Poll for this topic

How much % of your yearly income comes from photography?
ResponseVotesPercent
100%19.1%-
75%19.1%-
50%00%-
25%545.5%-
0%436.4%-

How many of you are pro and how many hobbist?

Just wondering...
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Mine is seasonal since we closed the art gallery. Now I do the farmer's market from April through mid-October on Saturdays. There are times during the summer when I make more at my photography than I do at my regular job. Smiley
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Comments and Harsh Critiques gladly accepted. My photos are ok to edit.

My photos and art: http://wildmaven.org

For me, I consider myself somewhat fortunate in that I like my full-time career, and I make a pretty good living doing it.  So, I hoard all my photography income.  I spend it on growing the business, equipment upgrades, etc.  At this time, I have spent like $100 maybe on personal stuff that I would claim as any type of 'income' from my photography.  Honestly, until I can figure out how to take a good photo and sell it, things will probably stay the way they are.

Pro or Hobbyist?  Tough question in my opinion.  I feel like I do a more professional job than many pros out there, both with my photographic skill and my dealings with customers.  However, based on income I'm obviously only a hobbyist.  Someday I'm going to do it full time, but I have a lot to learn before I think I could support my family with it, so until then...

Travis
« Last Edit: September 13, 2008, 09:04:47 PM by Travis Minnig »
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As for me, I'm pretty new to photography, just bought my camera 3 months ago... I like it a lot, but I probably wouldn't make that much money if I tried to work at it, than what I would in my field (computer science).

The good thing is I can buy better gear this way...

Ohh... and with pro and hobbiest I really didn't mean quality... just pro being photography your profession...and hobbyst meaning its not your source of income.

« Last Edit: September 13, 2008, 08:56:36 PM by Aqualuna »
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Well, I am moving more pro, as in more of my income is coming from photography than this time last year.  I put part of my photography income back into my business, but I do need it to put food on my table too.
Personally about 50% of my income is from photography and the other half from my day job.  But my husband makes more money from his day job than I do at mine, so photography is just under 20% of our household income.  Put that way it doesn't sound like much... Sad

(for the record I selected 25%, I figured I could fudge 5% just like models fudge 5 pounds or an inch in height on their profiles, lol, plus there was no 20% option)

I was concerned that my boudoir thing would be seasonal since most of my clients have been brides, but I am already booking December and January sessions for Christmas and Valentine's Day, so with marketing in the fall for these holidays I really hope I can sustain my income through the winter.  I am still learning a lot about business and marketing (not natural talents of mine).  I don't shoot as many weddings as I would like though.  Weddings are a rat race here.  There are a billion photographers and you have to really stand out somehow to make a living at it, and I don't know how to do that...

As far as quality - well that's in the eye of the beholder I guess.  I have seen some hobbyist make stellar images and I have seen some pros make just decent stuff...  Marketing yourself is far more important.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2008, 09:15:44 PM by Ginnypenny »
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I once read some photographer say that making money out of photography is by far more about business than photographic skills...
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I once read some photographer say that making money out of photography is by far more about business than photographic skills...

i'm paying off the school debt so that i could even start this business...
sooo i have a full time job and i make more money for that
when i get that down, i could pretty much support my self with just my photography.
BUT there is always new gear to buy and things to want.

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::a bad day behind a camera is better than a good day behind a desk::

BUT there is always new gear to buy and things to want.


Make sure you budget for that when you start planning the exit from your day job.  Things that need to be upgraded every few years are - your computer and software and of course your camera (thanks to digital).  And some things will break and need to be replaced or repaired.  Don't forget advertising costs, sample albums and prints, business supplies and all those other overhead costs, oh yeah and taxes, I plan on 40% of my income being taken away, it's a pretty good formula. 
...I am not trying to be pessimistic, I just want everyone to be realistic.  Owning a business is hard and expensive.  I also put far more hours into photography (between shooting, editing, managing the business stuff and marketing) than into my day job, yet the pay is about the same.
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