I think I'll stick to photography as a hobby! I did try turning one of my hobbies (Pyrography, which I can no longer do incidentally) into a business. In fact I did it for ten years and it took all the pleasure out of it for me. That's why I only want to do photography as a hobby. I can have fun taking the photos and uploading the occasional video on to RU-vid.
Number 3 - Billy No Mates... I agree, I work on my own and my wife says I am a pain in the butt when she gets home from work because all I want to do is talk, whereas she just wants to sit quietly. :)
Cracking video James. At almost twice your age (I'm guessing), I was brought up with 35mm, but I think point number 10 for any aspiring photographer should be "know you gear). Nothing worse than getting paid for a project than having to look at your camera and check your settings. 👍🏻
I opened up your prints just today when coming back from Italy. Did 600 km on my road bike in 4 days and they where a nice thing to come back to. Love your stuff. Keep up the good work, James!
Great video! This is exactly why I never became a full time photographer. I do more free shoots for subjects that I enjoy shooting. That seems to lead me in interesting directions. An example, I mostly enjoy macro, wildlife, concert and candid photos. My wife owned a dance studio when I met her so obviously I ended up shooting portraits for students to make some extra money as well as dance recital photos. Portraits were not fun, but it made the money. I actually enjoyed shooting the recitals since it was much like shooting a concert. I like the challenges of shooting moving subjects in difficult lighting. One of my wifes long time students who I had been photographing he and his sister for many years in dance, asked me to shoot a drag show he/she was performing in. I didn't know what think at first, but it ended up being so much fun! After the first show I ended up walking around the downtown area of a college town with a 21 year old 6ft 4in drag queen taking street shots and the reaction of the people around was amazing! It was like walking around with a celebrity! Everyone wanted a picture with her. I never in a million years thought I would be shooting a drag show. I think I've sot 3 shows since then and I can't wait for the next one. Try shooting everything you can. You will be surprised what you find out there.
About the flat: I really like the mood it gives off. Nice natural lighting, complimentary moody colours in the background and a nice subject framing. The sound can be cancelled out using sound dampening pieces behind the camera as thats one of the first location your voice will bounce off.
Just off your personality and sense of humor alone this is one of my favorite channels on youtube. Would love to meet you someday if you ever come to new york city!
Nice 1 James, I just signed up for your event at Wex. I've watched quite a few of your videos in the last month or two so it will be great to see your live talk
Ask yourself "What is the best use of my time, right now".... Learn when to pay someone else to do the time consuming things which don't require your specific attention or skill. You'll see those things build up through time and know when you need an assistant/service. Things like packaging those prints and getting them to post. There's only 1 "you", some of that stuff is just time drain from your productive generation of income producing activity. Any one can be taught to do that packaging and post work to your specs... small business advice that's often lost in the thin money days, but can help get you past them too.
A great and possibly, the most honest video about what it takes to be a professional photographer. I don't think any photographer/videographer has admitted that RU-vid has been a great avenue for them. I'm sure the less competition in the area is better for them. But when they talk about what works for them, that's never mentioned. And I feel it's a little dis-honest. So, thank you for that. It's been my plan to start a RU-vid channel. I'm just not ready for it yet. It feels so daunting. :-P I did Information Technology consulting for 15 years and lots of what you mentioned is completely right-on even in that field. Especially when figuring out rates to pay yourself and dealing with all the admin stuff. It really is about business and people for 80% of the time. At least. Lastly, and maybe the most important part in my opinion: people skills. That may be the most important piece to all this. It's about being a great business person AND someone people want to work with. Likeable. It's absolutely huge if you got that going for you. Thank you for the great video!
I was really hopping this would end with B roll of you trying to get the packages to the post office. Tops video though. I’m looking to assist/second shooter for a photographer, I want to learn from their experience in the field. Photography is as much a trade as it is a creative profession, so many of these points apply to other industries as well.
How do you go about approaching or finding companies to work with? Seems to be my biggest hurdle getting out there and working with new people (other than friends and family).
