Hey 365ers!
So recently i was thinking when i get older i would maybe like to study for a photography degree in university (im only 13 just wondering :) ) but i've heard once photography becomes your job you dont love it anymore is this true??
Thank you! :)
I think it's different for different people. I do more fine art type photography (not that I'd necessarily go so far as to say it's fine art lol), and it's much harder to make a living selling fine art than as say, a wedding photographer. If I wanted to make a living at it, I'd probably have to learn portraiture or product photography in order to make a reasonable income, and I don't think I'd be happy doing that. I think I'd come to feel forced into shooting instead of shooting for the joy of it.
Now if you love doing portraits, or food, or products, or weddings, you probably wouldn't feel that way. Or maybe you're the kind of person who prefers fine art photography but would still be happy shooting another style. All things to think about. Fortunately, you've got some time, and by the time you're ready to make that decision, you'll probably have a better idea of what your specific goals are. Good luck!
I'm a librarian, not a photographer, but I think in any profession it's a good idea to do a "trial" before you spend money on an education in a certain field. I went to work in a library as a clerk before I spent money on a master's degree. See if you can find someone out there to pay you for a shoot and see if you can handle it. Your work is impressive, so I think you should give it a shot.
If you love it, it is not work... Do in life what is your passion and this will bring you happiness and joy! I think maybe what you might be referring to is some say when you do your passion as a job sometimes it can take control of your life, but trust me.... you will be so much happier doing what you love as your work rather than just working at something you hate to pay the bills. Sdomething I have learned about myself in the past 5 years (and I am 51 now), so it took me a long time to figure this out is....I have always been a creative, art minded person and have always been in the wrong work field which made going to work everyday a struggle. I now work at things that fulfill my creative side and in no way think of it as work!
the problem with professional photography as opposed to hobby photography is that in a hobby you can shoot what you want when you want, when you start a career in photography the money lies in shooting what others want you to shoot so it can feel like your creativity is blocked and it can all become a bit repetative, If you love photography though for its technical side as much as its creativity then it has the makings of a great career. You can of course start your career in fine art photography even selling your own work, but its not easy as that is what everyone wants to do so competition is stiff unless you find a niche that no one else shoots and build up on that.
This is a question that doesn't have one right answer. There is only a right answer for each particular individual.
In the "for what it's worth, this is just my opinion" category - photography (or any artistic career), it takes more than just loving the activity and being good at it to make a career. There is a huge amount more to being a pro than just taking good photos.
The comments "make a career from something you enjoy doing" is great general advice. Just remember that being a pro photographer is more than pointing a camera, choosing the right settings and conditions and pushing the shutter. So even if you love photography and are good at it, you could still hate being a pro.
I love photography and have taken lots of good pictures. I've even taken a number of very good photos. I can think of about 10 pictures I've taken over the years that can stand up to anyone else's photos (though none of them are posted here - nothing I've taken so far since I started this project falls into the outstanding category). But for me to take a very good or better photo takes me being emotionally involved with the subject and being at the right place at the right time. I've tried taking pictures to someone else's request and time and usually end up hating them.
And then there's the whole marketing aspect if you shoot first and then try to sell, doing wedding photography would leave me stressed out, product photography would leave me frustrated. Shooting events on a deadline, then printing and mounting everything. Marketing yourself to get clients who will pay for your time and cover your materials.
It seems to me that professional photography is far less about the creative or technical side of taking a good photograph and far more about being a good salesman, showman and businessman all in one.
I'll stick to the purely technical/creative side of things and keep photography as a very time-consuming, expensive and well-loved hobby, and escape from the "real" world I have to live in. If I were to turn pro, that escape would no longer exist.
But that's just me, there are lots of people out there who are pro photographers and can't imagine doing anything else. It's all in who you are and what you want - just remember that there's a whole lot more to the pro world than what you might think.
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Now if you love doing portraits, or food, or products, or weddings, you probably wouldn't feel that way. Or maybe you're the kind of person who prefers fine art photography but would still be happy shooting another style. All things to think about. Fortunately, you've got some time, and by the time you're ready to make that decision, you'll probably have a better idea of what your specific goals are. Good luck!
In the "for what it's worth, this is just my opinion" category - photography (or any artistic career), it takes more than just loving the activity and being good at it to make a career. There is a huge amount more to being a pro than just taking good photos.
The comments "make a career from something you enjoy doing" is great general advice. Just remember that being a pro photographer is more than pointing a camera, choosing the right settings and conditions and pushing the shutter. So even if you love photography and are good at it, you could still hate being a pro.
I love photography and have taken lots of good pictures. I've even taken a number of very good photos. I can think of about 10 pictures I've taken over the years that can stand up to anyone else's photos (though none of them are posted here - nothing I've taken so far since I started this project falls into the outstanding category). But for me to take a very good or better photo takes me being emotionally involved with the subject and being at the right place at the right time. I've tried taking pictures to someone else's request and time and usually end up hating them.
And then there's the whole marketing aspect if you shoot first and then try to sell, doing wedding photography would leave me stressed out, product photography would leave me frustrated. Shooting events on a deadline, then printing and mounting everything. Marketing yourself to get clients who will pay for your time and cover your materials.
It seems to me that professional photography is far less about the creative or technical side of taking a good photograph and far more about being a good salesman, showman and businessman all in one.
I'll stick to the purely technical/creative side of things and keep photography as a very time-consuming, expensive and well-loved hobby, and escape from the "real" world I have to live in. If I were to turn pro, that escape would no longer exist.
But that's just me, there are lots of people out there who are pro photographers and can't imagine doing anything else. It's all in who you are and what you want - just remember that there's a whole lot more to the pro world than what you might think.