If you weren't a wedding photographer, what would you be doing for a profession ? Is being a "wedding photographer" an easy way for a "photographer" to earn a living compared to other avenues in our profession I.E. commerical, sports etc. ? Your thoughts...
When I first started out in the wedding industry, wedding photography was at the bottom rung of the professional photography ladder. We were looked down upon by the commercial, news and sports photographers who would say they would never be caught dead photographing weddings.
Now, it seems that news and commercial shooters have all moved over to weddings and yes, probably some of the same photographers who thumbed their noses at the lowly wedding photographer.
It is merely a matter of going where the money is ? If weddings did not pay what they do, would most of the members here even be in this profession ?
My story is actually kind of ironic. Photography has always been my passion. My parents wouldn't allow me to study photography in college. They told me that you couldn't have a successful career in photography, that I wouldn't find work and would be poor.
So I got my teaching degree. It was my second passion.
The year I graduated (2 years ago) the public education system funding went down the tubes. Barely anyone that I graduated with has found a teaching job, those that did either got laid off or are worried they will.
I am doing pretty good with the whole wedding photography thing.
If I wasn't a wedding photographer I'd love to be a ... wedding photographer
Is that just me?
Wojtek.
But is that what you set out to do with your life ? Or was there some other career that you were pursuing but being a wedding photographer sort of took over ?
I would be a lawyer or hold public office or both.
My parents don't believe in higher education and wouldn't help financially nor allow me to seek funding. So I went to school the only place I could afford while working three jobs and needless to say they didn't offer a solid path into law. Marriage and children kind of squashed any real opportunity to pursue it later although did continue to work in political arenas until I hit roadblocks that involved needing a more "fitting" background to go any further. Law and politics is what I'm good at though, I think, more so than photography.
My first love was photography. I had a camera in my hands as far back as I can remember. Probably in the 5th grade using those little Kodak instamatics to take photos of my classmates. It started when my dad returned from Korea with an Argus C7 camera and I got hold of that to play with. That was the bug.
Photography was my hobby all through school. Yearbook, darkroom, J.C. shooting sports, news. Went into law enforcement, built up my equipment, Nikon, Hasselblad. Got hooked into shooting weddings by my cousin who had a studio and needed extra photogs. He trained me, I hated it, but the money was great. I eventually learned to enjoy it once I went off on my own and bought an existing studio.
parents thought i should have some real education but i stopped halfway (once i became aware of that i can control my life directions) in becoming a doctor, child doctor to be precise.
though we (unlike our both's parents) are determined to support our kids in becoming photographers. they both starting desire for that.
I will not push them into school if they don't want to.
I still believe that it is good to have some backup plan in young age, if you ever get tired of photography or because it is good to be skilled in more areas as photography self need more talent then schools, so you should have the time to focus to other directions as well.
But is that what you set out to do with your life ? Or was there some other career that you were pursuing but being a wedding photographer sort of took over ?
I just grew up to that. although I have sort of education- my university dyploma says even "specialization- foto/film", but those were the days of film not digital. Tried different things in life, before photography there was a billiard bar/restaurant, but what I discovered was that I do't wanna be an employer, I want to work for myself and with myself for most of the time- be my own boss.
So I guess I'm a happy person- doing what I love, if i were to change sometning that would be improvement and better incomes
Possibly research science as thats where my qualifications are.
However, like many guys, I still think I have reasonable chance at being a Jedi Knight if I could just stop thinking women and scotch for long enough to concentrate on The Force.
When my wife decided to start a business I was 1 month away from starting my PhD and in the hiring process for a pretty nice government job that I had wanted since I was a kid. If she hadn't started a business I'd hopefully be a full-time professor or pulling down well over $100K on your tax dollars. Some days I wonder....
I just grew up to that. although I have sort of education- my university dyploma says even "specialization- foto/film", but those were the days of film not digital. Tried different things in life, before photography there was a billiard bar/restaurant, but what I discovered was that I do't wanna be an employer, I want to work for myself and with myself for most of the time- be my own boss.
So I guess I'm a happy person- doing what I love, if i were to change sometning that would be improvement and better incomes
Wojtek.
actually yes. i meet my hubby who was fulltime photographer when i was just after high school and knew i would want it. i just didn't seen it possible at the time without him.
marti.g3 wrote:
But is that what you set out to do with your life ? Or was there some other career that you were pursuing but being a wedding photographer sort of took over ?
When I was 15 I was set on playing football and making a lot of money Had scouts from the NFL come watch me my junior and senior year in high school. My senior year I blew my knee out and it ended my career, after having a full ride offered to me at Miami.
So I went to school for graphic design since I couldn't play ball anymore. I wanted to be an architect when I was younger but I was in a depression when I blew my knee out and couldn't play. SO I wasn't thinking straight and just chose any school and decided graphic design was good enough.
As I finished my degree, photography kind of fell in my lap as I was doing more and more of it for my design work. I have always taken photos since I was about 12.
Now I have a sweet day job in photography and still do weddings. I think wedding photography pushed my career in the right direction and lets me do what I enjoy to soon a daily basis.