80% emails buddy! Find companies you fancy working with and stick a proposal together. The worst that'll happen is they won't respond. Also look for places agency eyeballs spend time. Art blogs for example :)
I have been lucky to have a nigh on thirty plus years career. For a period, I did dual my career with that of a pro photographer. Eventually I came to the conclusion that the original career pays significantly more, and has more opportunity. My photography career as matured, and taken twists I didn't dream of, perhaps because I stayed with my original career. I am now a better photographer, with a real vision, and view of what works for me. I also use kit different to most around me - so Leica X typ 113, and a Nikon Df.. I have found my way, and dont profess that it is a way for others. Good luck with your career, live long and prosper.
Good info and hope you do well with your business. Was self employed years ago in engineering and it can be a had life at times, long hours and lots of stress. Not sure if I could ever go back to that.
Great video. Useful advice. Again! I am sad because I am not here when you are going to Wex but maybe in a next time. Keep up with the good work James!
First off, your hair looked really good in 2018 ( not dissing the 2020 James- just an admiring observation, ha,ha!) Secondly, I think these were strong 'truths' to pass on , especially the last one!
Great video James! Speaking as a hobbyist it's really interesting to get an insight into pro photography, and what you've learnt looking back. Thinking about it, I do kind of take photos for a living, just using x-rays and a CT scanner, so very different issues.
Thank you James! I always look forward to hearing what comes next! This vid is quite helpful. I've only charged for my work once and though it was rewarding since I wrote a contract and got paid, it was also a bit of a kick in the teeth as my client took my ideas and then found someone to help her execute them for free in the future. Lesson learned, don't overshare unless you have a contract. I've gone on to long haven't I. Anyway, have a fantastic time in Italy. Looking forward to seeing what you shoot there!
The main point why I gave up on the idea of working freelance as a photographer is the fact that I have to work on other peoples ideas for a really long time until hopefully, I reach the status to work on my own. This for me is still an art and I am now focusing on doing my own thing and if someone pops up wanting to hire me it will be because of my ideas and I will go with it only if I have the option to do things as I see fit.
Really liked this makes loads of sense I’m currently doing courses in photography and a member of the RPS as well as the local camera club which I find really useful not only am I networking but also gaining qualifications along the way and also with the local camera club I’m getting my work out in front of people who wouldn’t normally see my work. So as for a number 10 maybe try and search out for your local camera club or join a Society this also backs your work up. Looking forward to next weeks vlog 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
James, I notice you always stress about how noisy the background is or if it's echoey. Don't worry about that, my friend. I've watched videos of other RU-vidrs from big cities. It's normal to have ambient sounds. I find it weird if the background is too quiet.
Another fab insight video Mr P 👍🏻 I remember getting a great contract, I went in there with loads of ideas how they could improve things, then didn't get my contract renewed as they just wanted someone to do the job they'd hired me for. Never offer unsolicited advice, that could be no.10 😜
This video puts me really in a dilemma. I really want to spend the most time I can photographing. So it seems being a professional photographer results in very little photography (also I hate marketing myself). But not being a professional photographer also means I don‘t spend a lot of time taking images. Help haha? PS: Hope you made it to the post office, must have been hilarious seeing you walk through the city with all those boxes!
When it comes to going to a school for something; It's the same with music. - With how media is in the last decade or two, including how you obtain and consume music (and that is including the Compact Disc even), people are exposed to the technical side of music more and more and tend to pick up an instrument themselves as well, whether they want to do it professionally or not. - What's more is that they're starting earlier and don't go "to a music school" after their regular schooling. - I've even heard professional musicians advise against it in terms of when you want to learn music, because it's very "academic" and "by the book". - So, as well as with anything else creative, you might become very educated and proficient at something, but it often doesn't allow for a lot of heart and soul. - Of course you can take what you've learned and apply it to your own work, but that's also difficult. I also agree with that going to a school or going to college is mostly about experience and networking. More so than getting a degree or anything, unless for some reason you really need that degree to be able to get into something.
