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Photography as a career?
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Hi guys
Basicly im finishing up in college now in 6 Months time. I am studying automotive management but to be honest Photogaphy has taken over and I love shooting Motorsport and cars etc. Now I really want to take the bull by the horns and find a career in Photograhy combined with motorsport. Can anyone help me with what step I should take next. Im only 21 so have loads of time to find what I want.
I’m also a student, 21 like yourself. I have a huge interest in motorsport also and photography. However, I keep it to a hobby as I don’t see it as an easy industry to gain a foothold in. It is very competitive with a huge amount of photographers already there. I plan on upgrading equipment for my own pleasure, but I don’t see going professional as a possibility. However, if you really are keen to do so, I’d recommend you buy the equipment and try to gain experience and as much training as possible. Depending on funds, I would recommend a 7D and a 100-400 lens and then add to the lens collection as time goes on. Your looking at around €3k though for those two alone. Start attending events, publicising yourself and your photos and launch a website. Try and undercut the market with your prices while trying to get the shots people want. I cant offer much more advice, except best of luck with it and let us know how you get on if you decide to pursue it.
Try and undercut the market with your prices while trying to get the shots people want. I cant offer much more advice, except best of luck with it and let us know how you get on if you decide to pursue it.
Whatever you do, do NOT do this. Because the next fella that comes along will undercut you and the next fella after him will undercut him etc until everyone is doing it for free and nobody gets paid.
There is a market rate so you should stick to it. Maybe add more value, better pics, different pics, maybe a little video? If you want it bad enough you will get it but undercutting is the absolute wrong way to go about it
I agree its not about undercutting, its about providing value, photos which the client wants.
Thats what will have the clients come back time and time again. Remember you need to earn enough
to make a living, not just barely exist.Ballyman wrote:
Try and undercut the market with your prices while trying to get the shots people want. I cant offer much more advice, except best of luck with it and let us know how you get on if you decide to pursue it.
Whatever you do, do NOT do this. Because the next fella that comes along will undercut you and the next fella after him will undercut him etc until everyone is doing it for free and nobody gets paid.
There is a market rate so you should stick to it. Maybe add more value, better pics, different pics, maybe a little video? If you want it bad enough you will get it but undercutting is the absolute wrong way to go about it
Sorry lads, looking at this now it was probably the wrong advice. I come from a business background and thats what to do in a case where everything else in the market is the same, you have to differentiate yourself. But yes being different will also do this, wide range of services on offer, quality prints and shots at the right locations, as well as brilliant customer service which will keep them coming back to you as well as spreading word of mouth.
Thanks for the advise so far lads, At the moment I have a 7d along with a 70-200 f4 L but Im looking to upgrade to a sigma 100-400mm. I have my own automotive blog called http://www.freshfix.net but to me Ireland does not have alot to give when it comes to motorsport so Im thinking maybe the Uk
But how do you get noticed and get clients??
MartyMoore wrote:
But how do you get noticed and get clients??
You attend lots of events, talk to people, hand out business cards, show them your work … you network.
Hopefully your shots will be good enough to get you noticed. They’ll be different and high enough quality that people will like your work, and want to buy from you or hire you.
If you’re good, you’ll make some money from it. You need to combine good photography, good customer service and good business skills. If one of these factors fail, your business won’t get too far.
good photographer + bad business person = will go broke
bad photographer + good business person = will make a living
good photographer + good business person = will make a killingchoose an area you are interested in, work out a sustainable business plan where you can grow your business and income, remember you might be happy to earn 20k now for working 90 hrs a week but make sure that you can earn enough to provide for your future circumstances. if you think it is cool to go in and under cut your competitors, you have to think that someone else will do the same when you are paying your mortgage.
There are lots of photography requirements that relate to cars just think about how people make money and how your images can help them do so.
Try and undercut the market with your prices while trying to get the shots people want. I cant offer much more advice, except best of luck with it and let us know how you get on if you decide to pursue it.
This is the reason the whole world of motorsport photography is in the state it’s in now, F1 included. And whatever your business is, if that’s the only way to differentiate yourself & the business you’re doing something seriously wrong.
If it’s a career in photography/motorsport, fulltime, then generally the UK is the nearest place to do this, although it’s extremely tough these days to get into. Undercutting has killed off junior formula for freelancers and the same with getting a junior position with an agency.If Photographing cars racing is the only way you can think of to make money from photographing cars, well you probably won’t do very well on the business side of photography, (ref my previous comment)
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