Do professional photographers love their job?

Pierre, framer and artist, Ostend, Belgium.

“Photography is my passion,” is an often used phrase. I’ve noticed that many amateurs are particularly enthusiastic about being photographers and dream of turning professional.

But when you look at a survey like the one done by jobsrated.com the reality of being a professional photographer hits home. You may be forgiven, after reading professional photographer’s blogs that every single one of them is as happy as pig in the mud. However in the survey which rated the top 200 careers photography only came in at number 125 behind jobs like bookkeeper (39), librarian (43), typest/wordprocessor (54), cashier (110) and telephone operator (115).

“Moving further down the rankings reveals an eclectic mix of jobs which either suffer from intense physical demands, such as veterinarians and construction machinery operators, or, as in the case of photographers, post mediocre scores in work environment and stress while offering exceptionally low pay,” writes careercast.com.

So having established that once you become a professional photographer life is not necessarily a bed of roses let’s take a look at what I think is the essential difference between those in the profession doing a job to put food on the table and those who are living the dream.

For me the fundamental differentiator is loving what you do. Through circumstances you may currently be doing wedding photography and you’re stressed out, tired and doing your best to deliver high quality work, but deep down you’re not loving it, and you’d far rather be photographing your favourite sport or fashion, or something else. Or it may be the other way round and you’re currently shooting fashion but long to get out of that slightly unreal world and work with ordinary people and share their emotions on the biggest day of their lives, their wedding, so you like to be a wedding photographer.

Every one of us is drawn to something in particular and the trick to being happy in what you do is to recognize what that is and then work towards making your job all about the photography you love to do.

The benefits are exponential because once you’re doing something you love you’ll be more enthusiastic, more dedicated and you’ll get better at it and more clients will want your work.

If you’re a professional photographer and you don’t love it then for heavens sake go and do something else. Follow your dream! And of course the same goes for photographers not currently shooting what they love. I urge you to do everything you can to rekindle the passion and love for what you do on a daily basis. It will bring you enthusiasm, energy and enhance the quality of your work.

Take the first small step soon. Go make a picture of something you love.
I don’t follow trends. I don’t chase after the latest money making ideas. I do what I love. It’s the only way to get ahead. I’d rather be making trends than following them.

Till soon,

Paul
www.indigo2photography.co.uk

The portrait photographer's motivation

Easy access to the Internet and digital photography has resulted in an ever growing number of photographers uploading their images for comments and ratings from peers. Online communities evolve and these mini-societies each have their pecking order, internal groups and communal preferences. Photographers learn from each other. On sites that have a rating system there is often pressure to conform to certain styles, techniques and even subject matter. Although I participate in numerous sites (it's great fun), I recognise the danger of becoming a herd animal and losing the edge of individual creativity. There will always be the creatives that lead the way and the imitators that can only try to follow in their footsteps. This lead me to think about classifying photographers according their inner motivation. So as a bit of fun here are a few different types: The innovator Driven to always find something new, different and creative. Wants to be leading edge. Motivated by creative satisfa...

Beyond the Obvious: Lessons from the Masters of Photography

In photography, there’s more than technical skill or gear; the real art is in connection, storytelling, and moments that matter. In this blog, I’ll explore what I have learned by taking master classes with photographers like Steve McCurry, Joel Meyerowitz, and Albert Watson. One of the surprising outcomes of learning from them was discovering just how closely my thoughts and practice aligned with theirs although I've always carved my own path. There is something delightful about finding kindred spirits. I wanted to share what I've learnt and remind us of our true practice as photographers behind the lens. Storytelling Through Human Connection A photograph should convey more than just skill—it should capture a story that resonates. Steve McCurry’s iconic Afghan Girl does this beautifully, capturing strength and vulnerability in a single frame. Like McCurry, I believe photography should reveal the depth and uniqueness of our subjects. This requires empathy, patience, and a ...

Why do you take photographs?

Have you ever asked yourself why you photograph? It's a question that can be answered with a simple one-sentence answer until you start delving deeper. The answer then becomes increasingly complex and challenging to unravel. I've again undertaken this journey recently, and my answer is below. Portrait of Paul Indigo by Magda Indigo. Thanks Magda! I also reviewed my images over the last ten-plus years, selected 30 of my favourite photos, and compiled them into a slide show. This was a challenging task. My favourites change by the day, probably by the minute. Still, eventually, I got to a selection I titled "That's Life." Please click through to YouTube to view the full screen. My approach to people and landscape photography is characterised by a distinctive blend of documentary and fine art techniques. I aim to create images that are both deeply personal and universally relatable. Through portraiture, I strive to showcase the broad spectrum of human experience. I a...

Steve said…

You are so right. Ispent 12 years as a stressed out wedding photographer. Since I stopped and took up doing stock photography, shooting what I like, I have never been happier or more enthusiastic about photography.

22:15

متى غوودوين said…

Bravo! I work at a job I have little love for - no photography involved. It pays for film and developer and all the expenses of the art. I go out and shoot constantly, always trying to enjoy and improve my vision. Am I a professional? Sure, I've been published in magazines, corporate imaging and ad campaigns. Work as a photographer? Nah, I'm too in love with it to have it respond to the market place. Some folks love doing that, and that's great, but it's too joyful to be enslaved to the dollar.

06:12

Dawn Allynn said…

Super, insightful post. Much of this should be printed on a small pocket sized card and brought out whenever someone finds themselves wondering how they got to the spot where what they do isn't fun anymore.

20:49

Beyond the obvious

Search This Blog