James, bit of an odd one this, but do you ever get people saying "you really remind me of [insert name]"? It's either looks or the prosody of your speech. Perhaps both. Either way, brilliant channel, really glad I found it. Learned a lot. Saved a lot, too. Thanks
Another very useful video, James. I was a self employed acoustic engineer for about fifteen years, and everything you said in this video could be transferred to my line of work. And, therefore I assume, almost every other self employed profession. Neat, succinct, solid advice.... Who are you and what have you done with the real James Popsys?
James, could you please consider addressing the idea of putting a portfolio together? I would like to create one, but, I am unsure of the best way to do it. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you. Enjoy Italy.
Good luck at WEX - Does anyone know if the show will be recorded or not? I'm on my way out the door, and it's pissin' down, so I can't do much more research until later xD 10 - Camera, gear and accessories. It's not the kit/gear that takes the pictures, and upgrading isn't always necessary. As a curious green photographer I've seen a few people offering photo shoots done with APS-C sensors matching prices/quality of people with full frame setups. That last bit at least made me realize that my entry camera might take me even further than I first imagined ^.^ Uh uh uh; and learn the 'effin camera/functions! xD After watching a single video about back button focus I did the switch and I can't imagine going back ^^ I never tried my flash until last week - Which then resulted in me buying two external flashes, simply because I liked the results with the on-camera flash, but my stupid zoom lens also got in the way hahah (also 100£ for 2 flashes wasn't bad imo).
The problem in my country is that you can only earn a decent living from wedding photography. There's no way I would attempt it, since I prefer keeping my sanity.
I was very much looking forward to your next video. A lot of useful points again. One thing I'd like to ask you though. You say you never studied photography in school. I'm just curious, what useful sources, sites, books, etc. could you recommend. Un/Fortunately there's way too much material available these days. The hardest part is finding those few that can really help you develop. Thank you for your response in advance.
Mr James....as usual, great stuff, and very helpful! P.S. I will be your friend if you need one :) (Yes, that was a joke! I live in Chicago, USA that would be a long commute, though your little corner of the world would be fun to visit with the family)
Absolutely, let me know if you're ever in the neighborhood (I promise I am not an alien (though in a sense I am because I"m from New Zealand and I've migrated to the US) and I am semi-normal.
What is it with Manchester? It's a permanent building site. I was there on Saturday visiting a son in Salford and every time I'm passing through the centre, its getting more and more chaotic. The stuff that's getting thrown up is pretty depressing too. Just horrible glass apartments and office blocks. City planners in all the great northern cities want stuffing with the blunt end of a ragman's trumpet!
Do you think photography can work as a part-time job just for some extra cash?(besides studies esc) or do you have to go all in in order to get clients?
When did you know you were good enough to make a living on it? I have browsed several photo magazines and viewed hundreds of webpages and RU-vid videos and as often as I see absolutely amazing pictures, I often see pictures that "critics" think are fantastic but in my eyes they are not very speciell. Does a photo really need " rule of third" an so on to be a good photo? Isn´t all up to the viewer what he/she sees? So when do I know I´m good enough?
4:32 so how much do you charge ? thing10, how many print sales does youtube generate? stack of boxes behind you is that 1 week turnover or 1 month ? do you sell 30 prints a year or 30 prints per month?
Hey mate, depends how much I want the job - I ask myself what I'd be happy with when I'm quoting. RU-vid generates all my print sales, and each time I have a sale I sell 70-80 :)
dont want to be no hamster photographer being pushed around to produce some photographs of a product i can't relate to, im an artist , artist i say!!. selling 70-80 prints per month pays the bills. i mean your channel is growing so this will grow as well. but the work, the work. doing a 80 print, print job. i would outsource that i guess.
Actually, you never needed photography school. (You did need film school up until the very early 2000s. But now, you don't). Think of the best, most celebrated photographers. They learned it naturally and organically, how it should be. I thank God every day that photography was never like like engineering, where you definitely should study for a degree. :-) Anyway. Cool video, as always!
