p.1 #1 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
Hi Friend!
I know that this is a pro community but I知 not a pro photographer. So you can think that by knowing that why I知 here. Actually I am here because I知 in deep deep trouble and I need your valuable suggestion to overcome it. So hope you will keep your patience to read my following story and share your suggestion.
I知 Rudra, 31yrs, male photographer(serious amature). I live in Kolkata, India. By profession I am a businessman. I have a computer training institute here at kolkata for last ten yrs. My institute is not a big one, but it is a 400sq ft shop(owner is my uncle). I give training on software and hardware. My average monthly income is around $1000-$1500 (which is not bad at all for a middle class family if our local community is concerned)
I have spend most of my savings for my family (parents and me) and for photography. Up to this everything was going right/so-so.
But the main problem has arise after my marriage (July,2007). As the result of some internal-family problem my uncle is asking me to left his room (where my computer institute is situated). A new shop will cost me around $42,000-$50,000 which I have not. Alternatively I went for a shop for hire, but all the shops are booked into the local business area. So by facing upper mentioned situation and thinking about my unstable future I知 becoming tensed day by day.
So to overcome this worst phase of my life I am thinking to change my current profession and want to be a professional photographer. So my dear Pro friends, please see my following photographic-website and please judge my photographic skill whether I will get succeed in this field as a pro or not.
If yes, then please please suggest me how I can start my Pro Photographer痴 journey? How to over come from this situation? Your valuable suggestion is very much expected! Please help me out!
Thank you so much friend for your patience to reading this post.
p.1 #2 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
Hi Rudra, I'm no pro and not qualified to give advice, but have to tell you I thoroughly enjoy viewing the pictures on your website (especially the people shots) seems to me you need to network with photographers in your area and learn how they developed their business. Also might not be a bad idea to self publish with someone like blurb, for a relatively small investment and a small initial run of books you could "test" the waters to see if there is interest in your work. Good luck to you and keep on shooting.
p.1 #4 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
It looks like your technical skill is there. It probably depends on exactly what kind of photography you want to do...weddings, portraits, assignment, photojournalism, etc. Given your location, I'd think you could probably market some stock, but it's really tough to make that your bread and butter. Look at the market you live in and do a realistic assessment...try and see if there is a niche that isn't being filled by other photographers that you could fill. Otherwise, ask yourself how you can compete with the other guys...how would you set yourself apart? If you're interested in weddings, the forum here is a great resource.
And as already noted here, it's also as much (if not more) about business than photography. You've already got experience running a business though, so you're starting ahead of a lot of people. In this country, it's no longer enough to be a "good photographer"...with the proliferation of digital cameras, you have to have to find a way to market yourself so that your "brand" has enough perceived value for people to buy into it (if that makes any sense).
In the mean time, if you're running low on money you might want to look at other options (or at least have a back up plan).
p.1 #5 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
Rudra,
It seems to me that you truly love photography. I'm quite impressed with your people images and think that they're quite marketable. The combination of business and computer knowledge is a huge asset in today's photographer business. Now that you have a family that journey will take you a little longer, but is still possible. You need to develop a stronger work ethic. You have some striking images, but there aren't that many of them, you need to do more work and develop a stronger style. Building on what you've done so far that shouldn't take too long. You should make a decision on what kind of photographer you want to do. Some of your work shows a overuse of the computer. You need to be more sensitive about how you combine images from the lighting standpoint. If you were too shoot more people, say two week for a year, you would then have the ability to develop a style and then send your work to magazines and other possible. You are in a place in the world that is quite unique and sought after by many different clients. Start going to photographers web sites that you admire and researching how they accomplish what you want to do, make sure you push to make your work better than thiers. Go to the library and seek out images by the top people in the world. You can do this, you have the talent, but it will take time. I have been a professional advertising photographer for 30 years and am still making my living at it. When I first started I had to work many jobs and shoot in my spare time. Feel free to contact me if there's something here you don't understand.
Dennis
p.1 #6 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
I am not a Pro but looking at your pictures, you have what it takes to be a Pro Photographer, but I cannot say much about your business experience, but I am you may be good at also since you were already running your computer training business.. I beleive being a Pro Photographer is more than just taking good pictures but that is a very good start and foundation. My conclusion is that you can be a good Pro Photographer, just keep at it.
p.1 #8 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
Your skills are only a small part of deciding whether you succeed or not. How is your business sense? Do you have a business plan? What is the market like in your area?
Your photos are excellent, but what type of business do you want to do? Portraits? Corporate? Travel? Stock?
Who is going to buy your pictures and how much do you expect to make from the sale?
p.1 #9 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
If you took all the shots on your site you are wasting your time if you are not shooting . I would approach Getty Images and National Geographic and go from there . Find a good agency to market your work so you can concentrate on shooting . I hope you got model releases from all the people you shot .
p.1 #14 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
From your website it seems like you are a professional..?
Rudra Mandal is a freelance Professional Photographer cum Designer living and working in Kolkata, India. He has experimented a lot on various field of photography and has got international recognition for more than eighty times. You can see his experiments on light, colors, point of view and computerized nondestructive manipulations through his photographs.
He痴 well equipped with Digital SLR cameras, professional lenses, Indoor external flash lights and studio equipment, Laptop, Desktops etc. He is available for work in beauty, portraiture, fashion, portfolios, commercial, product photography and AdDesigning.
To contact him regarding professional services please checkout the CONTACTS page.
p.1 #15 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
Duncan_Staples wrote:
Brent Ward wrote:
Making it in the photo business is more about business than photography.
+1000...........
Yup. The business of photography can suck the life out of a good photographer. It is a big fight to make money at photography, and you must believe in that fight. That's why I left the film industry. I didn't believe in that particular fight. 18 hour insane days working to support the dream of a crappy person is not uncommon in the film industry. 18 hour days working to become a pro photographer is not uncommon at first, either. It's just a matter of figuring out how to make money and then flying with it. And then not letting people step all over you because there's 4 photographers on every street corner and the common mentality with a good amount of the population in this situation is that they will try to take advantage of you. 5% of my photography career is actually taking pictures. The other 95% is business. There's a lot of people I know in LA who have dropped out to work for other people or for agencies. It's nothing to be ashamed of because it is very hard. Just prepare yourself for a fight. I don't mean being combative, I mean have a VERY thick skin and do the type of photography that you want to do.
I've also gotta say, you've got some chops. I don't know how many N.Geographic photogs there are in your area, but seems like it'd be right up your alley.
p.1 #17 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
Starting in photography can be hard in the beginning, especially if you're married....So lets skip this part and ussume you're going for it.
Since you know how to give training and interact with people you have an added value if you live in a touristic area!
Start giving nature photography workshops. Get in touch with local hotels or nature resort and guide people along learning them to take photo's.
They will have something extra to offer...a theme holiday.
Here we're not talking about technology but about the eye.
You need to talk with people about the nature...and have to point them about things they can shoot.
p.1 #18 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
There are lots of advertising agencies in Kolkata. You obviously have potential in this field. I suggest to create a portfolio book from your best work, sorted similar to your site and make appointments for 'go see' meetings.
Don't forget to mention your software skills, esp. 3D Max.
p.1 #20 · Please help me out from my worst phase of life!!
I just want to remind you that presenting yourself in such a desperate scenario is not business wise. This forum is a form of networking and your post is accessible to potential employers, partners or clients in India and all over the world. I understand the urgency of your situation but you must keep focus on what you have to offer. Your talent is evident, be confident about that, and a positive, optimistic image is always a big help. I wish you the best.
