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Thread: Who's Day Job is Photography?

  1. #181

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    Re: Who's Day Job is Photography?

    Quote Originally Posted by Kirk Gittings View Post
    Sorry to burst your bubble. No, I'm happily married with three children in their thirties and two grandchildren. I put three kids through out of state colleges with my photo income-a fact I'm very proud of and two of them are currently in doctoral programs. I have no source of income outside of photography-no rich uncles in my family-just drunks and bullshitters. And I didn't say "no regrets" I said "I can't imagine doing anything else". And FWIW I don't view it as "selling out"-its taking care of business. You gotta do what you gotta do. I was lucky enough to find a way to do it through photography.

    If I have any regrets it would be not being able to adequately pursue my second love-archeology.
    My hat's off to you, Kirk. It's heartening to know some folks are making a living doing what they love and are enjoying it. I probably just have a lousy attitude.

    FWIW, I've been working in the photo field my entire adult life doing things of little interest to me for other people. Time became short and the days of photography for the love of it were over. Seldom are the times I can claim any degree of personal creativity and pride in a given project. There were a few shining moments but not many and those were long ago. Now, it's just difficult. Wa-a-a-a.... wa-a-a-a...

  2. #182

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    Re: Who's Day Job is Photography?

    About 35 years. 25 years shooting advertising and editorial, and this November will be 10 years since closing my NYC studio, ceased taking assignment work and switched to my more personal work which I do full time.

    A few old timers here, I see Kirk, Bob and I started around the same time.

  3. #183
    Yes, but why? David R Munson's Avatar
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    Re: Who's Day Job is Photography?

    An update! While not shooting for money enough to call it my day job, I am at least back to freelance assisting here in Chicago, so my day job is *in* upon the photo industry. It's a start.

  4. #184
    Robert Brummitt's Avatar
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    Re: Who's Day Job is Photography?

    For the past six years, I am a "Media Specialist Assistant" for Shriners Hospital here in Portland, Oregon. My main duties is to photograph patients, The Doctors, The Shriners and staff. It's been a very rewarding job as I see how folks work together to help those in need. The position also offers me chances I know I would never have in this life. For instance, documenting a surgery procedure, That is so neat! Or covering a benefit concert. I also have to find, scan and print negs that are from the 20's and 30's.

  5. #185
    Downstairs
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    Re: Who's Day Job is Photography?

    Brian, add me to the old-timer list.
    It has been my full-time day job since 1967. Before then, ten years in movies. I do advertising and editorial illustration - or did, nowadays I get the occasional annual report and do still-life for fun and for no profit. Yesterday I shot a couple of b&w VIP testimonials for organ donation (you never know).
    In 1980 I found it paid to specialize (like doctors) and to stick to a recognizable style. My advice to young people starting out is - specialize. Nobody remembers to call a jack-of-all-trades.
    I can boast here, to the only audience likely to be receptive, of having shot more than twenty five thousand sheets of large format film.
    Digital? Yes, I can't afford drum scans but if the client can, then let's shoot 8x10.

  6. #186

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    You cam always specialize in more than thing, to the extent of having two different websites, marketing campaigns, etc.

  7. #187

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    Re: Who's Day Job is Photography?

    Quote Originally Posted by cjbroadbent View Post
    Brian, add me to the old-timer list.
    It has been my full-time day job since 1967. Before then, ten years in movies. I do advertising and editorial illustration - or did, nowadays I get the occasional annual report and do still-life for fun and for no profit. Yesterday I shot a couple of b&w VIP testimonials for organ donation (you never know).
    In 1980 I found it paid to specialize (like doctors) and to stick to a recognizable style. My advice to young people starting out is - specialize. Nobody remembers to call a jack-of-all-trades.
    I can boast here, to the only audience likely to be receptive, of having shot more than twenty five thousand sheets of large format film.
    Digital? Yes, I can't afford drum scans but if the client can, then let's shoot 8x10.

    CJ since 1967? You aren't an old timer, you're freakin' pre-historic!!

    I got you beat on the LF film though, I did about 25,000 LF shots on assignment, and figure an average of about 8 sheets per shot, that's 200,000 sheets of LF film, figure a 100-200% markup on that and you'll see why I was able to switch to landscape work full time at age 44. And let's not even get into LF polaroid, sometimes I'd shoot 20-30 polaroids on a single still life.....

    God I miss those markups......

    As for specializing, I was 99% still life, but within that I shot a lot of food, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and cigarettes. Those were considered specialties themselves.

  8. #188
    Downstairs
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    Re: Who's Day Job is Photography?

    Quote Originally Posted by Frank Petronio View Post
    You cam always specialize in more than thing, to the extent of having two different websites, marketing campaigns, etc.
    Like bigamy. You get found out.

  9. #189

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    Re: Who's Day Job is Photography?

    I think that the notion of being specialized beyond the obvious, still life versus fashion versus people illustration/portrait doesn't matter. I routinely shot a wide variety of still life, some considered very specialized like food and cosmetics. I shot virtually every form of still life from silhouettes to building room sets, I've even shot cars for magazines. Once you have established yourself with your clients as being a very competent photographer, I found that I shot ALL their still lifes, and would often get assignments out of still life such as people work. I've shot kids, animals, special effects, off figure fashion, fragrances, jewelry, you name it. Clients always like to work with people they trust, and a long time vendor who has never let them down but might not have experience with glassware but has done beverages in a glass or bottle, or perfumes, is not that much of a stretch.

  10. #190

    Re: Who's Day Job is Photography?

    Twenty three years as chief photographer at a small daily. Now, I'm freelancing and just worked my 27th Kentucky Derby. I've just returned from a three-day gig in Louisville shooting the state track and field meet.

    The large format has been a therapy for me: Making pictures without deadline, other people's purposes or providing visual information. Actually, I think I just like to hike. There are no images from the big camera on my web site because I don't have a method of scanning or printing, yet. I may order a v700 sometime this week.

    johnflavell.com (we don't need no stinkin' Ws)
    "I meant what I said, not what you heard"--Jflavell

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