How many "Paid Professional" V "Pleasure" Photographer

ronanc15

I've always wondered this about the members of the photography forum, how many of you guys (and girls) shoot purely for pleasure or how many do it as a full time profession?

I know I've seen a number of folk mention they have avoided paid work to keep the pleasure factor.

So, pleasure or work? Or both?

humberklog

I only shoot for pleasure but my full time profession is selling those photos.

ronanc15

humberklog wrote: »

I only shoot for pleasure but my full time profession is selling those photos.

I knew I'd forget some combo

humberklog

ronanc15 wrote: »

I knew I'd forget some combo

I'm really not being being awkward, that's what I do. Your poll is missing the Artistic end of the spectrum.

Borderfox

full time pro for about 5 years but back to packaging work since April to get a regular income.

ronanc15

Borderfox wrote: »

full time pro for about 5 years but back to packaging work since April to get a regular income.

I'm guessing you're not alone there, I'd be surprised if there wasn't more posters in the same position.

humberklog

What's packaging work?

dirtyghettokid

Full-time Profession

only take pics for pleasure. haven't made a cent off photography ever

Snowie

I work as an assistant photographer....
What I do in my working time I don't really feel matters as thats just work.
It all kinda happened bye accident really...

OakeyDokey

Pleasure mainly but I've had a few little jobs from it

melekalikimaka

both, but for now will only do paid that interests me

squareballoon

Finishing up professional photography client work this month but still taking photographs as part of my profession.

Borderfox

humberklog wrote: »

What's packaging work?

what I worked at before photography, machine operator on large packaging machinery.

photography work was very hard to get in from the start if the year with a total of approx 20 weddings booked for this year. i got an offer I couldnt refuse back in the same type of work I did before and jumped at it. completing what I have left for this year and then back to a hobbiest.

five great years as a pro and really enjoyed it.

Paddy@CIRL

A little bit of Column A, a little bit of Column B...

In my third year as a pro but can definitely appreciate Borderfox's position - always feels like I'm constantly looking over my shoulder at pending doom, yet I'm blessed with an annually contracted client which makes up 95% of my work each year. I guess it's the sort of all my eggs in one basket sort of thing.

Don't regret a second of it though.

Hugh_C

Guess I'm about 65% photographer and 35% video editor, so 100% visual. Rates in both are at about pre 2000 levels

sineadw

humberklog wrote: »

I'm really not being being awkward, that's what I do. Your poll is missing the Artistic end of the spectrum.

I was just thinking that Column C here too...

gloobag

Full time since February, as I was made redundant. Most of what I've done so far is portfolio building stuff though, so I haven't really made much money, yet

ScumLord

I take photos at work so we don't have to hire a professional.

ronanc15

sineadw wrote: »

I was just thinking that Column C here too...

Sorry guys, didn't mean to neglect the artistic segment, just didn't pop in to my head at the time of writing.

Mjollnir

My career isn't a pro photographer, but I'm lucky enough to sell stuff each year that amounts to about 1/3 of my career salary.

I would never want to do this full time unless I had big backing or some patron or something.

frostie500

I sort of fell into photography. I started to going to races as a journalist and happened to get myself into a position to start shooting and from the start really enjoyed it but it's still just a hobby for me at present, hopefully over time it can turn into something more! Gotta say fair play to anyone who manages to make a living from it, must be great!

lisatiffany

I try and keep it half and half. I love photography and I tend to find that if something you love becomes a full time job you start to see it as a burden at times and then the spark starts to go. I learned from loving film growing up then getting deep into the film business, I grew to despise most actors I at one time admired. The hours were ridiculous on some shows and the studio pretty much dictated any kind of real creative expression especially if it was a big budget production. It's nice getting paid for some photo work but at the same time I like it a lot more as a hobby and something I can do to express myself and try to show how I see the world. I give away prints as gifts now and then but I sell them too so really I just try and keep a healthy balance going.

JBokeh

I used take photos just for my own enjoyment,with no intention of making money from it,then I went to an event my friend was in and started took a few pictures of that. He managed to sell a lot of the pictures to other people doing the same thing,which made me think of actually selling the pictures i've taken.

I'm not making a living from it,but it's covered the costs of my gear and then some

VisionaryP

A little bit of Column A, a little bit of Column B...

I went full time as a photographer 3 years ago, having been part time for about 3 years before that. I supplemented my income for the first couple of years with some training consultancy, but 100% of my income is now from photography. It's tough going, but with careful planning and a decent business acumen, it pays the bills. It's very easy to get caught up doing the 'fun' stuff and forgetting that you're running a business, but once you get a grasp of that fact, you're off to a good start. I wouldn't change it for the world.