'm trying to branch out in to other jewelry and I'm working with a company who make unique rings at the moment.RobbieKB said:
Sorry missed you off with the cross-post. I love your work mate and I always notice it at Fstoppers. You've had a few photos of the day I believe, not that I pick them.
Thanks - always nice to hear positive feedback. Yeah had three or four now I think, always lands me a bunch of IG followers so I'm grateful for it, thanks! 
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