As an artist, I am primarily a photographer. I am writing this article as it relates to my experiences in photography. But actually this article deals with ANY of the arts. So if you are a writer, a painter, or whatever, this is for you.
Do you remember when TV killed Radio? I don’t. It happened before I was around. But I’ve read about it. I liken it to the “amateurs killed the pros”. How does that work?! Well, first, the pros got sloppy because digital cameras are good enough these days that almost any idiot could use one to make a good image, with just a little practice.
These days, from everything I am seeing and have read, it’s all about marketing oneself and applying yourself as a business. Pros aren’t handed assignments like they were in the old days, just ask photographers who were staffers for various newspapers or magazines. There is so much competition because people don’t want to pay money for photos that you took. Why? Because everyone has a digital camera now and if you won’t give your photos to them for free to use however they want, then they will find some schmuck who will. Why? Because that schmuck as an amateur or “weekend photographer” doesn’t need or want to make a living. They want their name printed alongside the photo in the paper or wherever. And often times they don’t even get that but they will go buy the paper and show their friends at the office. (Which sometimes leads one of their co-workers to say something stupid like, “hey my wedding is in 6 months you wanna shoot it?” And another pro loses this income because the idiot shoots it for a case of beer or pennies.)
In the Strobist group on Flickr I read and laughed about a guy who got paid in burritos. Yep, that’s right. My argument for people who don’t want to pay is “hey I need to eat too!” but I guess I would be eating alright.
Many people jump at the idea of giving away services (performing your art) for free to just see them in print or on some website or some credit printed in 4 size font on some back flap of some never read part of a magazine.
I read a short piece once on the ten ways to remain a starving artist. I recommend you read it real quick.
It’s obvious that “weekend photographers” fit into the category of amateur if you are defining “professional” as someone who derives the majority of income from their profession – photography (or whatever you do).
When I first watched Harlan Ellison talk about the need to get paid as a writer it really started hitting home for me personally. I had been one who would do some things for free or charge less to “get a job”. But after listening to the interview it became real clear that I need to eat too. I need to be able to pay for my equipment, my cameras, lights, bags, lenses, batteries, transportation, website fees and maintenance, repairs, promotion and marketing, business cards, taxes, profits, etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.etc. There really is a lot to being an artist who is great at what he or she does and an artist that is great and gets paid for it.
I can’t see artists ever really making it (without dumb luck) without having some business acumen alongside their talent. Just look at Annie Leibovitz ...she's a great artist, no doubt, but not a business woman.
In closing, I encourage anyone getting into photography as a profession to read John Harrington’s newest edition of Best Business Practices for Photographers .
I recommend you start charging for your services. Even if you don’t intend to get into the field as a professional, please charge so that professionals who depend on making a living through photography (or whatever art) won’t be looked at like con men the next time they submit their estimate to a potential client.
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